Platform and Possibilities

Brenda is a distinguished business leader, radio host, lecturer, publisher, award winning activist and educator. She was born in St. Kitts-Nevis and attended the Cayon Primary and High School. She has become a tireless advocate for cultural diplomacy and representation. She's also the CEO of her Toronto, Canada based consulting firm, BStyled and she's been instrumental in shaping Toronto' Caribbean and African Diasporic communities. She's an outspoken champion of human rights and reparatory justice for Africans and Afro descendants. As a former Consul General based in Toronto Canada, Brenda has been at the helm of many initiatives, including promoting the citizenship by descent program which has sparked a new interest in youth involvement in attaining St. Kitts-Nevis citizenship. Most importantly, Brenda is a proud mom of two girls and continues her thrust to give back to her community and country. Take a listen!

Patricia Welsh has published her second book in the Finding Jane series, entitled, Is This Love? (FINDING JANE).Is This Love? is part of a trilogy Welsh envisioned long before she penned her first book from which themes such as Alzheimer's, family relationships, friendships, spousal abuse, and of course love ring through.In the second book, Welsh spotlights Richard, a handsome, wealthy bachelor who sweeps Jane off her feet with his blunt arrogance and charm. Jane falls in love with Richard and decides to give love a second chance. Landon, her fiancée, featured in book 1, passed away tragically and she long mourned his loss. Jane feels pressed to give love a second chance and she gleefully accepts her suitor Richard's proposal to become his wife. Jane feels pressed to give love a second chance and she gleefully accepts her suitor Richard's proposal to become his wife. Marrying Richard makes her the envy of all the single ladies in Atlanta, but it doesn't take long for her to realize that not all that glitters is truly gold. The suspense builds in the second edition of the Love Journey. Ms. Patricia Welsh is a result driven professional economist with over 20 years of experience working at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB). She aspires to improve the economic circumstances of the member countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) through the use of knowledge and experience gained in applied macroeconomics, macro-fiscal analysis, policy formulation and research methodology.

Nyoka Gumbs-Henry is the author of The Day After the Unemployment Runs Out! A Survival Guide for Those Facing Financial Hardship. The book is packed with practical strategies and heartfelt advice to help readers navigate financial challenges with confidence and is for anyone dealing with unemployment, financial uncertainty, or unexpected financial challenges. Feel free to read the book from cover to cover or find the chapters specific to you. Nyoka was born and raised on the twin island paradise of St. Kitts and Nevis before migrating to the USA at 16 years old. Her rich educational and cultural foundation have kept her rooted even while facing unimaginable challenges. Nyoka's resilient spirit propelled her into productive spaces that have allowed her to grow as a professional architect. Her life experiences have brought her front and center in her craft, perfectly preparing her to be the embodiment of a woman blazing a trail for others to trod fiercely on. The Day After the Unemployment Runs Out is a resource filled production that will serve readers for years to come.

Melvina 'Mel' Chapman was born on the beautiful island of St. Kitts and Nevis, and raised in Leeds, England. She now calls Houston, Texas home. She's been a supplier of hospitality and marketing services for well over 25 years. Melvina’s experiences include an internship at the famed Dorchester Hotel in London, a Food and Beverage manager at the Four Seasons Hotel, Houston, a Sales and Marketing Manager, corporate event coordinator at the GRB Convention Center in Houston, a Manager of global meetings, events with the Coca-Cola Company and a Regional Marketing Manager for the Microsoft Corporation. Melvina served as the Director of Special Events and liaison of the Sales and Marketing Council at the Greater Houston Builders Association, the 3rd largest home builders association in the US, where she was responsible for the organizations’ most prestigious events. Over the years, Melvina has guided her event teams to successfully coordinate hundreds of meetings, trade shows, special events, executive retreats, product launches and numerous sporting events such as the Summer/Winter Olympics, World Cup and Super Bowl. Melvina served as President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Association of Houston (SKNAH) and along with her board, led the association with pride and distinction for 6 years. Melvina now serves as the Founder and Executive Director of The Caribbean Cultural Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting members of the Caribbean community at home and in the US.A graduate of Park Lane College, Melvina holds a degree in Business Administration. Mel lives her life through the lens of – Work Hard, Play Harder. She is an avid traveler and has traversed the globe for both business and pleasure. When asked what gives her the most joy, she smiles and mentions her husband Calvin, her two handsome sons, Zack and Anthony and her lovely grand children. Melvina is truly a phenomenal woman.

