Excellence Award Spotlight: Little Caribbean
A street in Brooklyn's Little Caribbean neighborhood at night. An illuminated sign stretching over the street reads "One Love Little Caribbean."
CaribBEING is an organization working at the intersection of Caribbean culture, community and commerce. Since 2017, when CaribBeing organized to get the official designation of the "Little Caribbean" neighborhood in Flatbush, Brooklyn, they have organized to sustain local businesses and support systems to ensure that Caribbean and Caribbean-American communities in Brooklyn and beyond can continue to thrive. Little Caribbean is home to the largest Caribbean Diaspora community and residents have been making history here for decades. CaribBEING works to reinforce the fabric of small enterprises that make a neighborhood, and build links between entrepreneurs, larger funders, and developers to center well-being, arts and culture, commerce, and community. They do this through events, exhibits, tours, corporate partnerships, directories, maps, publicity and publications, and network building. Through this innovative programming the organization has made a significant impact on the lives of Caribbean people and the broader community. The Preservation League is thrilled to recognize this important work with a 2024 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award.
A group poses outside the I AM CARIBBEING storefront holding various signs that represent the neighborhood, including recreated street markers for Basquiat Boulevard and Shirley Chisholm Way.
“We are truly humbled and grateful to receive the Preservation League’s Excellence Award,” said Shelley Worrell, Founder of I AM CARIBBEING. “This recognition is a testament to the power of Little Caribbean and the importance of preserving our heritage. We look forward to continuing our mission to uplift and celebrate Caribbean culture, community and commerce in Brooklyn and beyond.”
"Little Caribbean preserves our community's heritage while sustaining it for the future,” said NYS Senator Zellnor Myrie. “I am so proud to represent one of New York's largest concentrations of Caribbean and West Indian residents and extend my sincere congratulations to Little Caribbean for this well-deserved recognition."
“The Historic Districts Council is thrilled that Little Caribbean, one of HDC's 2022 Six to Celebrate partners, is receiving a 2024 Excellence Award for their crucial and ongoing work to document, protect, and celebrate the irreplaceable cultural landscape of the Little Caribbean community,” said Historic Districts Council Executive Director Frampton Tolbert. “We look forward to continuing to support these efforts going forward.”
"Prospect Park Alliance is thrilled that I AM CaribBEING's work strengthening public awareness and support of Little Caribbean businesses, and the community of Flatbush is being recognized as a New York City cultural asset," says Prospect Park Alliance President, Morgan Monaco. "As one of our beloved community partners for public programs in Prospect Park, I AM CaribBEING is a leader in high-quality programming. Their work builds awareness of the rich history and cultural vibrancy of Little Caribbean, and we feel lucky to be part of such a thriving community.”
About I AM CARIBBEING
I AM CARIBBEING is a thriving cultural venture illuminating the Caribbean experience and communities in Greater New York City and around the world. We work at the intersection of Culture x Community x Commerce.
About Little Caribbean
Little Caribbean (EST 2017) is home to the largest and most diverse Caribbean-American-LatinX community outside of the West Indies, making up 20% of New York City. This thriving community is a hub for Caribbean/Black-owned businesses, cultural expression, and community development. Since 2010, I AM CARIBBEING has amplified this community's voice and will continue to commemorate the history of the Caribbean Diaspora in New York City & beyond.