From WXXI news.

This is connections.

I'm Raquel Steven.

From carnival costumes to the pulse of soca and reggae.

From jerk chicken to calypso compa and steel pan Rochester's Caribbean community is vibrant, growing and proud.

This year marks the 39th anniversary of Care Fest Rochester, a signature celebration of Caribbean heritage, music and unity.

But beyond the flags, feathers and flavors, Kara Fest tells a deeper story of migration, perseverance and the richness of cultures that have shaped this city for over a century.

Today, we're talking about the power of Caribbean culture in Rochester and beyond.

We'll explore the history, the music, the meaning of carnival, and what it means to celebrate multiculturalism at a time when immigrants and communities of color are still under threat.

Joining me are two leaders who help make this happen.

Every year, Alan Prescott is the president of the Rochester West Indian Festival Organization, or RWA.

AFO and Cade DiNardo is their vice president and parade coordinator.

Thank you guys for joining us.

Thank you.

Thank you for having us.

And I'm going to call you Baby Cap.

But that's why I know you as baby cat.

That's fine.

So, Allen, I don't know who Allen is, but I hope Allen comes out today.

And like always, we want to welcome our listeners to join us in this conversation.

You can call us at 1844295 talk.

That's 1-844-295-8255.

Or at (585) 263-9994 or email us at connections at IE dawg or comment in the chat section in our YouTube channel.

Now this conversation is very near and dear to my heart.

Being of Caribbean descent, being born in Saint Lucia, I know a lot of you, our listeners, know Saint Lucia, very much a tourist attraction and being raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

I'm a cruise fan, right?

Okay, Acadia, I know what you're saying.

Told me in yours and told me.

And so that's another, as some of our listeners I know visited, Saint Thomas is another big tourist attraction.

But Saint Croix is a bigger island.

Okay, so I'm the bigger sister here.

Okay.

So I, I love I want to talk about this topic, and I don't think we've discussed this on connections before.

So, I definitely wanted to use my platform to bring awareness to my culture and what's going on here locally when it comes to Caribbean culture.

And, Allen, I'll talk with the accent all throughout this show.

Guys, I'm telling my listeners right now, my accent will probably come out when I talk about the Caribbean.

My accent, my accent naturally comes out.

So, Allen, what is your nationality?

I don't think I know this.

I'm born and raised in Barbados, or as we say, in Barbados, as a beard.

You have been accent.

So we starting already?

We're starting already.

Okay.

I didn't know your vision.

Okay.

So, Allen, let's start with you.

Our wishful has been around for more than 40 years.

42 years, to be exact.

What was the original vision behind the organization and how has the Caribbean community grown?

In Rochester since then over time.

So in speaking to the founders, right, and back in 1983, they came together and they founded this organization.

And back then it was literally the vision of having a platform for all of us from across the Caribbean, all 32 countries, to come together under one umbrella and have, first of all, while also taking the proceeds and the moneys to support our own or to support the community.

Right.

And a lot of the things that carefirst or does not care for us, that have or does outside of care for us, are the unsung actions that the founders put in place.

Some of those things, pageant.

We have a miscarriage fest.

Pageant.

We also have yes, I when was this?

So the pageant hasn't happened because of the pandemic.

Okay.

A lot of stuff was shelved and we haven't rebuilt momentum on it.

But that's one of the visions that we're looking at.

Bring him back.

Let me.

I want to say something before you proceed.

Right.

Pageant tree in the islands is such a big thing.

Okay?

I grew up doing pageants.

My mom made sure I was in pageants.

I was way you go on stage and you showcase your talent, and it's such a big thing in the Island of Beauty, wearing a crown is the most one of the most respected things, in the Caribbean.

So I just want to.

I just want to highlight how big pageantry is, is for us in the Caribbean.

It very much is.

Yeah.

And then another thing, as a pageant, another thing that we did is all we do is we have the coat drive and we have several annual things.

But the biggest component of what they did was giving the power to the organization to enable the youth to proceed to college.

One of our biggest parts or components of the US was in the festival.

Organization is taking the moneys we raised from fundraising throughout the year, including the ones we raised at Carefirst, and we donated back to college bound students of Caribbean descent yearly annually.

So we're a part of the Urban League's Black Scholars Program, and the moneys be raised for care for us.

Most of it goes to scholarships and then we start over again.

So it's not all about partying, it's about giving back and making sure the next generation, you sustain the next generation of Caribbean.

The organization was never about partying.

It just so happened that there was a need at the time in 1983, which is still here, because, I mean, all three of us in this room have been down there in whether it's a working capacity or just a hanging out party to bring together people, with our heritage and our background from across the Caribbean and something that makes us feel like we're back at home, even though we're here in Rochester, New York, and Monroe County.

And that's really what it is.

Bring a little bit of what we grew up with the pageantry, the revelry, the music, the food, the vibes.

To Rochester, New York put it right in the heart of downtown so that we can share it with our community and say, hey, this is where we're from, and we welcome everybody with open arms, open arms to join us.

Oh, so can you tell us a little bit about, do you know a little bit about the, the Caribbean, history here and when did it develop?

And I heard something about a Ursula Simmons, a Jamaican back in 1914.

Do you know anything I miss?

