named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Brass Fest
Cultural music event featuring Soca, Afrobeats, Reggae, and Kompa artists from the Caribbean diaspora
Children’s Carnival
Parade and showcase for children ages 1–17 in elaborate costumes, celebrating Caribbean culture through music and performance
NY Panorama Steel Pan Competition
Annual steel pan competition featuring steelbands from across the diaspora, held during Carnival Week in Brooklyn
Scholarship Program
Provides scholarships to incoming college students and hosts essay contests for middle and high school students to support youth education
WIADCA Cares
Community support initiative providing free hot meals, sanitizers, and face masks to vulnerable seniors; also includes Breast Cancer Awareness and holiday giving programs
Youth Programming
Year-round cultural and educational events for youth, including back-to-school, holiday, and seasonal celebrations
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Community Festival & Event Production 5 activities
- Engages volunteers and supports community vendor participationRelies on volunteer engagement to support operations and community impact; organizes events that include vendor participation from a wide range of industries, fostering economic and community involvement.
- Hosts Children's Carnival and youth-focused mas bandsOrganizes a Children's Carnival featuring costumed youth bands for participants up to age 17, including an annual parade judged at the Brooklyn Museum, with elaborately designed costumes and soca music accompaniment; also organizes junior mas bands for the Labor Day Carnival.
- Hosts year-round cultural and musical eventsOrganizes pop-up events and festivals throughout the year for adults and youth, including BLOCKO MANIA and SOCA FEST MUSIC FESTIVAL at the Brooklyn Museum, Brass Fest featuring Caribbean diaspora artists, and seasonal celebrations for holidays such as Thanksgiving, Easter, and Halloween.
- Organizes annual West Indian Day Parade and Carnival celebrationProduces the West Indian Day Parade along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, a large-scale cultural event drawing approximately 4 million spectators and participants annually, culminating in a street carnival that showcases West Indian art, music, and culture.
- Produces large-scale steelpan music competitionsOrganizes the New York Panorama, the largest steelpan competition in North America, held annually in Brooklyn during Carnival Week, featuring international participants and including publication of official rules, certification forms, and judging for championship titles.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Administers scholarship and youth educational programsProvides college scholarships for incoming students and organizes essay contests for middle and high school students; offers culturally driven, assessment-based online educational programs for children and adults.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Delivers community health and emergency support servicesProvided free hot meals, sanitizers, and face masks to approximately 24,000 seniors during the past year as part of a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic; also conducts Breast Cancer Awareness initiatives and holiday season giving programs.
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
- Presents traditional and satirical Caribbean masquerade performancesProduces cultural performances including Traditional Mas featuring characters from African folklore and plantation-era symbolism (e.g., Dame Lorraine, Midnight Robber, Jab), and Ole Mas performances that use satire to comment on current events and public figures, showcased during events like Dimanche Gras.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.46M
Contributions & grants$908K62%
Program service revenue$551K38%
Investment income$30%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.99M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$21K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$1.67M
Cash$111K
Investments$0
Liabilities$660K
Net assets$1.01M
Liquid reserves0.7 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -44.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 6
- ANDREW MALONEY — CHAIR PERSON
- CECILLE FORD — SECRETARY
- IONIE PIERCE — TREASURER
- MICHELLE GIBBS — BOARD MEMBER
- RHEA SMITH — BOARD MEMBEER
- ROGER ARCHIBALD — PRESIDENT
relationships · 36
Who they work with
- 1199 SEIU Partner — Juvenile mas band participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
- B Paradise Mas Partner — Juvenile mas band participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
- Brooklyn United Partner — Juvenile mas band participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
- CASYM STEEL ORCHESTRA Partner — Participating steel orchestra in the NY Panorama competition organized by WIADCA.
- Charlize Horizon Partner — Juvenile mas band participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
- Columbia University Partner — Student from Columbia University contributed historical content about the organization.
- D'RADOES STEEL ORCHESTRA Partner — Participating steel orchestra in the NY Panorama competition organized by WIADCA.
- DESPERS USA Partner — Participating steel orchestra in the NY Panorama competition organized by WIADCA.
- DJ Stakz Partner — Featured as a Caribbean music ambassador at Brass Fest.
- ERUPTION STEEL Partner — Participating steel orchestra in the NY Panorama competition organized by WIADCA.
- Farmer Nappy Partner — Featured as a Caribbean music ambassador at Brass Fest.
- Funtopia Mas Partner — Juvenile mas band participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
- Gemini Production Partner — Co-presents BLOCKO MANIA and SOCA FEST MUSIC FESTIVAL events with the West Indian American Day Carnival Association.
- Hook'D Carnival Partner — Juvenile mas band participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
- I Scream Mas Partner — Juvenile mas band participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
- Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram accounts @newyorkcarnival and @lovenycarnival for communication and outreach.
- Kaisokah Moko Jumbies Partner — Juvenile mas band specializing in stilt walking participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
- Kes the Band Partner — Featured as a Caribbean music ambassador at Brass Fest.
- METRO STEEL ORCHESTRA Partner — Participating steel orchestra in the NY Panorama competition organized by WIADCA.
- Nailah Blackman Partner — Featured as a Caribbean music ambassador at Brass Fest.
- New York City Government — Headquartered in and collaborates with the community in New York City
- PAN EVOLUTION STEEL ORCHESTRA Partner — Participating steel orchestra in the NY Panorama competition organized by WIADCA.
- PAN IN MOTION Partner — Participating steel orchestra in the NY Panorama competition organized by WIADCA.
- PHILADELPHIA PAN STARS Partner — Participating steel orchestra in the NY Panorama competition organized by WIADCA.
- Royale Mas Partner — Collaborates with Royale Mas, an adult Mas Band led by N Prince Lewis, as part of the Labor Day Carnival programming.
- STEEL SENSATION Partner — Participating steel orchestra in the NY Panorama competition organized by WIADCA.
- Sesame Carnival Partner — Juvenile mas band participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
- Sherzel Production Mas Partner — Juvenile mas band participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
- Soca Royals Mas Partner — Juvenile mas band participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
- Stronjeh Kids Partner — Juvenile mas band participating in the Junior Mas Bands Labor Day Carnival 2025
+ 6 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Building Through Culturally-Responsive Programming and Volunteer Engagementmethodology: community-engagementBy offering year-round, culturally grounded events and relying on volunteer participation, the organization fosters inclusive community engagement, because shared cultural experiences and collective ownership strengthen social ties and sustain organizational capacity.
- Cultural Celebration as Cultural Preservation and Reclamationmethodology: cultural_reclamationBy staging vibrant public festivals, parades, and performances rooted in African and European traditions, the organization preserves and reclaims Caribbean cultural heritage, transforming colonial-era expressions into contemporary affirmations of African diasporic identity, thereby fostering cultural pride and public understanding.
- Youth Cultural Engagement Through Experiential Participationmethodology: cultural-youth-engagementBy involving youth in hands-on cultural expression—such as junior mas bands, themed costume design, and parade performance—the organization strengthens intergenerational transmission of Caribbean heritage, because active participation fosters deeper cultural connection, identity formation, and community belonging among young people.