From Caribbean Life

Maria Davis, fourth from left; Tamara Ivey, fifth from left; WIADCA officials and volunteers. WIADCA/Rhea Smith

The Brooklyn-based West Indian-American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), organizer of the massive annual Caribbean Carnival Parade on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway, hosted a “Heart-to-Heart Conversation” on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, at the Major Owens Cultural Center on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, where cultural leader and HIV/AIDS advocate Maria Davis was honored.

WIADCA said Davis, a nationally-recognized HIV/AIDS advocate, cultural voice, and community leader, was honored for her “trailblazing work in hip-hop, public health, and community education.” 

Davis told Caribbean Life afterwards that she was “truly honored to be recognized by WIADCA. 

“As someone who has lived with HIV for over 30 years, being celebrated by the Caribbean community means more than words can express,” she said. “Addressing the AIDS conversation openly and without stigma is how we save lives, uplift our people, and create real change. 

“I am grateful to WIADCA for giving me the space to share my story, and I stand proudly with them in this mission,” Davis added. 

During the discussion, Davis — who has dedicated her platform to reducing stigma, empowering women, and advancing public health education — shared her personal story, spoke about stigma in Caribbean and immigrant communities, and highlighted her ongoing work with health vans across New York City, including prostate cancer screenings, hypertension testing, and HIV/AIDS outreach.

The event, which was moderated by  Tamara Ivey, founder of The Ivey Impact Foundation, Inc., also featured a special dance performance by Urban Dance Opportunities, steel pan music by Pan In Motion, and vocal performance by Dr. Sima Katarina. 

“This was a hard conversation — but it was a necessary one,” WIADCA Trinidadian-born President Roger Archibald, a lawyer, also told Caribbean Life.

“There are topics our community has pushed aside for too long. It’s time to talk openly, consistently, and with compassion,” he added. 

WIADCA said in a statement that it stood “in solidarity with our global community on World AIDS Day to honor the lives, strength, and resilience of those impacted by HIV and AIDS. 

“Our Heart-to-Heart series pays tribute to the advocates, educators, caregivers, families and organizations who have dedicated themselves to raising awareness, expanding access to care, and fighting stigma,” it said. “Their unwavering commitment has saved lives and continues to inspire hope. 

“As a cultural institution rooted in unity and empowerment, WIADCA reaffirms our pledge to support community health, uplift vulnerable populations, and champion education and prevention,” it added. “Together, we honor the past, stand firmly in the present, and work toward a future where every person can live with dignity, knowledge and equitable care.”

WIADCA said the event concluded with group photos, networking, resource table access, free testing information, and “emotional reflections from attendees who shared how meaningful and overdue this conversation felt. 

“WIADCA extends gratitude to the volunteer team, performers, DJ Shug, Maria Davis, community partners, and all who attended,” it added. “The organization remains committed to building culturally-rooted, safe and honest spaces that address health, stigma, and community wellness.”

For more on this story go to: CARIBBEAN LIFE