Ursula Simmons is the first documented, Caribbean immigrant in Rochester in Monroe County.

Oh, she's of Jamaican descent.

However, there's speculations that there were people here before that time that just didn't identify as being Caribbean.

And since then, the community has grown dramatically over the years to where in every form of, work or whatever you want to call it in the city, whether it be elected officials.

We've got politicians like miss Rose Beinecke, we've got the the list precedes us nurses, doctors, lawyers.

Of course.

You and I have been in this broadcast entertainment field for years.

Yeah.

So whatever it is, you think about it, we're here to the point where Monroe County is now home to the second largest Caribbean population in the state of New York, outside of New York City.

So I knew when I came here, I felt like home.

Yes.

Right.

And I'm like, why does it feel like home so far away from home?

And it's because a lot of Caribbean people made Rochester home.

Do we know what it is about Rochester that makes Caribbean people just assimilate in like, hey, this is this feels like it should be the next biggest Caribbean melting pot.

I can't say I know what it is, but you got to think about how we are back home.

And I can attest to this.

If Mom and dad go there, they're going.

They're leaving us home to go make a better future.

Yes.

When they get themselves set up, what do they do?

They reach back and say, okay, you come up and then if they're good, you know, they're going to bring their sister and their cousin and everybody.

And eventually the whole family ends up here and we start carrying forward our culture while we're also flourishing in Rochester, New York.

Yeah.

And I want to touch on some big names of, of, Caribbean, people here in Rochester.

I know you mentioned, some including myself, Garth Fagan.

Garth Fagan is a well known, when it comes to the arts, Tony Award winning, sorry choreographer.

Let me put some respect on Jamaican.

Yeah, don't do that to Garth, because I get the phone call.

Jerome Underwood, you know.

Yep, yep.

Jerry hails from Antigua and Barbuda.

He is the current president of ABC.

That may have changed.

Yes.

And one Barbuda?

Definitely.

Yes.

Well, I don't know.

We're playing trivia.

Okay.

One more name for you.

Go.

Lance.

Thomas.

You know who that is?

Lance.

Thomas, I have not interacted with Lance, but I've heard of him, and I believe he's of Jamaican descent.

Also.

Okay.

All right.

Well, Lance, how do you know?

You know what?

All right, you got it.

You got it.

You were three for three.

Lance Thomas.

He's actually our chief financial officer here at.

I, his daughter recently.

I think that Paris Olympics last year, she ran, track for representing Jamaica.

You know how I know, Lance?

You know how I know.

Let's.

When we're finished, I'll go see Lance and you'll see.

Lance's father served as my mentor in college.

Wow.

Yes, Lance.

His father's name is Colin Thomas, aka mr. Bill.

He was the Caribbean music director at TR for decades, and Mr. Bill helped me get through college at Rochester in technology that attest to, like, the Caribbean community being so small in in close knit, right.

We all know each other in some capacity.

I want to talk about care office.

Right.

And a growth of care office over 39 years.

I know Covid kind of slowed things down.

But what what can you tell me about the growth?

What has been like seeing Care Office grow over these years?

If you want to join in, if you warmed up a little bit, I know you were a little bit nervous, but I might.

We warmed up.

So we're a family here.

It is so inclusive.

Of those that are not of Caribbean descent, because we're Rochester has this sense of family.

Rochester has this sense of family.

So within that, it's so pure and natural to see that how personal it can be and inclusive of everybody.

Yeah.

So throughout the years we're growing, we want to get bigger.

But, it's just a joy to see us all come together.

Yeah.

Whether we're Caribbean or not.

And just enjoy the heritage and learn about it.

Yeah.

Because even people that are not Caribbean enjoy our food, enjoy the music and enjoy the vibe, right?

There's I know you don't talk about party, but there's no party like a Caribbean party.

Absolutely.

Okay.

And if you don't know what I'm talking about, you can you can join in.

Acadia as as the parade coordinator.

Yes.

You've seen this up close.

Let's talk about what carnival means in the Caribbean tradition.

And how do you bring that spirit to Rochester?

So in a Caribbean tradition, Carnival is rooted more into liberation, right?

So we go back to our, enslaved Africans, which used, you know, carnival as a form of expression, politically and spiritually.

Right?

So, we have that here in Rochester where, what do I want to say?

Where, you know, with the beat of the drums and how we play mass and everything, where we're bringing our expression out into the street, out for everybody to enjoy our heritage with us together.

Right.

So we have that same spirit here in Rochester, but we're on a smaller scale, right?

Because the parade is not as big that we would normally would have it in our, you know, homes, right?

Yes.

So, but it's the same sense and, you know, we're playing mass, everybody's coming together, they're enjoying, the carnival.

And you can see the, you know, the smiles on the elders faces.

And there's a light, bright shining in, the youths eyes.

Yeah.

And everybody is just like once that that that rhythm hits that first costume troop starts to go up the, the street light.

It brings that positive energy that energy of home.

Yeah.

That collective.

So, Yeah.

And it's just us celebrating our life loudly and proudly together.

Yeah.

And is there anything righteous?

I know it's a smaller nit type carnival, but is there anything that you borrow from other like care for celebrations?

We have Cabana, which is probably just two hours away.

Right?

That's huge.

Right.

