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Caribbean lineage meets Brooklyn grit
Shaniqua Schloss was born and raised in Crown Heights before relocating in her 20s to Canarsie. She says her deep connection to Brooklyn is rooted in its diversity, creativity, authenticity, and unmistakable energy.
“Our culture is unmatched — from the music and fashion to the food and art, Brooklyn influences the world,” she said. “The diversity feels like home, with so many backgrounds, languages, and traditions woven together. The hustle is real; Brooklyn teaches independence, strength, and confidence. The community runs deep, and even in a big city, neighborhoods feel personal. There’s pride in the name — saying you’re from Brooklyn just hits different.”
Schloss is the daughter of Jamaican parents, with her family tracing roots to Tivoli Gardens in Kingston and to Resource in Manchester Parish, Jamaica.
Despite her Caribbean heritage, she jokes that she cannot cook at all. She also values solitude more than people might expect—and, surprisingly, has never broken a bone.
For Schloss, the greatest influence on the path she has chosen today, as a licensed social worker, is her mother, Claudia Taylor-Reid. She said that although her mother is a teacher by profession, she has always been a social worker at heart.
“She is truly the epitome of a queen of service. She is someone who will go above and beyond, and then go even further, to help others. Service wasn’t something she turned on and off; it was simply who she was. Witnessing that kind of selflessness deeply shaped me. It planted the seed early that my purpose would also be rooted in helping others. Because of her example, choosing a helping profession didn’t feel like a decision; it felt like destiny,” she shared.
She witnessed various acts of kindness growing up, such as when Alfred Logan, a patriarch of the Logan family on her paternal side, helped many people emigrate to other Caribbean islands and North America, and he also paved the way for many to go to the United Kingdom. Her immediate family, through her dad, was instrumental in the development of coffee, banana, breadfruit, and citrus crops, always giving back to poor families in the community.
My maternal side was known in many parishes, such as Kingston, St. Andrews, and St. Mary, within the Jamaican community for their faith, resilience, togetherness, and charity. “My great-grandmother, Rosena Gregg, was the epitome of kindness and community. She was known as the mother of the community. She was the main chef at the only primary school in her district, and after serving lunch to all the schoolchildren, her service did not end. She would open her home kitchen to feed the children and their parents after school and on weekends, free of charge,” she added.
Witnessing these has inspired and motivated her to do some kind acts in her own community. For example, from 2021 to 2022, Schloss and her childhood friend started a non-profit called Minority Voices Prosper (MVP), where she served as vice president, and they created spaces for successful minorities to share their voices of today with the minority voices of tomorrow.
In addition, for the past 13 years, she has been the co-director of a nonprofit chapter within the Prom National Network, Brooklyn Prom Project (formerly known as Operation PROM Brooklyn), which provides free prom attire and accessories to high school seniors across New York City.
“This event is held once a year, before prom season, where we have thousands of dresses, suits, and tuxedos on racks and tables of accessories, and hundreds of students, parents, and school officials come to our amazing event to shop for free. We help students find the attire of their dreams and celebrate as they embark on their futures,” she explained.
Schloss stated that the reaction from her community to what she’s done with the Brooklyn Prom Project has been incredibly moving. According to her, by providing free prom attire and accessories, the nonprofit helps ease the growing financial burden of prom, which today can feel like planning a mini wedding, and also restores dignity, joy, and inclusion for students who might otherwise feel left out.
“For many families, the costs can be overwhelming, so having even a portion covered brings tremendous relief. Parents have approached us with hugs, handshakes, tears, and heartfelt words of appreciation. Many share how grateful they are to see their child experience this milestone without financial stress overshadowing the moment,” she continued.
Furthermore, Schloss strongly believes that the Brooklyn Prom Project strengthens community bonds, builds a culture of giving back, and ensures that more students can celebrate important milestones with
confidence and joy.
Her hobbies growing up included playing Double Dutch with her sister and cousins, competing in Double Dutch tournaments, praise dancing, and going to youth service on Fridays.
Discussing her current hobbies, she stated: “Now I like to travel, window-shop online, binge-watch shows on different streaming networks, try new restaurants, play solitaire and Words with Friends on my phone, play bingo with my family, and take weekend trips to Atlantic City.”
The legacy Schloss wants to leave behind is one in which she is remembered as someone who helped and encouraged others to believe they could be all they were created to be.
Since mental health is extremely important to her, her message to younger generations is: “Education is key, not just formal education, but self-education, emotional intelligence, and understanding who you are. Knowledge opens doors, but self-awareness keeps you grounded when you walk through them.”
“Through my work and service, whether it’s supporting families, creating opportunities like prom support for students, or showing up in safe spaces for growth, I want to model what it looks like to give back while
growing forward.. I want the next generation to say, ‘Because she showed up, I believed I could,’ and then for them to turn around and do the same for someone else,” she added.
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