PRESS RELEASE….
June 18, 2007
For Immediate Release….
ICS PRESIDENT HONORED BY CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY IN OAKLAND
The Caribbean Community
in Oakland celebrated the second national Caribbean American Heritage
Month with a Gala Reception that honored ICS Founder and President,
Dr. Claire Nelson, along with Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Rt.
Hon. P.J. Patterson, and Nuggets star. Adonal Foyle. Congresswoman
Barbara Lee who is Representative of Oakland, lauded Dr. Claire
Nelson for their leadership and pledged to continue her leadership in
promoting greater inclusion of Caribbean issues in the legislative agenda.
Held in the Rotunda in
downtown Oakland, the event attracted Caribbean Americans from
all across Northern California. In her remarks, Dr. Nelson
served up a sample of Jamaican folklore while urging the capacity audience,
to “accept the responsibility of living in a democracy and step up
and into their roles of citizen leaders”. She reminded the audience
that “freedom is not free” and urged them to organize as a community
and become engaged in promoting public policy that supports achievement
of the American dream. The audience of near two hundred included
Oakland City Council members and other elected officials and the Honorary
Consul of Jamaica.
The Caribbean diaspora
in the US is estimated at over 5 million. Given this significant
number and the current political/economic environment, and anti-immigrant
climate, ICS efforts to establish a National Caribbean American
Heritage Month which began in 1999, have been significant and critical
in making visible the Caribbean American identity, developing the agenda
and recognizing Caribbean Americans who contribute significantly
to the American landscape.
Rt. Hon. PJ Patterson Congresswoman Lee Dr. Claire Nelson
Former Prime Minister
Shorron Levy, Event Host & Dr. Claire Nelson &
Hon. PJ
Patterson