Do you try to bring a little bit of the carnival?

How many carnivals have you been to other than I, is, I guess I can't count which one was the best one you've been to home, Saint Thomas.

Really?

Okay.

Yes, yes, I have.

I've never been to a Saint Thomas carnival.

Okay.

And it's just right up the street for me.

I've never been to Saint Thomas Carnival, but I see the I that's on my bucket list.

I heard you clearing your throat here.

Alan.

So, what's the best carnival you've been to?

I got to say crap over.

I have to say crap over.

I can't get lynched.

Crap.

But I've been to a long list from the UK all the way through the United States.

All the way down to the Caribbean.

Yeah, I've been to many, and I know there's.

There's different states and cities within the states that do their carnival.

Atlanta, Miami, Raleigh.

I don't even know.

Raleigh had one.

Raleigh.

Hollywood, California.

This Connecticut.

Connecticut, this this carnival spirit and culture is being formed in the States.

Are they doing it the same?

The ones have you been to?

I can't say the same, and I can't say different.

Everybody has a different approach to it, and it really depends on the need of that particular city.

Yeah.

So Rochester, we have a unique need in us as the festival organization.

We try to cater to that when putting in the festival and the parade together.

However, I will say I see a lot of similarities in terms of the music, the foods, the cultural representations.

And as Kay mentioned, the youth.

Right.

So a big part of why I formed what I'm seeing with other organizations is that we're all trying to carry our, our culture forward by sharing with the youth, not only our children, but other youth in the city.

So the culture doesn't die with us.

And so what do you want to hope that a young, especially young Caribbean Americans feel when they see or join the festivities, the parade here?

A mirror.

I want them to see themselves, bold.

Beautiful.

Powerful.

Where they are not afraid to celebrate their heritage.

Loud and proud.

That's what I want to see.

And then for them to know that they are the ones to carry this for, for us.

We're building a legacy here in Rochester, and we're right in our own chapter here in the history right here in Rochester.

When we hit these streets for Carrie first.

And you know, the things that we do outside of Carey Fest.

Yeah.

Something we heard during our we had some guest on for the Puerto Rican festival, last week.

And something we heard was how important it is for young people to see their culture reflected publicly, not just at home, but out in the streets, at the park, through dance, food and family.

I imagine there's a similar feeling with care as Kedia, mentioned.

Is it intentional?

Yes.

It's intentional.

We have to know our roots, where we're come from and, you know, and keep that because that keeps us grounded.

And, we carry that on so that we never forget who we are and where we come from, and we're paying and honoring our ancestors.

And once again, we're celebrating life loudly and proudly together.

Now we can't talk about Caribbean culture without talking about music.

Okay, now let's talk about this lineup.

Because each year, to me, the care fest lineup makes me my eyes open wide.

Like what?

Okay, last year we had Seraphine and from the Virgin Islands.

Papa.

Right.

And I was your welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

VIP.

They can see me VIP.

And we had papa and I was, I was I felt, you know, like you had guys had me in mind.

Thank you very much.

And I felt a little bit closer to home and.

Well, this year we have Sham and Moto Moto Moto Moto and Moto solution.

Yes, yes.

I'm from I was born in Saint Lucia, so I'm like, you guys just keep thinking about me over there.

Let's talk about this, this lineup and why how what what do you go through when choosing the artists?

Because you have to consider the generations.

You have to consider the music.

What is the planning like when you're like, okay, yes, we're going to go with jam.

We're going to go with Moto.

All right.

So first let me start by thanking the entertainment committee.

Right.

Because we go through and list that starts at the ear right.

It starts at the beginning of the year.

And we just go through it and go through and go.

So first I got to thank JR. Got to thank maestro.

Got to thank her by feel okay as an honorary member.

Joan helps us from the background and myself.

But between the body of us, we look at what the need is in the market.

We look at who has been here before, which is key.

We try our hardest not to repeat an artist on for us within 5 to 10 years.

Right.

So we go from there.

Okay.

What will be the draw based on the generational spread and the relative age of people around the city?

Right.

Because at the end of the day, we're trying to raise money for scholarship, and then we apply that formula to who's available and who fits in our budget.

Yeah, right.

That's important.

It is it is it is very important because we don't want to break the bank and spend all of our money or over our allotted amount, because then in the back end, we have no money to finance our other vulture ventures, and we have no money to give to scholarship.

So there's that fine juggling, active, cost effective, not versus what's going to appeal to the masses in Rochester.

And then when you look at the difference in the artists, it's always been a mindset of the of the festival organization to not just have an artist that represents one Caribbean culture or genre of music, so that that's why you get at least two.

In years past you've had 3 or 4, right?

But it's always to spread it out.

And then there's some years where we have a dancehall artist versus a reggae artist and vice versa.

And, well, that's a whole nother topic.

Dancehall versus reggae, right?

That's a whole other topic.

We've also got soca versus calypso, right?

And then we've got a huge Haitian contingent that's steadily growing within the city of Rochester.

And they approached me and said, hey, we would like to see a couple artists on Carey Fest.

So there's a lot of things in work, and it's really when you look at the beautiful bridge behind you, it's really bridging the gap between the east side and the west side of that bridge.

