ICA is proud to offer basic Hindi language classes in Richmond Hill. Classes will start Wednesday, March 13th and will recur every Wednesday until the end of June 2013 from 6:30 - 8:30pm. To register email us at [email protected]. We recommend a donation of $25 for the entire program.

Here is a video from our Hindi class:

ICA and SAYA! are now offering free tutoring in Richmond Hill.  Stop by Queens Library at Lefferts (103-34 Lefferts Blvd) any Tuesday from 3:30 - 5:30pm or Saturday from 2:30 - 4:30pm to get free tutoring assistance. Contact Nadira Beepat for more info at [email protected]!

9.  Festive Lights on Liberty Avenue

For the first time in many years, Liberty Avenue was lit up in time for Diwali and Christmas courtesy of the Richmond Hill Economic Development Council. The lights and diyas, despite being sparse, offered a more vibrant shopping experience and a celebratory mood within the community.  They event generated some buzz on social networks with several photos being uploaded. 

8.    Elton Dharry is a champion

At age 27, Indo-Caribbean boxer Elton Dharry made history by winning the Bantamweight belt in the WBC Caribbean Championship.  Born in Guyana and raised in Brooklyn, Dharry is winning fights and quickly picking up a strong following.  As he fights to hold on to the title, he will have many rooting on his side. 

7.  The first Hindu is elected to U.S. Congress

Tulsi Gabbard made history by becoming the first Hindu-American elected to the US Congress, with her swearing-in on the Bhagavad Gita scheduled for January 3rd 2013.  The Hawaiian Congresswoman-elect visited South Queens and interacted with residents of all backgrounds shortly after her victory.  Although she is not Indo-Caribbean herself, she has become a much-needed political inspiration to the community. 

6.  Easy come, easy go

Many welcomed the introduction of lower air fares and direct flights to Guyana as eagerly as they questioned EZ Jet’s viability.  With no prior experience running an airline and rumors of connections to controversial politicians, the airline had frequent disruptions even as they grew rapidly.  Suddenly, although not surprisingly, passengers were left stranded in several cities as planes were repossessed and criminal charges filed against CEO, Sonny Ramdeo.  Almost the next day, the cost of travel to Guyana skyrocketed, and with Christmas around the corner the diaspora either cancelled their plans or were gouged by the other airlines. 

5.    White House delegation visits Little Guyana

For the first time, the White House sent a special delegation of high-ranking officials and advocates on a tour of Richmond Hill seeking to create partnerships among various Asian American non-profits, establish lines of communication and to provide access to Federal agencies.  The White House Asian Pacific Islanders Initiative, or WHAAPI, saw firsthand the challenges at Richmond Hill High School, the vibrant religious establishments and culture in the community and had lunch on Liberty Avenue.  The visit gave Indo-Caribbeans a national profile which we hope will result in better access to Federal programs, raise the issues we care about to a national level and develop a method to count the number of Indo-Caribbean Americans. 

4.    “Doubles with Slight Pepper”

Named after the popular Trinidadian snack, the short film “Doubles with Slight Pepper” directed by Indo-Caribbean filmmaker Ian Harnarine has become a sensation among critics.  Set in Trinidad, the film explores the strained relationship between a father and son and explores themes deeply relevant to Indo-Caribbeans.  The film has won several prestigious awards, including the “Best Live Action Short Drama” category at the Genie Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Oscars.  Ian is now working on a full length version of the film and with Spike Lee on another project.  You can watch the film on iTunes. 

3.  An LGBT movement gathers pace

A rise in the number of organizations and activities focused on the Caribbean queer population took hold in South Queens in an effort to educate residents, stem discrimination, and provide an outlet for young people and families to cope and find acceptance.  One such organization is Sangam, which was launched in February and remains vibrant to the needs and challenges facing Indo-Caribbean LGBTQ residents in Queens. Coincidentally, New York has also seen a rise in LGBTQ organizing with the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in 2011. 

2.    Super storm Sandy

The hurricane brought severe hardship to many residents in our community. Residents of South Queens experienced several days of blackouts, broken sewer and gas lines, fallen trees and an Indo-Caribbean woman was even electrocuted.  When the dust settled, many realized the Rockaways and other parts of the City were more heavily impacted, triggering tremendous support via fundraisers, food and clothing drives and volunteering en mass.  While Sandy will probably not be forgotten we need to ensure the passionate civic side brought out by the storm is also remembered, even as we continue to help with the recovery.    

1. Candles in the wind   

What might have been just a spontaneous late night car ride turned tragic for five boys when they crashed at high speeds off the Southern State Parkway, leaving only the driver alive.  The tragedy rocked the families and friends of the victims and brought the community to its knees.  The media stereotyped a general car-racing culture among Indo-Caribbeans, while others criticized the parents who gifted an expensive racing car to their son with only a learner’s permit. In an outpouring of grief, a candlelight vigil was organized by friends of the victims and ironically, some car-racing enthusiasts, which drew hundreds to Smokey Park. With the 17-year-old driver now facing up to 25 years in prison after testing positive for marijuana, the tragedy has caused introspection and has brought the community closer together as we face these issues head-on.  We stand together with the families and our community. 

RIP to the victims: Darian, 18; Peter, 18; Chris, 18; Neil, 17.  

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Please let us know if we forgot something. Share your feedback, add to the list and/or repost.

The list is only meant to spark discussion and reflection. In the interest of full disclosure, we explained our participation in different events while we intentionally excluded ICA's core initiatives to offer an objective perspective.  

We partnered with the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance for a beach clean up at Dubos Point Wildlife Sanctuary at Rockaway Beach followed by paddling on the waterfront. Our students learned about the local ecology and marine life in the Rockaways, the impact of religious offerings on the environment and the important role they play in cleaning up their community. It was also the first time many of our students went paddling!

