Programs & Initiatives
Discover CACANA's comprehensive range of programs designed to empower, educate, and celebrate the Caribbean-American community across North America.
Current & Upcoming Programs
Caribbean Heritage Festival 2025/2026
Theme: "Unity in Diversity"
Date: To be communicated, 2025
Our annual flagship event celebrating Caribbean culture through music, dance, food, and art. Features performances by local and international artists, cultural workshops, and community vendors.
Education Support & Mentorship Program
To Provide Scholarships, Academic Mentorship, and skill-building to Caribbean-American Youth
Year-round Program
Comprehensive leadership development program for Caribbean-American youth ages 14-18, including mentorship, skill-building workshops, and college preparation support.
Food Security Initiative
Theme: " Community Food Assistance & Nutrition Education"
Date: January 2026
CACANA’s Food Security Initiative will provides culturally appropriate food assistance, monthly pantry distributions, and nutrition workshops. The program will support 300 people each month, promoting healthier lifestyles and cultural well-being.
Health & Wellness Initiative
Theme: "Healthy Communities, Strong Futures"
Monthly Events
Regular health screenings, mental health workshops, and wellness education sessions addressing health disparities in Caribbean-American communities.
Entrepreneur Network Launch
Theme: "Building Caribbean Business Success"
Date: September 2024
New initiative connecting Caribbean-American entrepreneurs, providing resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for business development.
Cultural Arts Program
Theme: "Preserving Our Creative Heritage"
Weekly Classes
Traditional Caribbean music, dance, and art classes for all ages, preserving cultural traditions while fostering creative expression.
Our Program History
Women's Empowerment Conference
Theme: "Caribbean Women Leading Change"
Successful conference featuring 150+ attendees, keynote speakers, and workshops on leadership, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
CACANA and Prisma Health Partner to Provide Mobile Mammography Screenings
Theme: "Promoting early detection and healthier communities through access to preventive care"
The Caribbean American Cultural Association (CACANA) was proud to partner with Prisma Health to bring the Mobile Mammography Unit to our community. The unit visited our site at IGA on Jefferson Davis Highway in Camden, where women from the community received on-site breast cancer screenings. CACANA helped spread the word, coordinated scheduling information, and supported participants throughout the day. This effort reflected our commitment to increasing access to preventive healthcare and promoting early detection. By working together, we made it easier for community members to take an important step toward protecting their health.
CACANA’s Immediate Humanitarian Response to COVID-19 in New York
Theme: "Feeding the hungry and supporting struggling businesses during crisis"
On March 13, 2020, as New York City and surrounding areas were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, CACANA, under the leadership of Dr. Dothlyn M. Sterling, PhD, took swift action to stabilize the community. Without waiting for governmental decisions or funding, CACANA partnered with local businesses and outreach ministries to provide warm, nutritious cups of soup to the poor and homeless. At the same time, the initiative helped struggling businesses stay afloat by channeling generous community donations to support their operations. This effort ensured that families in need had meals to eat while small businesses were able to continue running during a time of deep uncertainty.
East Coast Community COVID-19 Task Force
Theme: "Uniting communities and nonprofits to respond to crisis"
The East Coast Community COVID-19 Task Force (ECC COVID-19) was founded on March 21, 2020, under the leadership of Michael Kelvin Bennett and Dr. Dothlyn M. Sterling. Formed in response to the devastating impact of the pandemic, the task force acted as both a community watchdog and an outreach initiative to support states along the Eastern region of the United States. Its mission was to ensure accountability in municipal, state, and federal government while helping people suffering during the coronavirus crisis gain fair access to medical care, testing, and equitable allocation of funding. ECC COVID-19 focused especially on serving minorities, homeless populations, and other deeply affected communities facing economic, social, and environmental challenges.
CACANA Basketball Tournament Fundraiser
Theme: "Unity Through Sports"
The Caribbean American Cultural Association Inc. (CACANA) successfully hosted its first-ever basketball tournament fundraiser, led by Executive Director Charles Raeford (South Carolina Chapter). With support from CACANA Advisor & Media Michael Bennett and the broader community, the event marked a strong beginning for future engagement and growth through sports.
CARIB-FUNDAY Music Fest
Theme: "Celebrating culture, community, and compassion"
CACANA’s annual CARIB-FUNDAY Music Fest was held in August 2017, 2018, and 2019, bringing together hundreds of families, friends, businesses, and artists for a day of music and entertainment. The festival not only celebrated Caribbean culture but also served a greater purpose by supporting CACANA’s fundraising efforts. Proceeds helped advance projects such as purchasing mobile RV units for dialysis patients in Jamaica and contributing to medical and food relief during Haiti’s 2010 earthquake. Highlights of the 2019 event included the participation of International Ms. Jamaica, adding to the spirit of unity and cultural pride.
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