About Caribbean-American Society of New York
The Caribbean American Society of New York (CASONY) promotes and encourages unity among people of Caribbean heritage. We seek to improve the social, educational, and economic status of our people – both in America and abroad – through charitable giving, cultural events, educational initiatives and political involvement.
The organization works to ensure that members are equipped to realize their full potential while remaining cognizant of the challenges and opportunities still present throughout the Caribbean.
CASONY’s principal objectives are:
To encourage and support individuals or organizations who positively impact the Caribbean-American community. This includes all entities that offer employment, training, commercial opportunities, or financial support to members.
To provide mentorship, tutelage, and encouragement to young students (K-8), with a focus on those interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Additionally, we offer parents assistance in navigating the high school selection process and in researching all funding resources.
To provide a platform and networking opportunities for members to exchange and share mutually beneficial resources.
To increase awareness of both the challenges and the opportunities present in the Caribbean today and to support coalition building amongst those who seek to address them in a fair and ethical way.
Our Philosophy
CASONY promotes a balanced approach to community service, economic empowerment, and social justice.
Diversity is an integral part of our community service mission. We all benefit from exposure to different backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas and this has a powerful and positive impact on social justice within our community.
We affirm the importance of providing equitable and real opportunities to all groups in the community. We acknowledge that access to social services and the availability of business, employment and training opportunities have been limited and, often, denied, and this has contributed to economic inequality. Our programs consistently work to recognize and eliminate these inequities while creating a path to self-actualization.
CASONY is committed to the personal, educational, and social development of our members, their families, and our neighborhoods. This commitment is extended to the larger community where we live, work, and serve, so that positive growth opportunities can be used to achieve social and economic justice.
CASONY’s commitment to this philosophy of diversity and social justice requires acceptance and acknowledgment that issues touch each of us differently. Excellence can only be achieved by honoring individuality while simultaneously working collaboratively to achieve our goals.
