Senate Resolution No. 1453

BY: Senator PARKER

HONORING Marsha Massiah upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the Educational &
Community Empowerment Award by Young, Gifted, &
Black Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend individuals whose visionary leadership, dedication to education,
and commitment to cultural empowerment have strengthened communities,
fostered generational learning, and elevated the voices of historically
underrepresented populations; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Marsha Massiah, Founder and Executive Director of the Brooklyn Caribbean
Literary Festival (BCLF), upon the occasion of her designation as
recipient of the Educational & Community Empowerment Award by Young,
Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc., on Wednesday, February 25,
2026; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 2006 by Carl Gray, Young, Gifted, & Black
Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
recognizing distinguished individuals of color across the Americas, the
Caribbean, and Africa, celebrating "Unsung Heroes and Heroines" whose
leadership, resilience, and service have made a lasting impact across
healthcare, business, arts, and community development; and

WHEREAS, Since its founding, the BCLF has become the only literary
festival in the United States dedicated exclusively to Caribbean
literature and indigenous storytelling, celebrating luminaries such as
Jamaica Kincaid, Lorna Goodison, and Dr. Elizabeth Nunez, and advancing
the visibility and sustainability of Caribbean literary voices; and

WHEREAS, Born and raised in Trinidad & Tobago, Marsha Massiah draws
inspiration from her homeland to build bridges for Caribbean stories,
advocating for writers to be recognized as the original storytellers and
cultural architects of their narratives while ensuring their
intellectual and economic viability; and

WHEREAS, Under her leadership, the BCLF has become a dynamic
platform for the diaspora, connecting literature with music, art,
folklore, fiction, rhythm, spoken word, and oral traditions, fostering
dialogues that celebrate Caribbean heritage and identity while
democratizing access to storytelling across generations; and

WHEREAS, Marsha Massiah has conceptualized signature initiatives
including the Caribbean Fiction Collection at the Center for Fiction,
the Cocoa Pod podcast, and the BCLF Short Fiction Story Competition,
providing emerging writers with mentorship, exposure, and pathways to
develop their craft; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her literary and cultural contributions,
Marsha Massiah leads The Idea Room Corp, a socially conscious
communications hub that helps creatives bring their ideas to life, while

collaborating with esteemed thinkers, artists, and educators to
strengthen Caribbean-American cultural expression and community
engagement; and

WHEREAS, With a professional background in instructional design,
project management, and creative content production, along with an
Honours degree in Caribbean History from the University of the West
Indies and graduate certificates from New York University, Marsha
Massiah exemplifies the values of scholarship, mentorship, and visionary
leadership; and

WHEREAS, Through her tireless work, Marsha Massiah has empowered
writers, educators, and cultural practitioners, preserved Caribbean
storytelling traditions, and inspired new generations to embrace the
pride, creativity, and resilience of their heritage; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Marsha Massiah upon the occasion of her designation as recipient
of the Educational & Community Empowerment Award, and to commend her
extraordinary contributions to literature, mentorship, and cultural
empowerment; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Marsha Massiah as an expression of the highest respect
and admiration of this Legislative Body.