Mrs. Sharon Huggins believes she was inherently born to be a giver and take care of others. She's a nurturer by nature and she truly loves to see people happy. A born again christian, Sharon regards the mishaps of others as her business. She has a caring and generous spirit and believes she has a special love and calling for the work she currently does. After relocating from New York to Port Charlotte Florida, Sharon's path in life shifted. She became a business owner and Director of Kidz of the Future Daycare and has sat in the Director's chair for over 13 years. Sharon worked for almost 20 years in corporate America at many different levels. She also has series 66 and series 7 certificates registered with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange. She shifted career paths after pursuing business degrees in finance and investments. She was bold, visionary, and empowered. Sharon saw a need and she filled it. She has become a pillar for her family and her community. Instead of returning to corporate America, she used her business savvy and founded the Lighthouse Restoration Home, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that offers support for women, children, and families in her community. She has great plans to extend her work to other cities but is taking small footsteps as she watches her handiwork blossom ever so beautifully. Sharon is a change maker in every right! Sharon is a mother to her queen Alisha, and her king Giovanni, and has been married for many years to her dear husband Ali. She loves her family to her core and describes them as "her breath". She counts her gifts as blessings from God.

Phoenetia Browne is an all around athlete at heart. Born in the US, she was raised by St. Kitts and Nevis parents who stopped at nothing to ensure she and her siblings were immersed in sports just as they were in academics. Phoenetia had the best of both worlds, having migrated to New Jersey at the age of 7, while ingrained with the solid guidance of her St. Kitts and Nevis village. Her success in sports includes many state and county championship wins with her soccer and basketball teams. Although she also competed in softball, lacrosse, track and field, and other sporting activities, it was football that became her forever sport. Phoenetia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Architecture and completed her Master’s of Science in Civil Engineering. She continued to play soccer throughout her matriculation and even worked as an Assistant women’s soccer coach at the University of St. Elizabeth before switching careers and applying her degrees as an Assistant Engineer at Turner Construction in NYC. Phoenetia chose to play professional football for UMF Sindri in Iceland where she earned a player of the year nomination, and was second in the league in goals scored. Safe to say, she never looked back. Phoenetia has a storied history as a European female soccer player and she currently plays with AS Saint-Etienne. Phoenetia founded Play More Live Better (PMLB) Recruiting Services in 2019, with the mission of guiding student-athletes in the Caribbean through the process of becoming student-athletes at colleges/universities abroad. She also founded the MPWR Girls Football Camp alongside her St. Kitts and Nevis teammate, Brittney Lawrence. MPWR introduces young girls in St. Kitts and Nevis to football in a fun and challenging environment. Phoenetia continues to honor the memory of her late mother, Ms. Andrea Charles-Browne, who was a highly acclaimed St. Kitts and Nevis diplomat of the United Nations, and a national athlete who competed  in cricket, netball, and track and field. Her mother was an Ambassador in diplomacy, education and sports and Phoenetia is eager to follow the path her mother paved for her.

Leah T. Williams is an educator and author of the novel, Neither out far nor in Deep. She hails from the independent Caribbean twin island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Here, she tells the story of a single mother who is so conflicted raising her 17-year-old son in the fast pace of city life that one day, she takes him to the land of her birth where life takes on a whole new meaning, for her son and her family. In this chit chat with Leah, the author, she expresses her love for writing and for the island upbringing that has shaped the woman she is and will continue to be.

In this episode of Platform and Possibilities, we highlight how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the future of many New York City Catholic schools. These schools have served their communities in multiple ways but require sustainable funding to keep their doors open. After decades of service to the Harlem Community, my child’s first formal institution of learning closes its doors this summer. The Ascension story is a reminder of the beauty of our communities as immigrants who play an integral role wherever we go. The beauty of the diversity that echoed in the classrooms at Ascension everyday will always make my heart smile and I know without talking about it to my child, she too will always remember how her heart smiled on those very steps she walked each day to learn, play and grow.

In this edition of Platform and Possibilities we celebrate Caribbean American heritage month and the splendor that surrounds the month of June, that special time of year for Caribbean Americans. However, we must take pause during the scorching summer months to examine a piece of our collective Caribbean truth that we seem to be challenged by; the current scourge of crime that is wreaking havoc across many of our tourism vested Caribbean countries. YES, June is Caribbean American Heritage Month, but what about the ugly face of Crime? How will our islands cope with the challenges crime brings? We have tough questions to ask on crime but even tougher challenges to find practical solutions to help keep our people safe. Let's not allow crime to spiral out of control.

In this edition of  Platform and Possibilities, we feature the tragic demise of Jordan Neely, a 30 year old black American man whose life violently ended while riding on a New York City subway, subdued by a former US Marine, who deemed Jordan’s erratic behavior a threat to his safety and the public. A chokehold would end the life of Jordan Neely and not long after would come protests that sparked a deeper investigation into the case resulting in Daniel Penny being charged with Jordan’s murder. Penny faces up to 16 years in prison if found guilty of Jordan’s death.

About two years ago, a dear friend who wanted to remind me of the power of aging shared with me 20 SPECIAL NOTES TO live by as you age! Of course, these tidbits are no where new to most of us but we must be ever so mindful of how intimately we align with these and other words of wisdom to live by! These tidbits were shared on 20 business days in May and are now conveniently shared here so that whether you’re young or not so young, something meaningful may resonate with you in this month of “May” and beyond.

