HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2019 was an outstanding year for the SCECHS Virgin Islands Cultural Contributors Project students. St. Croix Educational Complex High School Art and Drama students created their third annual Virgin Islands Cultural Contributors Calendar as a fundraiser. Their 2019 VICC calendar featured Cultural Bearer, Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Nights on the cover. They successfully fundraised enough monies to travel to New York City during the month of May for six days.
St. Croix Educational Complex High School Speech and Drama educator Ms. Sayeeda Carter and Art educator Ms. Danica David managed and traveled with presently enrolled students, Jahmoi Benjamin, Neisha Bennett, Allem Harry, and 2019 graduates Casandra Guadalupe, Mikhala James, Jahmaris Nesbitt, and Kade'jah Stevens. Former students Joyce Contreras and Tyrone Reed, along with chaperones Assistant Principal Pedro Parrilla, English educator Mrs. Regina Keels, and parent, Mrs. Awilda Bennett also traveled with the group.
During their trip to New York, the group visited The Leadership Program, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn College, The Empire State Building, Google. INC Corporate office in Manhattan, Times Square, Brooklyn Museum, The Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim Museum, The New York Skyline. They also saw a play entitled. P. O. E. T. I. C. by the Possibility Project. High school students performed in the play. Their trip to New York City was educational and inspiring. Several of the students had never traveled to New York City.
BIG THANKS to Asha, balter, Centerline Bakery, Crucian Gold, Neighborhood Pharmacy, Rhythms at Rainbow Beach, Riddims Caribbean Music & Culture, Senator Alicia Barnes, Shawna Richards, Thomas Bakery(West), and UCA Kitchen & Rastafarian Cultural Center, Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts and all of our supporters for making the New York City trip possible. Also, Special Thanks to Cathleen Antoine, Deja Belardo, Merle Holloman, Larry Liebert, Elaine Porcher, Regine Romain, Marie Rosenberg, and Andrea Russell for facilitating many remarkable educational experiences during SCECHS Art and Drama students’ May 2019 New York City trip.
Lastly, SCECHS Art and Drama students began working on their fourth annual 2020 Virgin Islands Cultural Contributors Project in October. The 2020 calendar is presently in production and is expected to be available before the end of January. Your continued support of the Virgin Islands Cultural Contributors Calendar Project provides funding for so many fantastic art experiences. Thank you for continuing to fund the arts!