Oh, oh, so I know intentionally, what I've seen is that you you definitely have a dancehall artist, right.

Someone that that's from, that's a of that culture.

And then there's either a soca or calypso artist.

Those two genres would you say are the most those are the most people going.

Those are the most prevalent ones to get the people going.

But if you look at the music, it's really the beat, right?

Some people may not understand the lyrics or what we're saying, because a lot of the songs are recorded in our native accents, but they move to the beat, they sway to the beat, and they come to listen to the beat and get some good food.

Yeah, right.

And one of the things that's left out, or it's not necessarily mentioned as much as we have implemented a pseudo sound class in Carefirst for the last couple of years or the first over the last couple of years of this year, we're having a generations clash.

And part of what we've done is with the age groups is we've spread it out across three deejays.

So we have three DJs representing from the 80s all the way up to the current, and we've deejay has their year or their couple of years to represent.

So I say that to say that there will be music for everybody there.

Right.

And the artists may not perform it, but we also have DJs worked in and out of the performances that will do it.

We've also got an African dance group.

Dance group?

One more Africa.

Yeah.

We've also got I still the one man steel pan and we're still working on adding a couple more things.

Wow.

Yeah.

And this is August, this August 9th.

And you're still working on adding more things?

Of course.

I'm just like a Caribbean person.

Now I want to talk about the food.

We gotta talk about the food.

Okay.

What dishes can people expect to see at the festival this summer?

Everything and everything.

Right from the jerk.

We have a roti, right?

Roti.

And as of Trinidad, right?

Yes.

Native to Trinidad.

And the jerk chicken native to Jamaica.

Yes.

What?

What do we have in the Virgin Islands?

Korea?

I don't do we have a national food?

I don't know is it is a chicken leg on Johnny King saying I was.

Yeah, that's what it is.

That's what it is.

You get what's going on in, Barbados.

What is your national?

National dish?

Yeah.

Coco and flying fish.

That's that's an easy one.

Flying fish will change your life.

You just love trivia.

Like I.

We should have prepared a whole segment on trivia for Alan, right?

Yeah.

Oh, come back any day.

You are rocking, you know.

You know that we can do this for about 2 or 3 hours straight.

What is your what is your favorite?

Caribbean dish?

Anything the grandma cooks, that's the best way.

And and to say that, to say that we all grew up with that, figure in our life, some some of us is a maternal figure, some of us a paternal figure.

And no matter what it is they cook, it just always has that unique, standout taste.

So anything that grandma cooks.

Now, when you talk about Rochester, New York, I can't pick one restaurant over the other because we have a plethora of Caribbean restaurants scattered around the city and businesses, and they all provide their unique stamp on these traditional dishes.

And a lot of them will be represented down at the festival site.

For my people that are of American descent, you know, their family migrated from the South.

They're welcome at their first two.

And if they don't want necessarily the Caribbean food, the jerk chicken, the stew chicken, that kind of stuff.

We've got a couple of barbecue vendors in there.

And last but not least, the most important part for the children Nancy has agreed to bring out the fried dough vehicle so we will have Nancy's fried dough.

Oh, you had to have something for the children.

So something for everyone there.

And and a lot of, like, Americans love Caribbean food.

Yes, they love jerk chicken.

They love the oxtails, right?

They love Caribbean food.

So this is definitely a place.

And they love vacationing in the Caribbean, right?

Because of the people.

Can we talk about care before we talk about Caribbean people?

What is your favorite dish?

Katie I love fudgy.

Oh boy.

Fish.

Oh she took it way back.

She took it way back.

Can we stop talking about food?

That's why I like it is lunchtime.

Okay, so let's talk about the carnival costumes.

Right.

And what goes into preparing carnival costumes?

These are elaborate.

What do we know about the history of of carnival costumes?

What we know.

We know that it dates back to our African and European traditions.

We know that our enslaved Africans used the.

They made their own masqueraders.

They made their own costumes, and they use it as a form of cultural expression.

And once again, it's also for like, political resistance and all that good stuff back then.

And it's just a form of a way for us to express ourselves boldly, loudly, spiritually, politically.

Yeah.

So I mean, that's where it starts from.

And it just has evolved.

Yeah.

And and it's just don't get it twisted is expensive.

Is it expensive?

These costumes are definitely expensive.

And they take a lot of time to prepare.

Yeah.

How how early do you start preparing?

The costumes.

I know each troupe.

Right?

Each group that participates probably have their own hands on into their own.

Their creative control.

But how long does it normally take?

It would take, I would say mass camps would start a year in advance, you know, and then it goes into them creating a theme and and sketching the design.

And, and making, the costumes as far as the, buying the feathers and the rhinestones and all that good stuff that goes into making a costume and, you know, they all gather together, like I said, in these mass camps where they work together and they also bonding together while they're doing it as one.

Yes.

That is a great that is a great, something to note.

That's a great observation.

Bonding, right?

Yes.

Because a lot of these camps, that's what they call them, camps where they sit in, they create these costumes.

You are you are bonding.

Yes.

It's not a one man show.

Yeah.

You know, all hands on deck.

Yeah.

You know, to to showcase our beautiful, bold colors that represent our island, our geography, you know, just us all together, our heritage, everything.

So it tells a story in itself without a story actually being told.