Click here to view the entire album.

Check The Wave newspaper coverage of the event: http://www.rockawave.com/news/2012-07
20/Community/Rockaway_Waterfront_Alliance_Kids_Meet_Up_On_Jamai.html

ICA held a career workshop for high school students.  We practiced interview questions, held a resume writing sessions, researched internships and even applied to a few jobs.  After, our students visited the High Line, many for the first time, and enjoyed an afternoon playing at the 14th Street Park by the Hudson River Greenway. Our mentors played a big role helping our students think about their future careers at an early stage!

Tuesday, January 17th, in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on ICA released the short film which chronicles the struggle for economic justice, civil rights and empowerment of small business owners who were displaced by the casino at Aqueduct Racetrack. We invite you to view "RACINO: The End of An American Dream", a personal account from some of the 500 vendors at the former Aqueduct Flea Market who were displaced without any notice or retraining and relocation assistance. After being in existence for over 25 years, the vendors were evicted overnight to make way for New York City's first casino. The title of the film is inspired by Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

# 10. Say Goodbye to the Flea Market
After a 25 year run, this winter saw the permanent closure of the historic Aqueduct Flea Market.  Gone with it are over 1,500 jobs, many of which included Indo-Caribbean entrepreneurs, laborers, not to mention an important source for obtaining products to use here and to send back home. On the other hand, many businesses on Liberty are expecting sales to rise with the closure.  ICA is proud of our efforts to bring awareness of this issue, organize the vendors and find new locations for the merchants.  Wish for next year: The new "racino" will not overburden our already stretched infrastructure, but rather bring new investments and economic development to the neighborhood.   

# 9. Albert Baldeo's 3rd Run for City Council
Determined to be the face of Indo-Caribbean political arrival in New York City, Albert Baldeo ran a record third time. He championed his service to the community (not just Indo-Caribbeans), his professional background and unrewarded contributions to the Queens County Democratic Party. Although unsuccessful, he did bag the coveted post of District Leader. Even with this, skeptics continue to wonder if this campaign does more harm than good for Indo-Caribbean Americans. 

# 8. Bad Business in Little Guyana?
Richmond Hill and South Queens continued to record some of the nations highest rates of foreclosures. Hundreds of families lost their homes, several well know real estate firms disappeared, mortgage firms closed shop and some prominent business people are under investigation.

# 7. The 11th Annual Diwali Motorcade
Decorated vehicles gracefully moved along Liberty Avenue as spectators joined in to follow the procession of tassa bands, mandir groups and the Grand Marshals: Chan Jamoona, John Liu and Christine Quinn. Some of the vehicles matched the best you would see in the Caribbean, the performances were quite good and the prayer was well received. It may have been the biggest Motorcade so far, although not many braved the cold to attend the pre-Motorcade Cultural Show. Props for trying something different. Noteworthy was the involvement of numerous young people managing the event and in attendance. ICA was proud to be a part of the team and specifically to help with fundraising and public relations. Wish for next year: Lining up the dozens of vehicles after the motorcade for everyone to observe and admire.  

# 6. The Ed Ahmad - Gregory Meeks Relationship 
The peculiar relationship between prominent real estate broker and businessman Ed Ahmad and Congressman Gregory Meeks offered enough fodder for the NY Daily News and other major papers to outlast the recession. And, it does not seem to be over.

# 5. The 25th Annual Indian Arrival Day 
Not just another cultural show, but an event aimed at sensitizing us about our unique history in the Americas. The event was well attended, beautiful weather and a lot of energy. ICA was proud to participate at this event by holding a Health Fair. Wish for next year: A greater emphasis on the history of our migration via photo displays, video footage and/or narrations. 

# 4. A Women's Movement
The 3-day Sisterhood & Solidarity Summit by the Jahajee Sisters was scholarly, carefully crafted and delightfully entertaining. Excited to see the next summit. Wish for next year: Broaden the marketing of the event to include more non-academic types. 

# 3. The 21st Annual Phagwah Parade
Once again the community came out by the thousands for what may very well be the largest gathering of Indo-Caribbeans anywhere in North America.  The parade was filled with beautifully designed floats, families thronged the parade route and colorful abeer was everywhere. The event was well publicized, passed off safely and folks seemed to have a great time.  ICA was proud to march in the parade and our volunteers assisted with the set up.  Wish for next year: Something refreshing next year, more careful screening of the guest speakers (notably, Rick Lazio) and better on-sight preparation & coordination in the event set-up.    

# 2. Electing Kamla Persaud-Bissessar
The local campaign touched many individuals, Trinis and non-Trinis alike. From fundraisers, to rallies and endless Facebook messages. Finally, it all seemed worth the effort as Trinidad & Tobago elected the first female Prime Minister of Indo-Caribbean descent. Congratulations to the local organizing committee.

...And # 1. Are we really Asian-Indian?  
Census 2010 left most Indo-Caribbean residents wondering which box to check for the ethnicity question. Determined to increase the participation rates in Indo-Caribbean neighborhoods, hundreds of volunteers, businesses, religious groups and non-profits found a unifying cause to rally behind. ICA was proud to participate in this civic effort by registering our community, creating local advertisements, going door to door and even setting up tables along Liberty Avenue. Complaints against the Census Bureau came from nearly all quarters: Not enough local hires, repeate mailing of forms, wasting precious tax dollars and an overall neglect of South Queens in general. The results are expected in the spring of 2011. 

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Please let us know if we forgot something. Share your feedback, add to the list and/or repost.

The list is only meant to spark discussion and reflection. In the interest of full disclosure, we explained our participation in different events while we intentionally excluded ICA's core initiatives to offer an objective perspective.