CaribPR Wire

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. April 9, 2010: Caribbean nationals across New York State and the U.S., who have yet to fill out and return their 2010 Census forms are being urged to not be foolish and squander the opportunity to truly stand up and count.

There is still time for the form to the filled out and returned so that the federal dollars desperately needed to keep city services flowing can be accessed, said Carib ID Thursday.

The  organization, which has spent since 2008 pushing Caribbean nationals to ensure an accurate count in the Census, painted a picture of overcrowded classrooms, less police and fire men in Caribbean neighborhoods and possibly closed fire houses, closed libraries, poorer hospital care and longer wait times at emergency rooms, poor roads, fewer garbage pickups and less resources for senior or day care facilities and services if Caribbean neighborhoods, especially in New York, fail to complete their Census survey.

“This is the moment to ensure that the tax dollars you pay from the two to three jobs you work weekly can be accessed to help you, your children, your family and your neighborhood improve your standard of living through better social services that are accessible in most non-minority neighborhoods,` said Carib ID officials. “ You cannot complain and moan about poor services, library closures and large classroom sizes if you refuse to take 10 minutes or less to fill out the Census form and mail it back. You have until April 17 th. Wake up and smell the coffee. This is not a joke. This is it. You can make history and count or continue to be dismissed as a bunch of invisible fools.”

Carib ID also reminded the undocumented that if they do not fill out and return the Census form then they are squandering the opportunity to prove that they have been living in the U.S, which will be a requirement of getting legalization under immigration reform.

Caribbean nationals are again reminded to write in their country of origin or ancestry under the Some Other Race section of Question 9 on the forms they got in the mail or on those collected at Be Counted Center, ensure they add the same information on Question 5.

“We need every single Caribbean national in the U.S. to make sure they count by filling out the form, writing in their ancestry and returning it,` said Carib ID’s Felicia Persaud on Thursday. “Census numbers determine every aspect of our lives in this country and right now we are largely invisible as we have no accurate means of identification on the form. We must make sure we end this trend by counting not just our ethnicities but our nationalities this Census so we can all win. Or we can continue to be fools and maintain the cycle of dismissal.”

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Mar. 22, 2010: Caribbean nationals and Caribbean Americans across the U.S. are being reminded to ensure they write in their nationality on their 2010 Census forms this census.

The message was repeated many times over this past weekend as Carib ID founder, Felicia Persaud, took to the airwaves of Caribbean shows across the U.S. to drum home the write in message to Caribbean nationals.

Persaud kicked off her Saturday with a live radio interview into Atlanta at noon where she told Caribbean listeners of the Future Movement radio show with Pat Baccas on 1420AM WATB and 1430AM that the moment was now to not simply fill out and return the census forms but to write in their nationality under the some other race section of question 9 of the form while filling in their race.

Which means if you are Guyanese and black or Jamaican and White, then simply place an X next to that ethnic category on question 9 and another X near the Some Other Race Section and write in Guyanese or Jamaican or whatever your country of origin or roots are. This applies to any one from the Caribbean or Africa including those from Belize.

`This is the moment to truly stand up and count,` said Persaud, who repeated the message to Lady D on WOKB 1600 AM in Orlando, Florida.

`It`s not enough to simply be proud to be Caribbean,` said Persaud. `Now is the time to make history as we document this fact. In 2010, Caribbean nationals must be the new sought after bloc.`

At 1:25 p.m., she joined Irie Jam radio on WVIP 93.5 FM in New York to urge listeners on that station to wave their flags like they do in parties and fill out the Census form while writing in their nationality.

At 5 p.m. on Saturday, Persaud used the airwaves of WWRL 1600 AM`s `Caribbean Corner` show, which she appears on weekly, to link in with various Caribbean leaders in order to drive home the census message.

She was joined by attorney and radio personality, Marlon Hill, of South Florida, who at 4:15 pm Saturday completed his Census form live on the airwaves of WZAB radio with Eddy Edwards. Persaud also completed her form live on the WWRL show.

Hill for his part encouraged all listeners to take less than 10 minutes and return the forms for the future of the community and their children.

The message was reiterated by Haitian radio personality, Ricot Duprey who repeated the write in message in Kreyole for listeners even as U.S. Census, New York, representative, Irwine Clare, urged listeners to ensure they get the services they deserve in their communities and the representation by filling out and returning the form.

At 8:40 p.m. Persaud was live into Caribbeana show on WPFW 89.3FM with Von Martin in D.C. to repeat the write in message and stress the urgency. She wrapped up her day with an 11 p.m. interview into Miami, telling Hot 105 FM`s Tanto Irie and Lady English that the census is nothing to be afraid of but one that can help us all, not through social services, but in ensuring that the undocumented can use it as proof that they have been living in the U.S. to legalize their status once immigration reform occurs.

