Honoring Culture, Contributions, and Community
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month 2025 by honoring the vibrant culture, rich heritage, and significant contributions of the Caribbean American Diaspora throughout history and today. Worcester, Massachusetts, the second largest city in New England, proudly hosts one of the largest Caribbean American communities in the region.
This month, and every day, we encourage our community to learn from, celebrate with, and stand in solidarity with our Caribbean American neighbors, students, faculty, and staff.
Caribbean Americans have added to our history, culture, and communities in countless ways. The unique relationship between the United States and the Caribbean has enriched both regions, and this month is a wonderful time to celebrate our shared past and future.
STEM Scholar Spotlights
- Dr. Camille Wardrop Alleyne (Trinidad and Tobago)
Aerospace Engineer and Rocket Scientist at NASA.
She has worked on spaceflight programs including Orion and the International Space Station and is a fierce advocate for girls in STEM globally. - Dr. Deborah Berebichez (Mexico with Caribbean Jewish heritage)
Physicist, data scientist, and science communicator.
She was the first Mexican woman to earn a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University and has Caribbean lineage through her Cuban-born grandparents. - Dr. Jeanese Badenock (Jamaican heritage)
Epidemiologist and public health researcher.
She is known for her work on health disparities and equity in biomedical research, particularly in Caribbean American populations.
Read, Watch, Listen, and Learn
- Explore The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts (CMCARTS)
- Visit Island SPACE Caribbean Museum – the only Caribbean heritage museum in the U.S.
- Learn more about WPI’s Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
- Discover authentic Caribbean recipes
- Read about the history of the Caribbean
- Explore The Caribbean Collaborative Action Network
- Explore the work of the Dean of the Global School, Mimi Sheller, PhD, a leading scholar in the field of Caribbean Studies:
- Island Futures
- Consuming the Caribbean | From Arawaks to Zombies |
- Democracy After Slavery: Black Publics and Peasant Radicalism in Haiti and Jamaica: Sheller
- Watch Caribbean-centered documentaries via PBS Caribbean Stories
- Enjoy local Caribbean American stories via the Worcester Public Library's Caribbean Literature Collection
- Explore and Learn more about WPI's Puerto Rico Project Center
- Listen to:
- Carry On Friends: The Caribbean American Podcast
- Caribbean Science Fiction Network Podcast
- The Nerds with Accents Podcast
Take Action and Get Involved
- Support WPI’s Caribbean and Hispanic Student Association (CHSA)
- Attend the Worcester Caribbean American Heritage Festival
Date: Sunday, June 15, 2025, | Time: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Institute Park, Worcester, MA
Featuring Caribbean food, live music, arts & crafts, and cultural performances. - Support the Caribbean Science Foundation
- Practice intentional self-care and community care
- Register to vote or check your registration at vote.org
- Sign up to become a poll worker
Did You Know?
The effort to establish National Caribbean American Heritage Month began in 1999 by the Institute of Caribbean Studies. After years of advocacy and community engagement, the resolution passed the U.S. House in 2005, the Senate in 2006, and was officially proclaimed by President George W. Bush on June 5, 2006.
Learn more: National Today – Caribbean American Heritage Month
The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME)
ODIME leads and supports student-facing initiatives across WPI’s campus.