Yeah.

And I spent some, yeah, some money on some costumes because, you know, there's different tiers, right.

You either want to be in the front line.

The front line, you had the all the more elaborate, extravagant costumes which can cost thousands and thousands of dollars.

And you could just have one you, you know, a regular little with our swimsuit, with an armband and a like a couple hundred.

But these because they are you paying for the time, the material.

What are you paying for when you when you pay these costs?

So you know what I'm going to ask a football here, right?

Yeah.

Because one of Kaye's visions, right, is to create mass cap in Rochester.

She's being modest.

One of her businesses to have a mass cap in Rochester.

And part of us developing that is organization is she also spearheads a costume making workshop that we have every year.

Yes.

Thank you.

So with the costume making workshop, we started out where where we are.

We just worked on a headpiece when we introduced that, so the participants was able to get an idea of, you know, how it all starts with, first let me go back and say we were able to, have one of the, well, she's actually the leader for the mass camp there.

Laura.

Carnival in, Toronto?

Yes, in Toronto.

I heard about her.

Yeah.

Miss Joan, that's good enough.

Joan.

Joanne.

Joanne.

Sorry.

And she came down, and she led the class for us, and, you know, she talked about the history and, you know, how they start out with the wire bending because she did that ahead of time so that they understand that it takes time.

So if she was to come down here and the wire been all of them, we wouldn't be able to get through that class in one day.

So they did that and they decorated with feathers and all that stuff, and they made some beautiful headpieces.

So the vision now is to continue that where we're making a full costume from head to toe, arm pieces all the way down to the shoes.

So, you know, we decorate the boots as well, you know?

So, that's the vision.

And just trying to coordinate that and, and teach, you know, Rochester areas, those who are not familiar with, you know, our culture and you know, what goes into the why we do it and the history behind it and how much time ever it takes.

And it's not a one man show, you know, everybody all hands on that.

So that's my always been my vision to actually develop a mass camp that we too can also travel to different carnivals throughout the world and showcase us.

Yes.

You know.

Yeah.

So and I know care and Carnival is not just the Caribbean.

Right.

We have in Brazil.

Yes.

I've heard about the Brazilian carnival.

Beautiful, beautiful.

That's on my bucket list as well.

So what do you think is the most joyful part of the parade for you?

The most joyful part for me, I would say, is when the beat first truck and a music drop and the first group goes up that street and the energy and a vibe that you get from that feeling of being in Carnival and just celebrating together, that's my most joyful part.

When it's all put together and we're on our way up the road.

What was your most joyful part?

Do you even participate in the parade or are you busy planning?

So in years past, my participation has always been the DJ on the truck.

Yeah.

So my perspective on it is the other side of that.

What makes me happy is to see everybody enjoying themselves as they're proceeding down Main Street.

Yeah, because I'm making sure that the beat is there, the vibes are there, everybody's having fun there.

Jump in there, revel in.

They're enjoying themselves.

Oh, we're going to take a quick little break.

We're talking about Kara Fest and all things Caribbean right here on WXXI news with the president and vice president of Rochester West Indian Festival organization.

Stay with us.

I'm Evan Dawson.

Coming up in our second hour, we bring back a recent conversation about a conservation success story, the Seneca Park Zoo.

Welcome to the first ever North American river otters to be born in its facility earlier this year.

And zoo leaders say that is a long time in the making.

This has not been easy, but federal cuts are going to make conservation even harder.

We'll talk about it next hour.

Public radio brings you the kind of enlightened discussions about local and world events that keep you informed.

We rely on listeners like you to help pay for this kind of programing.

And when you become a sustaining member of WXXI, your monthly gift helps keep this vital service strong for the whole community.

Please make your gift at WXXI talk and we're back with WXXI connections.

We're talking about all things Caribbean here in this hour, and we're talking about Carafes.

And joining me in studio is Alan Prescott, the president of the Rochester West Indian Festival Organization, and K.D.

O'Donnell is their vice president and parade coordinator.

Now.

Guys, what does it mean to you personally to be Caribbean American in Rochester?

Do you even consider yourself Caribbean American?

Ladies first, I, No not really.

Yeah, I don't I mean, I am from the U.S. Virgin Islands, so, you know, it's where U.S. territory.

Right.

But, you know, my mother's from think it's in the U.S..

So, I consider myself Caribbean, you know, my children now, I would say Caribbean American, but, I just being here, though, I carry the warmth, the resilience.

You know, I just.

Take in what I can take in as far as the Caribbean community.

It's here because it's a sense of family.

Yeah.

You know, so it's just, natural is pure for me to just feel very connected.

Yeah.

To this area.

Yeah.

And what does it mean for you to be of Caribbean descent in Rochester or just in general?

Oh, if you want to, if we can go, we can go both ways.

In general, it is an honor, like being from the Caribbean is its own unique thing within itself.

And being able to bring that to the United States and share it with others that only see the beautiful islands on TV.

That's a huge privilege.

And just growing up there, it's a different way of life.

Slower pace, a little less relaxed, but definitely a different way of life.

We have fun, we work hard and all of the above.

And then when you look at it from the perspective of being in Rochester, I mean, that's just shown in this room.

We come together as family just because we're all from the Caribbean.