Carib ID was founded by Persaud in 2008 to get Caribbean nationals accurately counted in the Census.

She will appear on One Caribbean Radio this morning after completing similar interviews on Radio Soleil, the Haitian radio station in New York, the CaribZone with Ian Eliger and the BBC Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Jason Walker of WRFG 89.3 FM in Atlanta, will complete his own form live on March 26th while Lloyd Cummings of the award-winning Caribbean Rhythms on WURD 900 AM in Philadelphia will complete his form live on March 27th.

Walker, who is also part of CaribLifeCentral.com along with Sheldon Mundle, has actively been promoting the Caribbean write in message. CaribLifeCentral.com has launched its `I Am Caribbean` Census Awareness Campaign to encourage Caribbean-Americans to ensure they count in 2010.  As part of the `I Am Caribbean` awareness campaign CaribLifeCentral.com has produced a Web-based public service announcement available through YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIZMZGd91s0.

And new advocacy organization Caribbean One is timing its launch with the 2010 Census, as it joins the Carib ID push through a distribution of thousands of posters and information cards to Caribbean-American businesses across New York.

`Being Caribbean is not a race,` says Kendrick Ross, Caribbean One`s founder. `Caribbean Americans can be Black, White, Asian, Indian, or a combination of races, in addition to their Caribbean heritage. And that heritage means interests and concerns that are distinct from other groups.`

Carib ID, a historic initiative from Hard Beat Communications, is an endorsed effort by a number of media partners and key groups across the U.S. to secure an accurate count of Caribbean nationals. Among the partners of Carib ID are Ann Walters and Loughton Sargeant of the D.C. Caribbean Carnival Association, Chris Chaplin of the Philadelphia Caribbean Complete Count Committee, The West Indian American Day Carnival Association, the Bowling Green Association, Ecaroh Entertainment, the Jamaica Organization of New Jersey, Pastor Gil Montrose and the Brooklyn Center For Quality Life, the Caribbean Association of Mid West America, Caribbean One, The Caribbean American Center of New York, The Midwest Caribbean Network,  Students of Caribbean Ancestry, the Guyanese American Workers United, Jamaica Diaspora representative, Marlon Hill and Soca De Vote,  the D.C., Chicago, New York and Atlanta carnival associations, and a large number of media houses and media practitioners including the Caribbean American Journalists & Media Association, Inc., DJ Norrie, Power 105 FM; CBean.Tv,  the Caribbean International Network, Caribbean World News Network, Irie Jam Media, One Caribbean Radio, Carib Voice newspaper, South Florida Caribbean, Jamaicans.com, Zync TV and G-Arts Media, Whatz Up TV, Caribbean Vibes Radio, Deeraj TV, Carib Nation TV, CaribVoice Radio, Tropicalfete, Jason Walker, WFGG Atlanta, Eddy Edwards, Ken Webb, The West Indian newspaper, SMAC Productions and Caribbean Life Style TV  among others.

For more log on to www.caribid2010.com.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Mar. 19, 2010: Carib ID, the movement founded to get Caribbean nationals accurately counted, this week ramped up a media blitz of interviews and online promotions as the countdown begins to the April 1st return date for Census forms.

CaribID founder Felicia Persaud has been on a media blitz all week, spreading the important write in message through several radio interviews including with One Caribbean Radio, Radio Soleil, the Haitian radio station in New York, the CaribZone with Ian Eliger and the BBC Caribbean as well as via numerous e-promotions.

Persaud and Carib ID partners are urging all Caribbean nationals across the U.S. and those who are born of Caribbean parents to document this fact by writing in their nationality or ancestry under the Some Other Race box of the form on Question 9 while ticking in their ethnic identity as well.

Which means if you are Guyanese and black or Jamaican and White, then simply place an X next to that ethnic category on question 9 and another X near the Some Other Race Section and write in Guyanese or Jamaican or whatever your country of origin or roots are. This applies to any one from the Caribbean or Africa including those from Belize.

`This allows for a win, win for not just the ethnic blocs but the Caribbean American community across the United States,` said Persaud. `It is not simply about filling out the forms but Caribbean nationals must count on this write in effort in order for us to begin to truly tell our economic story in the United States and harness our power.`

On Saturday, the CaribID founder will stop for a photo shoot for Patois magazine before appearing live on several radio shows including at noon with Pat Baccas on 1420AM WATB and 1430AM WGFS into Atlanta, GA; at 12:50 p.m. with Lady D and Caribbean Connections on WOKB 1600 AM in Orlando, FL.; at 8:40 p.m. with Von Martin on Caribbeana on WPFW 89.3FM in D.C. and at 11 p.m. with Tanto Irie on Hot 105 FM in Miami, Florida.

