WIADCA In The Community

   

- A tax-exempt (501 C3) non-profit cultural arts organization that provides, promotes and develops the art and culture of Caribbean-American communities in New York.
The West Indian Day Parade was started in Harlem during 1930's by Jessie Waddle.

- The late Rufus Goring brought the parade to Brooklyn in 1965.
In 1967, Carlos Lezama joined the organization and was responsible for moving the parade to Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.

- During the early years, the parade route was held on Atlantic Avenue leading into the Armory on Dean Street.

- During those years, participants consisted of simple costumes, 1 or 2 steelbands and a few hundred Carnival revelers/spectators.

- To encourage talents and abilities of young musicians, costume designers, masqueraders, steelband players, wire artists, limbo and folk dancers, and calypsonians.

- Foster and maintain an interest in cultural music, carnival art forms, especially among junior and senior high school students.

- To conduct a West Indian Carnival in the City of New York.

Vision

- Seeks to continue to promote the cultural art forms by educating youth in our communities on the steelpan, costume design, Caribbean folk dancing, Caribbean music, conducting Carnival and strengthening the support base in the community.

- During Mr. Lezama's administration, the Carnival grew from as little as 2 bands with 10 participants/band to presently over 3 million people representing the various Caribbean nations. It is estimated this growth translates into over $200 million in revenues that is generated to the city coffers.

Target Population

- Figures from 12 Neighborhood Development Associations in Brooklyn -2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16 and 17 for the year 2000 show about 50% of New York City's residents are foreign born.

- Figures taken from 1998 INFOSHARE Community Study shows 1,500,000 residents in these areas. Minority immigrants alone account for over 1,040,000 residents.

- Of this number, more than 200,000 immigrants arrived between 1988-1995.
Over 115,000 came from five Caribbean countries to Brooklyn during 1990-1994 alone.

- Samuel Chisholm, CEO of the Mingo Group estimate that "Black Immigrants from the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa represent 10% of all immigration to the USA. It is these groups that account for the fastest growth rate, with about 30% to 35% under the age of 18. On average, these households have 3+ children, with 5+ persons in the home." A great plus for marketers, but a possible nightmare for city planners.

Long term Goals

- Establish a Borough wide Steelband Panorama among the City High Schools.

- Outreach to all City Schools to participate in Junior Carnival.

- Expanding the Parade route.

- Year round programs to benefit New Yorkers.
Establish a headquarters to house comprehensive offices for WIADCA.

The Junior Carnival

- Another focus of the organization is our children. Junior Carnival started about 30 years ago on the Brooklyn Museum Grounds. It outgrew its confines and was taken to the streets about 15 years ago. Thousands of children, age 2 - 16, representing scores of costume bands participate.

- More than 500,000 people converge on the streets of Brooklyn to celebrate the Junior Carnival.

The Steelband

- A strong component of Carnival as revelers "jump up" and "shuffle" to the beat of the electrifying music of steelbands.

- Steel bands practice tirelessly during the summer months.
This also provides a source of entertainment for many of the onlookers as well as a perfect opportunity for youth to develop strong character, discipline, skills and is an alternative to negative influences.

The Mas Bands

The main component of Carnival is costumed masqueraders - the participants who dance and perform along the streets of Brooklyn, some in spectacular "one of a kind" costumes provided by various "mas bands" that compete for cash prizes.

The Children

The Junior Carnival and Steelbands attract many children from throughout the boroughs. As a result of this growth, many of the schools have implemented the study of the steel pan in the curriculum.