And, that family feel of being from the Caribbean or the West Indies in Rochester spreads far beyond this room is spread throughout the county.

Yes.

Yeah.

And I, you know, a lot of people when I first came to Rochester in oh five, for, for college, a lot of people asked, what, why would you leave if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me, why would you leave the Virgin Islands and come to Rochester?

And I don't, I don't know, I but the thing is, in the Caribbean, the goal is to make it out right, because the United States is seen as this, this, this living that dream, the opportunity to do better, to make something of yourself.

Right.

So being Caribbean for me is I it's I feel exotic, for lack of a better word.

You feel exotic, you feel like a rare species.

And the warmth that we have and the just the way that we celebrate our culture.

Right.

And we're just proud of.

We're just different people and people that visit the Caribbean.

They're like, wow, the people.

They always say, the people they always talk about the food and the people.

Absolutely.

We just we're a little different.

We're a little different.

So and I know you said here that you're you have you're son, right.

Your daughter five.

You have five children born in the US.

Yes.

So how okay.

So for the younger generation, especially for those born here, how do you see the Caribbean identity evolving?

Are they losing it?

Are you still trying to maintain it within your household or or are they like, we like to say Americanized, right.

That's the term you're in the Caribbean.

You're so Americanized.

Now.

What are you seeing?

Are you preserving that culture at home?

Yes, I am absolutely.

Whether it's through music, food, just a history.

Learning about taking our visits to different islands, not just from where I'm from or where my mother's from, is being preserved.

And I see my children there enjoying it.

They're loving it.

They're like, getting the best of both worlds.

Their experience in both worlds, worlds that, many are not able to experience.

And, it's being preserved is being a legacy is being built where they're going to carry that on.

Yeah, yeah.

And Allen, within your home, how are you preserving your culture?

You got to pay it forward.

You got to pay for it.

If you don't share it, teach it and show it to our children, they're not going to know what they're going to know what they know in school.

And then you also take the time out to take that trip.

Hey, come on, let's go see where that is from.

Yeah, let's go see where mom is from.

Yeah.

Not only when Mom and Dad get upset and the accent comes out, right?

Right.

Because that's.

Have we have that gift to turn the accent on and off, and it usually comes out when we're upset.

So while Kara Fest is a joyful celebration, it also happens during a complicated moment in American life.

Immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean continue to face threats politically and socially.

So this is also a time to reflect.

Allen, I want to start with you.

What does it mean to celebrate multiculturalism in today's political climate?

What does it mean to celebrate that?

So I would say the celebration is more of a reminder that we are here, and we've been contributing to the fabric of the United States of America since day one.

Right.

And even though you say even though people separate, Latin America from the Caribbean, really and truly we do come together as one because we have our brothers and sisters that are of Latin descent from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and I go down the list of countries that are part of the Caribbean.

Right.

And they all show up for us, and in turn, we do the same.

You show up for them, right?

So you said the you mentioned the people from the Puerto Rican festival, were here a couple of days ago.

Right.

The president of the Puerto Rican Festival is a very good friend of mine.

And that always.

Yeah, yeah.

Orlando, we're always looking to bridge the gap between the two organizations.

Yeah.

So I say all that to say, celebrating multiculturalism is a joint effort amongst a lot of these organizations that you see doing their part to support our respective communities within the Rochester community.

Yeah.

And I just want are you seeing a new waves of immigrants from a Caribbean or Latin America in Rochester, and how are they being welcomed?

Like it?

It depends.

So you have different levels or different tiers of that waves.

You have the tier that come in.

They're looking for the assistance and the support.

And we always have open arms.

We're looking to help them.

We're looking to get them assistance, stuff like that.

We have people now like Rose bond again that's moved up in the political arena.

So we have those support systems in place that we can always assist.

But then you have the other tier that, like you and I came up just to go to college, right?

And sometimes we just got to reach out and say, hey, by the way, you've got a functioning Caribbean organization here.

One of our big programs is A Taste of Home.

We partner with organizations like the Rochester Jamaican Organization and other organizations to just reach out to the college campuses around here and say, hey, we just want the Caribbean students to come join us for dinner.

They can break bread with us and get to know us, because that opens up the gate to us opening those support services like mentoring, tutoring, or, hey, I'm having a hard time or hey, I miss home.

Hey, I'm trying to go home to see mommy for Christmas or something like that, those kind of things.

So it's all a matter of supporting the community.

Yeah.

And that all ties together in the celebration of cultural ism.

You can't celebrate cultural ism if you're at the same time letting it die.

So I absolutely I know for me in college I'm having like a Caribbean organization in college made me feel a little bit more welcomed.

So having that, having those organizations definitely help starting at the different levels.

What about like in elementary schools or high schools?

Are we doing anything.

We'll talk about that question.

Yeah.

We'll talk about I can start that.

It's okay.

So it's first of all, festivals are acting like a form of cultural resistance or empowerment during this time in part political empowerment.

Yeah.

Empowerment.

Empowerment.

So it's worth noting that, these celebrations from, like the Puerto Rican Festival to Care Fest are just cultural events.

They're they're not just cultural events.

They're statements.

To me, they say we're not just surviving.

We're we're thriving.

Yes.

What do they say for you?