This comes as Carib ID and Riddims Marketing push Caribbean American announcers to complete their Census forms live on air especially in key U.S. cities where Caribbean nationals live.

Among the stations collaborating on the live Census form write in campaign push this weekend are Eddy Edwards and Marlon Hill on WZAB 880 AM in Miami, Tanto Irie on Hot 105 FM in Miami, FL; Rennie Bishop and Persaud on Caribbean Corner on WWRL 1600 in New York, Pat Baccas on 1420AM WATB and 1430AM WGFS in Atlanta, GA; Caribbeana with Von Martin on WPFW 89.3FM in D.C., Lady Cham on Caribbean Connection in Virginia and Lady D on WOKB 1600 AM in Orlando, FL.

Edwards, host of the Caribbean Riddims radio show will, complete his Census form along with attorney Hill of The Peoples Politics, live on air – WZAB 880 AM  – on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 4 P.M. EST.  Listeners will be encouraged to complete their own form during this live on air community action.

Persaud will complete her own form live on WWRL 1600 on Caribbean Corner between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and connect with other announcers across the country who are doing their part to spread the message.

`We are hoping that this live event will help many of our listeners to develop a level of trust and confidence in the process.  The Census is a critical part of identifying our community and ensuring their piece of the American pie,` stated Edwards, producer and host of Caribbean Riddims. 

`We are serious about recognizing and activating our personal power as a community.  We want to affirm publicly to each other that we will get this done and to inspire each other collectively,` added Hill, commentator on Caribbean Riddims in the weekly segment, The Peoples Politics.

 After completing the form, listeners will be encouraged to share with their family and friends, `I Counted Today. I Have The Power!`  

Jason Walker of WRFG 89.3 FM in Atlanta, will complete his own form live on March 26th while Lloyd Cummings of the award-winning Caribbean Rhythms on WURD 900 AM in Philadelphia will complete his form live on March 27th.

Walker, who is also part of CaribLifeCentral.com along with Sheldon Mundle, has actively been promoting the Caribbean write in message. CaribLifeCentral.com has launched its `I Am Caribbean` Census Awareness Campaign to encourage Caribbean-Americans to ensure they count in 2010.  As part of the `I Am Caribbean` awareness campaign CaribLifeCentral.com has produced a Web-based public service announcement available through YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIZMZGd91s0.

Meanwhile, new advocacy organization Caribbean One is timing its launch with the 2010 Census, as it joins the Carib ID push through a distribution of thousands of posters and information cards to Caribbean-American businesses across New York.

`Being Caribbean is not a race,` says Kendrick Ross, Caribbean One`s founder. `Caribbean Americans can be Black, White, Asian, Indian, or a combination of races, in addition to their Caribbean heritage. And that heritage means interests and concerns that are distinct from other groups.`

Carib ID, a historic initiative from Hard Beat Communications, is an endorsed effort by a number of media partners and key groups across the U.S. to secure an accurate count of Caribbean nationals. Among the partners of Carib ID are Ann Walters and Loughton Sargeant of the D.C. Caribbean Carnival Association, Chris Chaplin of the Philadelphia Caribbean Complete Count Committee, The West Indian American Day Carnival Association, the Bowling Green Association, Ecaroh Entertainment, the Jamaica Organization of New Jersey, Pastor Gil Montrose and the Brooklyn Center For Quality Life, the Caribbean Association of Mid West America, Caribbean One, The Caribbean American Center of New York, The Midwest Caribbean Network,  Students of Caribbean Ancestry, the Guyanese American Workers United, Jamaica Diaspora representative, Marlon Hill and Soca De Vote,  the D.C., Chicago, New York and Atlanta carnival associations, and a large number of media houses and media practitioners including the Caribbean American Journalists & Media Association, Inc., DJ Norrie, Power 105 FM; CBean.Tv,  the Caribbean International Network, Caribbean World News Network, Irie Jam Media, One Caribbean Radio, Carib Voice newspaper, South Florida Caribbean, Jamaicans.com, Zync TV and G-Arts Media, Whatz Up TV, Caribbean Vibes Radio, Deeraj TV, Carib Nation TV, CaribVoice Radio, Tropicalfete, Jason Walker, WFGG Atlanta, Eddy Edwards, Ken Webb, The West Indian newspaper, SMAC Productions and Caribbean Life Style TV  among others.

