Friday, November 12, 2021

10:00 am – 11:15 am

  • Conference Opening – Lift Every Voice and Sing
  • Welcome Remarks: Faye & Karl Rodney, Publishers of CARIB NEWS/Conference Organizer

Session 1: Global Economic Inequities – Legendary Leaders

Theme: The Value of Global Solidarity and Engagement in Charting The Way Forward

Moderator: Karl Rodney

Speakers:

  • Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, Former Prime Minister of Jamaica
  • Ambassador Andrew Young, Former Mayor of Atlanta 
  • Dr. Hazel N.Dukes, President NAACP New York State Conference
  • Hon. Charles Rangel, Former US Representative, New York

Q&A Session

11:30 am – 12:45 pm

Session 2: Today’s Leaders – Setting the Agenda for Going Forward

Theme: Accelerating the Impact – New Expectations 

Moderator: Dr. Marcia Keizs

Speakers:

  • Hon. Gregory Meeks, Chairman US Congress, Committee on Foreign Affairs/Co-Chair/Committee on Financial Services
  • Hon. Yvette Clarke, Co Chair US Congress Caribbean Caucus, Homeland Security Committee
  • Hon. Adriano Espaillat, Member US Congress

Q&A Session

2:15 pm -3:30 pm

Session 3: The Global Health Emergency – A Pressing Priority

Theme: Advancing Health Equity – Not Skirting The Issues

Moderator: Dr. Donna Christensen, former Head US Congress, CBC Health Caucus

Speakers:

  • Dr. Icilma Fergus, Director of Cardiovascular Disparities at Mount Sinai Medical Center
  • Dr. Cristina Contreras, Executive Director of NYC Health + Hospitals
  • Dr. Lesley Kernisant, Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialist
  • Dr. Sandra Lindsay, Intensive Care Nurse
  • Dr. Millicent Comrie, Director, Brooklyn Women’s Healthcare

Q&A Session

3:45 pm – 5:00 pm

Session 4: DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Theme: Creating More Equitable Companies and Society – The Formula Beyond Shareholders

Moderator: Helen Shelton, Global Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Finn Partners

Speakers:

  • John Hope Bryant, Chairman/CEO, Operation HOPE
  • Corey Smith, Head of Diversity & Inclusion, North America at LVMH
  • Michael Garner, Chief Diversity Officer at the MTA
  • Michael Jones-Bey, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Con Edison

Q&A Session

5:30 pm – 6:15 pm

Session 5: AFRICA FORUM

Theme: Tackling Global Problems with Innovation

Moderator: Dr. Julius Garvey

Speakers:

  • Mel Tewahade (Ethiopia)
  • Dr. Yonas Biru, independent researcher of Economics (Ethiopia)
  • Kola Onadipe, Nigerian author
  • Otunba Osibogun, Director at Odu’a Investment Company Limited (Nigeria)

Panelists:

  • Melvin Foote, Founder, President and CEO for the Constituency for Africa (CFA)
  • David Comissiong, Barbadian lawyer, politician, and former election candidate
  • Ambassador Siddique Wai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the USA

Q&A Session

Saturday, November 13, 2021

9:30 am – 11:00 am

WOMEN OF POWER AND INFLUENCE

Theme: Excelling in the Face of Challenges

Moderator: Jovia Radix, Attorney, Kasirer LLC

Speakers:

  • Arva Rice, President New York Urban League
  • Glynda Carr, President and CEO, HIGHER HEIGHTS
  • LaRay Brown, CEO of One Brooklyn Health System
  • Rashida Gayle, Founder/CEO, Twenty Six Entertainment

Q&A Session

11:15 am – 12.30 pm

NEW YORK – THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS & OPPORTUNITIES

Moderator: Lloyd Williams, President, Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce

Speakers:

  • Hon. Brian Benjamin, Lt. Governor of NY
  • Hon. Carl Heastie, Speaker, NY Assembly
  • Hon. Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn, Member NY Assembly
  • Hon. Nick Perry, Assembly member/US Ambassador Designate to Jamaica
  • Hon. Kevin Parker, New York State Senator

Q&A Session

1:30pm – 2:00 pm 

FIRESIDE CHAT

Theme: Global Pandemic & Sherlock/Nettleford Project

Moderator: Dr. Marcia Keizs, Former President York College

Speaker: Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor, UWI 

2:15 pm – 3:30 pm

FIRESIDE CHAT

Theme: TRAVEL, CULTURE, HERITAGE Post-COVID DIRECTION & EXPERIENCE – PIVOT TO OPTIMISM

  • Hon. Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board 
  • Adam Stewart, Chairman, Sandals Resorts

3:45 pm – 5:00 pm

CLEANER, GREENER ENERGY – PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

Theme: The Climate Crisis

Moderator: Dr. Ivelaw Griffith, Former Vice-Chancellor/Principal of The University of Guyana

Keynote Speaker: Hon. Gaston Browne, PM Antigua & Barbuda

Speaker: Shaun Hoyte, CON EDISON

5:15 pm – 6:30 pm 

GARVEY EXONERATION

Theme: A Time for Justice – Past Due 

Moderator: Dr. Julius Garvey

Speakers:

  • Yvette Clarke, Member of Congress
  • Dr. Ben Chavis, CEO NNPA
  • Dr. Donna Christensen, Former Member US Congress
  • Anthony Pierce, Partner, Akim Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
  • Justin Hansford, Professor, Howard University School of Law/Executive Director of the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center
  • Paul Coates, Author and Journalist