For me?

Within different, organizations?

It showcases.

So we're all celebrating as one.

Right?

But we all bring our own ingredient to it.

Yeah, and it makes the pot even sweeter.

You know, so for me, it just shows how elaborate we are.

We may be different, but at the end of the day, we're all for the same thing culturally, and we're trying to set our legacy for everyone to see and continue.

And that's what they do moving forward.

Yeah.

And I know we talk about the youth and we talk about the scholarships.

Right.

And why is this so important?

For the RWA effort to invest in the youth.

Why is this such a key part of your mission?

Because of youth, our our future.

You know, they are the ones that's going to continuing what we're going to honor.

And our ancestors.

We're going to be ancestors as well.

But, you know, and the history behind why we do what we do and why, you know, we are here and why we are so unique here.

You want you don't want any criminal that pay it forward.

Yeah, I kind of wrap it up in that, you have to pay it forward.

You have to get them involved.

Young, make sure they understand it.

And then sometimes that little nudge along the way to help them grow into the person that we see them becoming for, What is it, foster the potential.

Yeah.

And eventually that potential will come back and help you.

Yes.

So where what do you hope this festival looks like in ten years?

I know you want your mass camp could.

Do you.

What do you what are you hoping it looks like in ten years when you're celebrating 49 years going into your 50th year with art, like, back home or in one of these islands somewhere?

Celebrate.

And that's what I hope it looks like, that we just expand to where people come from, all walks of life, all over the world, to come and celebrate with us.

So in 50 years, I'd like to have this same conversation.

You know, in ten years, 50 years, I hope I'm around.

But like, it's only ten years, I'd like to have the same conversation with you.

And I would love to see Carefirst exponentially grow.

Couple of days we have the support and backing from all across the county and the city, and it's truly a sight to see.

And like Kay mentioned, people are at that point traveling from around the world to say, okay, we've got to get to Rochester the second week of August for Carrickfergus.

Yeah, right.

Or we went to Toronto.

We're just going to stay in upstate New York or Toronto between Caribbean and care for us.

Yeah.

And if you go to New York City, New York City, Brooklyn, has of heavy Caribbean population.

Brooklyn is the Caribbean.

Yep.

Right.

When you visit places like this, what is it?

What does it say to you about Rochester?

Because we're we're the second most I'll start.

We have the second, allegedly the second highest Caribbean population in the in New York.

It tells me that Rochester has the potential to grow to be a hub or a home to people of Caribbean descent.

Right?

A second home to people in the state, right?

We have the potential.

And the good thing is we're close to the resources.

We're close to Toronto.

You know, Toronto has a huge population, so there's only there's nothing but potential here in Rochester, New York, and Monroe County.

Yeah.

And we have some of the best Caribbean foods.

Right.

The best Jamaican.

Absolutely.

Right here.

Yeah.

Right here I want I want to mention something, but there's a running joke that Jamaicans don't know how to cook Mac and cheese.

Yeah.

When it comes to food, I know you're trying to be politically correct.

So good things.

I can't pick who who makes the best mac and cheese in the Caribbean.

What island?

Starting some tension here.

So, you know, I'm say mine.

Yeah.

Thomas.

See, I'm.

I'm gonna sidestep this.

So here's what I'm gonna do.

Bagian.

Macaroni pie is the best.

Macaroni pie.

What is macaroni?

It is a variation of macaroni cheese.

And there's a lot more components in just the pasta and the cheese and the cream.

Like, macaroni pie itself is a meal by itself.

Okay, right.

You got some onions and peppers, and I'll make you some.

Okay.

Oh, you can hold me to that.

Some people, a lot of people come on this show and make promises to me.

Rocky, this is you and I. Yeah, I got you covered.

I don't what you calling me saying?

You owe me.

I got you covered.

Okay.

So, Kitty, I want to.

I want to touch on something you said.

You you're hoping that people from all over.

Yes.

Right.

Make this carnival or this festival, this Caribbean festival, something that they attend each year.

Yes.

Right.

How do you approach making the festival welcoming for people who aren't from the Caribbean?

With open arms?

They are come to the parade, start out with the parade, right.

And feel the energy, that vibe and just join in, you know, and.

Just know that you're welcome.

Like, I, I mean, I think for me, it would show on my face like.

You're welcome.

Yeah.

You're welcome.

And for someone coming to the carrot Fest for the first time, what should they not miss?

Allen?

Any of it?

Any of it?

Any of it.

So let's let's talk about the parade.

Right.

Why would you want to miss a parade that's starting on the corner of main and Plymouth?

And we're heading east on Main Street.

Right.

We are going almost the entire length of Main Street to East Avenue.

Right.

You've got we're turning on Chestnut Street, then we're going to MLK Park.

That is a stretch that's going to be covered with music that the three of us love.

So that's inviting and welcoming.

That's open to anybody.

Right?

It doesn't just have to be people of Caribbean descent.

And then when you get to the park, you've got a great festival plan, you've got youth groups performing.

We've also got our children's village, right where the children's villages will be set up a separate area for children with a tent.

All of that stuff and some of the key features is we teach them about Caribbean culture, we teach them about Caribbean history, and we all have children.

So, you know, you got to give the children something to do.