For more log on to www.caribid2010.com.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Mar. 10, 2010: `Ensure you fill out and return the 2010 U.S. Census form while writing in your Caribbean country of origin or your ancestry under the Some Other Race section of the U.S. Census form while filling in your race on question 9.`

 That`s the message Carib ID, the movement started in 2008 by Felicia Persaud to get Caribbean nationals accurately counted across the U.S., is hoping the media and organizations will keep on pushing nationally as the count-down begins to the arrival of the forms in mail boxes across the United States.

 `We need the help of every single Caribbean national in the U.S., especially the media and the many myriad of organizations, party promoters and church leaders who are always pursuing advertising and sponsorship dollars to ensure we count as Caribbean nationals in the 2010 Census,` said Persaud, Carib ID`s founder, on Thursday. `Census forms will begin arriving by March 17^th. It is imperative that we not take 10 minutes to immediately fill out and return the forms while writing in our nationality or ancestry under the Some Other Race section but that we also tell a friend, tell a neighbor, call up a family member, email and blog about it and let`s truly stand up as proud Caribbean nationals and count.` 

Persaud also endorsed a call from attorney Marlon Hill, host of `The Peoples` Politics` commentary on Caribbean Riddims, WZAB 880AM, every Saturday from 4 p.m., and Soca De Vote, for all Caribbean broadcasters, deejays and radio personalities across the U.S. to complete their Census forms LIVE on their shows while urging all of their listeners to join them in doing the same.

 Hill is set to complete his form live on radio WZAB 880AM in South Florida on March 20th at 4pmEST, while Persaud will do the same in New York on WWRL 1600 AM.

 Commented Hill: `We wanted to present a live shared experience for our listeners to build their confidence and trust in completing the form.  This is a critical moment for the Caribbean-American community to demonstrate our sense of urgency and to recognize our personal power in standing up to be counted.`

 Chris Chaplin, of the Philadelphia Mayor`s Commission on African and Caribbean Affairs and Carib ID board member, said his committee has been active in the city of Philadelphia in getting the word out about the importance of filling out the Census form and of completing Question 9.

 His committee is also working with the African Census Complete Count Committee for a Census Awareness Weekend in Philadelphia from March 12-14.

 `Every Caribbean national must be mobilized and be participative in this historic count,` added Pastor Gil Montrose, a CaribID partner. `You must fill out that form and return it. There shouldn`t be any fear even if you are undocumented.`

 Carib ID also has released new PSA`s in the countdown to April 1. Media interested in obtaining these PSAs should contact [email protected].

 Census numbers determines every aspect of our lives in the United States, from federal funding for smaller class sizes and better or more schools in our neighborhoods, to better transportation and health care and secure neighborhoods to even if our roads are cleaned during snow storms and our garbage collected.

 For media, organizations, festivals and event promoters, it determines whether corporations will consider the market place as economically viable enough to invest their hard earned sponsorship or advertising dollars.

 For the undocumented, it is imperative that they fill out and keep a copy of the form as it provides them with proof that they are living in the U.S. so that once immigration reform comes around, they can take advantage and get a green card.

Carib ID, a historic initiative from Hard Beat Communications, is an endorsed effort by a number of media partners and key groups across the U.S. to secure an accurate count of Caribbean nationals. Among the partners of Carib ID are Ann Walters and Loughton Sargeant of the D.C. Caribbean Carnival Association, Chris Chaplin of the Philadelphia Mayor`s Commission on African and Caribbean Affairs, The West Indian American Day Carnival Association, the Bowling Green Association, Ecaroh Entertainment, the Jamaica Organization of New Jersey, Pastor Gil Montrose and the Brooklyn Center For Quality Life, the Caribbean Association of Mid West America, Caribbean One, The Caribbean American Center of New York, The Midwest Caribbean Network,  Students of Caribbean Ancestry, the Guyanese American Workers United, Jamaica Diaspora representative, Marlon Hill and Soca De Vote,  the D.C., Chicago, New York and Atlanta carnival associations, and a large number of media houses and media practitioners including the Caribbean American Journalists & Media Association, Inc., DJ Norrie, Power 105 FM; CBean.Tv,  the Caribbean International Network, Caribbean World News Network, Irie Jam Media, One Caribbean Radio, Carib Voice newspaper, South Florida Caribbean, Jamaicans.com, Zync TV and G-Arts Media, Whatz Up TV, Caribbean Vibes Radio, Deeraj TV, Carib Nation TV, CaribVoice Radio, Tropicalfete, Jason Walker, WFGG Atlanta, Eddy Edwards, Ken Webb, SMAC Productions and Caribbean Life Style TV  among others.