In this edition of Platform and Possibilities, we share a bit about Earth Day and the conversations around “Mother Earth in Crisis." The brainchild and the founder of ⁠Earth Day⁠ was Senator Gaylord Nelson, an American politician and environmentalist from Wisconsin who served as a United States senator and governor of Wisconsin. Inspired by the protests of the 1960s, Senator Nelson helped to launch a new wave of ⁠environmental activism⁠ in his home state and across the United States. By raising public awareness of pollution, Nelson hoped to bring environmental causes into the national spotlight. On Earth Day Saturday, April 22, 2023, the focus and advocacy is even more intense. After decades of the climate crisis conversation, the overall approach to this ⁠#global⁠ challenge is not a one stroke painted canvas but a widely woven blanket of ideas and approaches that redound to the benefit of all, particularly the grassroots; those directly affected by food security challenges, water sourcing and conservation issues; those who bear the immediate brunt of climate change.

In this edition of Platform & Possibilities, we feature a drizzle of some of our many local and Diaspora based female authors. These women have helped me and so many other women along our life’s journey and their contributions to the development of their respective communities and the world for that matter, cannot be truly measured. I hope you enjoy learning about these women as much as I have. Bravo to female authors everywhere!!

In March each year, we celebrate all that is exceptional about the women in our communities. This March, we feature a few Kittitian and a Nevisian women residing in the Diaspora whose entrepreneurial skills serve others while allowing them to establish their brand and earn additional income doing what they love.

Women continue to excel in various fields globally and it’s fitting we continue to shine the spotlight on their accomplishments as successful women are beacons of hope for women and girls everywhere. Here, we feature three women in sports whose influence captures their indomitable spirit and their ability to inspire others long after they have left competitive sports. Each of these women in sports have shaped the lives of many women by the examples they have set. Their inspiration has helped to create excellence for others both personally and professionally. We are better because of their passion in sports.

Mrs. Edrice Lewis-Viechweg is the brainchild behind our uniquely designed national flag who hails from Newtown, Basseterre St. Kitts and currently resides in Connecticut, USA. Edrice has lived an exemplary life; one of honor, service, and devout patriotism. Given the caliber of a woman she has been, coupled with her expertly designed national flag which bears deep meaning for the people of our lands, it would be a remarkable honor in this 40th year of our independence to bestow the title of “National Recipient of the Star of Merit” upon Mrs. Edrice Lewis-Viechweg

Life is sometimes like the religion that we are taught as children. We are told to “believe in this way of worship” or “if you don’t abide by this doctrine, you will be forever cursed. We are inundated with stories about our fate as human beings if we don’t follow certain principles taught to us by man. In this episode, we speak briefly about how easily one can backslide or deviate from our goals. A true test of our character is realized in our backsliding. How do we get up when we fall down? How de we show up strong intent upon attaining our goals? We will fall down in life but it is in the getting up that we learn numerous lessons about life and our ability to WIN!

On December 14, 2022, the world learned that Stephen tWitch Boss, an American freestyle hip hop dancer, choreographer, actor, television producer, and television personality who was renowned for bringing his cool and upbeat vibe to the Ellen DeGeneres show, allegedly took his own life. This episode is an opportunity to pay homage to Boss, share condolences with his loved ones, and shine the spotlight on ourselves and our own mental health and mental health awareness.

Venetta Zakers is a daughter of St. Kitts and Nevis who found pleasure as a beauty queen, model, poet and community servant.  It is as a youth advocate that she has found her true calling and since 2012, she has been on a mission to reach, inspire, support and empower disadvantaged children and their families in St. Kitts and Nevis. The heart of Venetta's work is centered on impacting the lives of the nation's girls through developing a generation of ethical servant leaders with a desire to positively impact families, their communities, and the economy. As the founder and President of the Zakers Affinity Causes, Venetta is dedicated to the non-profit organization as it aligns closely to her passion for compassion towards others.  Listen keenly to this woman who has a heart for young people and a special heart for girls.

Ms. Kimarah T. Isaac is a phenomenal woman. She was born on the island of St. Kitts and developed a deep love for service at a very impressionable age. She kept the fire of service burning by pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and her Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Monroe College.  In this conversation, you will hear how Kimarah plays an integral role in Monroe College’s Executive Office, serving as a partner to its international admission team as the primary liaison for Caribbean students and government officials, and the broader higher education community in their home countries. Kimarah is responsible for helping prospective students learn about academic programs and student support services at Monroe, the admissions and enrollment process, and all pertinent visa and documentation requirements, and related issues. She also works closely with myriad government officials, agencies, and other key constituents in the Caribbean on matters relating to educational opportunities for their citizens. This is truly a woman who loves her work and also loves people. She recently earned the SHRM-CP certification as a Human Resources Professional and is a member of various professional organizations, including the National Black M.B.A. Association (NBMBA), Sandy Point Benevolent Society (SPBS), National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), American Hotel, and Lodging Association (AHLA), and Society for Human Resource Management. Her responsibilities include managing the scholarship recipient selection process, coordinating award credits with Finance, and reporting to the Finance Team and Government officials on quarterly revenue and spending projections. She is dubbed the Monroe College Ambassador, a name she truly deserves.