Yes, we've got face painting in there this year.

Plus as add as an added bonus for us as parents right now is the one that suggested this.

We have free Back-To-School backpacks with supplies in them for the children.

Okay, talk about why would why implement this, right?

This this, and this initiative.

I think Rebecca speaks for all, especially from Caribbean descent.

Education is like key number one in our household.

Oh, okay.

Tell me about I have PTSD just thinking about that.

My mama and I mean, we wasn't taught nothing but to learn that education before everything else.

Yes.

You know, and that's what's going to carry us because that's what's going to lead us and that's going to keep us grounded.

Yes.

And who we are and where we're going from.

Yes.

I'll come home with a 99, that's not enough.

Right?

I got a 99 on my test.

Where's the extra one?

I'm like, what?

No.

Imagine that.

Growing up in a family of teachers.

Yeah, I had it rough.

Oh.

Do you have a favorite like carnival memory from Rochester or any other island that you'll be willing to share?

A favorite carnival memory.

I mean I love, I love car.

Well that's my passion.

That's my love about Carnival.

Just the people just party and just being around and bonding, you know, just a joy that we have celebrating together.

That's what I love about it.

I love juvie.

Oh, juvie with my.

How could we not talk about juvie?

That is huge in the Caribbean.

Yeah, just the.

That's such a Caribbean woman.

And so who for our listeners who don't know what, juvie is.

It's, early morning.

Yes.

Early morning parade.

Yeah.

Oh, where you people are dancing in the streets?

Yeah, usually behind a DJ or a live band.

And it starts early morning, like five in the morning.

And you party in the streets for a few hours, a few hours out, and you get.

People are throwing water at you, they're throwing paint, they're doing powder, they're beating the pens, everything, you know.

So, and then, you know, after that, you probably go to the beach and soak and go home, rest a little bit and get back at it again.

Back at it again.

What is your favorite carnival memory?

Planning, playing mass as a child, believe it or not, I was a child.

Mass camp.

All of the costumes, all of the above.

Really?

It's stuck with me.

And, you know, I want to say this.

I didn't start playing mass until I was about 30, 29, 30 years old because my mom wouldn't let me do it because the older generation, I believe they're very religious.

See Carnival as something that's demonic, right?

You know, and a lot of, older generation don't like they don't like what Carnival has turned into.

Like, are you are you seeing this as well with the old generation or are it is something that we've moved past?

I don't think we moved past it.

We still have some of those from the older generation.

It just don't jive with Carnival and what it has turned into.

There is a good and bad yeah to it.

But you know, carnival is carnival.

And once you know the history and where it comes from and you know the reason why we're having it and I mean, that's in itself is the joy, like, why, why, why be the Grinch.

Yes.

Yeah.

And, you know, the clothes get smaller and smaller each year.

But I had to I really had to put my foot down and rebel against mommy and say, no, I want to do this.

I want to partake in this part of my culture.

This is a significant you can't be from the Caribbean and not participate in carnival.

So it's like missing you're missing something.

How can you say that?

Before we sign off, Alan, tell people where and when they can join the festivities.

Where and when you can join the festivities.

The parade.

I'll let you talk about her parade.

Go ahead and then I'll take the rest.

Parade will be August 9th at the corner of Plymouth and, West Main Street.

It starts at 11:00.

Street closures will be about 1030.

We're heading.

What is that?

East up main Street?

To East F?

We're ending at the MLK park.

Parade is scheduled from 11 to 1.

Hopefully we can stay the whole time.

I still have more participating participants looking to join the parade, so that would be a great.

Is it growing?

Yes, and I want it to grow even more.

Yeah.

So, we're getting there, but, Yes.

Please come join us.

Parade day, August night.

Saturday, August 9th, 11:00.

The parade begins.

Oh, and Allen, take us.

Yes, that's followed by the Carefirst Festival celebrating the 39th anniversary.

And we've got a list of performers.

I mean, headliners are sham moto.

I still African Womble that doors open at 1 p.m. and I'm not going to say when, but I'm just going to say that the festival goes until about eight, eight, 30, you know, so it's a full packed day.

You've got great food, great entertainment.

You've got something for the children.

We've got a couple of, political people that are going to come through and give their opening remarks and their speeches.

We're also going to have representation there from the Rochester Fire Department and the Rochester Police Department.

They've decided to come down and do some recruiting.

A wide sampling of everything is going to be there.

If you're looking for something Caribbean that day, it's going to be there.

As a matter of fact, you've even got De Mahdi selling flags and stuff, and you can get your information at Waffle Talk.

Yes, you have to bring your flag.

Yes.

All right.

And I'll be there representing, to all our listeners, thank you so much for joining us.

Please don't forget Kara Fest, August 9th, celebrating the parade.

And then we're moving it to MLK Park for all the entertainment.

Thank you for joining us.

Alan Prescott Cadillac.

Donna Dell, appreciate you.

VIP till I die VIP.

My baby.

This program is a production of WXXI Public Radio.

The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of this station.

Its staff, management, or underwriters.

The broadcast is meant for the private use of our audience, any rebroadcast or use in another medium without express written consent of WXXI is strictly prohibited.

Connections with Evan Dawson is available as a podcast.

Just click on the connections link at WXXI News Talk.