Caribbean heritage celebrated at Dutchess Community College

FAIRVIEW —  Dutchess Community College (DCC) hosted its first-ever Caribbean American Heritage Month celebration on Thursday, June 1. DCC collaborated with the Dutchess County Diversity and Inclusion Committee to make the event run successfully.

Each person participating in the event welcomed those who walked in, and was focused on making sure everyone could get at least one serving of food, introduced everyone to each other, and let attending students from around the county know about possible employment opportunities available to them.

The event included many different activities, allowing attendees to immerse themselves in Caribbean culture. The event had various of professors giving seminars on the different islands in the Caribbean. There were  dance lessons, workshops, a DJ that played Caribbean music, and even small businesses selling some of their merchandise.

Yet the event’s goal was much greater than playing music and speaking to students. “Things we do inside our jobs at work and outside for our community is full circle ... We need to build diversity in the workforce, as well as share the different histories and cultures, like we are today,” said Josayne Anderson-Tejera, equal employment opportunity and inclusion officer for Dutchess County.

Jacqueline Goffe-McNish, a professor of English and Humanities at DCC, partnered with the event to share her knowledge with the community.

McNish has taught Caribbean literature for more than 30 years and was in charge of the study abroad program for over 20 years, and would take her students to the Caribbean islands for study and cultural immersion.

“Doctor Professor Goffe-McNish is retiring this year after 30 years of teaching here at the college, so this is a great send-off for her,” said Anderson-Tejera.

The celebration highlighted how to get more involved in the city of Poughkeepsie and gave students who are minorities a stepping stone to opportunities they may not have had. The county’s human resources department put together current employment opportunities and various career paths for students to see and apply to during the event.

“I help groups that are historically being underrepresented find jobs and internships, and it’s important to show up to events like this,” said Linda Haas Manley, a professor and Workforce Pathways coordinator at DCC .

Manuel Moore, a local videographer and podcaster, said: “I live in Poughkeepsie, which is a very heavily populated Jamaican community. I am married to a Jamaican woman, I like the culture, I like the people ... I get to be myself and learn a little more about the different countries around the Caribbean, and I hope to continue that.”