The South Jersey Caribbean Cultural and Development Organization (SJCCDO) on Saturday, Jan. 6 hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Reception at the Victor Building in Camden, NJ, expressing gratitude to all volunteers and honoring six.

“The purpose of the Volunteer Appreciation Reception was to honor some of the talented volunteers who donate their time to assist with the South Jersey Caribbean Festival,” SJCCDO President Kylla Herbert, the daughter of SJCCDO founder, the late Nkem Tshombe, a native St. Kitts and Nevis, told Caribbean Life.

She said the 2023 honorees were to be honored at the group’s 23rd Annual South Jersey Caribbean Festival, on July 8, 2023, but it was postponed because of a very severe rain storm.

“So, we had this Volunteer Appreciation Reception to thank all of the volunteers and to recognize the selected 2023 honorees,” said Herbert, stating that the 2023 honorees were: Jamaican Niger Ali, Sr. and Dave Benjamin Watkis; Vincentian James Cordice and Rohan Pierre; Bahamian Dr. Berdine Gordon-Littrean; and Kittitian Keith Mitchell Morgan.

Herbert said Miss Caribbean-US Beauty Pageant 2023 Queen Sabrine Semper and Miss Caribbean-US Beauty Pageant Teen 2023 Nya Ryan assisted with presenting trophies to the honorees.

She said Ali is a spoken word and reggae music artist, who has performed at the South Jersey Caribbean Festival over the years; Cordice has been an “integral person in many aspects of the overall production of the South Jersey Caribbean Festival”; Dr. Gordon-Litterean volunteers as cultural ambassador during the South Jersey Caribbean Festival; Mitchell Morgan is a long-time SJCCDO member and “an integral part of the planning committee and development team,  who also assists the stage manager during the South Jersey Caribbean Festival”; Pierre assists with onsite logistics during the South Jersey Caribbean Festival; and Watkis has served as host, stage manager and helped with coordinating entertainment.

“To be honored for doing what is a passion is in itself the honor,” Ali told Caribbean Life. “I especially thank Kylla Herbert, president, for allowing my children and me a major platform to showcase our talents. The love is real. Big up and blessed love always.

“We will always find time to answer the call of Kylla and the SJ Caribbean Cultural and Development Organization, aka (also known as) SJ Caribbean Festival,” he said. “Thank you again for the award; it re-ignited the musical journey.”

Cordice said he was “grateful and honored to be one of the six honorees,” stating that “each one contributed their time and efforts to ensuring that Caribbean artform and culture live on.

“Nkem Tshombe, the late founder of this organization, once encouraged me to do whatever little I can for my people, but do it hard; don’t ease up,” he said. “So, I am happy to be amongst these few who choose to volunteer with pride.”

Cordice said he accepted the award on behalf of his 101-year-old aunt, Isla Nanton, currently residing in Trinidad and Tobago; his mom, 98-year-old Liliath Cordice, living in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and his four children.

“Thank you all for allowing me to serve,” he said.

From left, Debbie Agbessi, Kylla Herbert, Dr. Berdine Gordon-Littrean, Nya Ryan – Miss Caribbean U.S. Teen 2023, and Sabrine Semper – Miss Caribbean U.S 2023.Photo by Wesley Mitchell

Dr. Gordon-Littréan said she was “humbled to be recognized by my peers for my volunteer contributions.”

She said she had met Nkem Tshombe while vending at the South Jersey Caribbean Festival and “learned that he knew of my father.”

“My talk with Nkem ignited my spirit and encouraged me to become an active participant at Caribbean cultural events,” Dr. Gordon-Littréan said. “I am thankful to be given my flowers and shown appreciation while I am on the earthly side.

“Ultimately, my reason for volunteering each year is to honor my Bahamian father and our rich Caribbean heritage,” she added.

Mitchell Morgan said he was “absolutely thrilled and honored to receive the volunteer award.

“This recognition fuels my commitment to making a positive impact in our community,” he said. “Thank you for the opportunity to contribute.”

From left, Debbie Agbessi, Kylla Herbert, Nya Ryan – Miss Caribbean U.S. Teen 2023, Keith Mitchell Morgan, and Sabrine Semper – Miss Caribbean U.S 2023.Photo by Wesley Mitchell

Pierre said he was also “grateful to be honored by the South Jersey Caribbean Cultural and Development Organization for my volunteer work at the South Jersey Caribbean Festival and at their other cultural events.

“I am proud to assist with the promotion of Caribbean arts, culture and music in my community,” he said.

Watkis said he also felt “honored to be an honoree in the sense that myself along with the other honorees are fulfilling the heritage and carrying out the legacy of Nkem Tshombe.

“My family has maintained involvement in some capacity, and the honor lies in the work of sharing the rich culture of the Caribbean through music, food, arts/crafts and history,” he said.

“The collaborative aspect of community building and humanitarian efforts are the fruits that blossom, when we work together as a family, and invite other races to experience our culture,” Watkis added. “In so doing, we show appreciation for the past, a commitment to the present and celebrate the future.”

Herbert thanked “all of the volunteers that have assisted over the years,” stating that “there are too many people to name, but we plan to acknowledge volunteers each year to show our appreciation for each person’s contributions over the years.

“I am overjoyed that we were able to honor some of the spectacular individuals who helped to make the South Jersey Caribbean Festival successful,” she said. “The Volunteer Appreciation Reception turned out great. We had the privilege to recognize six amazing people that have made an impact at the South Jersey Caribbean Festival.”

Herbert said SJCCDO is currently looking for youth, from six to 18 years, to enroll to learn how to play the steel pan. She said the Youth Steel Drum classes will resume this spring in Camden.

She also said SJCCDO will host the 24th Annual South Jersey Caribbean Festival on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Wiggins Park in Camden.

Herbert said SJCCDO was established for charitable and educations purposes by her father, and that the organization’s mission is “to promote understanding and awareness of Caribbean culture through arts, music, cultural and educational programs.”

For more information, visit sjcaribbean.org; call 856-580-0178; or email: sjcaribbean@gmail.com.