CLOSING OUT... DAY TWO of DOMESTIC POLICY FORUM ON EDUCATION, HEALTH, IMMIGRATION, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND LEADERSHIP
Caribbean Americans to Examine Community Priorities Ahead of Congressional Legislative Forum
TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2026
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
Economic Security
The first session on Tuesday will address issues related to Social Security, retirement security, affordable housing, wealth creation, financial resilience, and economic mobility.
The discussion will focus on strengthening economic security for Caribbean American individuals, families, seniors, and future generations.
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT
Entrepreneurship & Doing Business with Local Government
Entrepreneurs, business leaders, procurement specialists, and economic development practitioners will discuss pathways for growing Caribbean American businesses through government contracting, supplier diversity initiatives, certifications, procurement opportunities, and strategic partnerships.
The session is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises better understand how to compete for and secure business opportunities within local government systems.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
Intergenerational Leadership Roundtable
The Forum will conclude with a special dialogue focused on leadership across generations.
Emerging leaders, students, professionals, community advocates, educators, business leaders, and public servants will engage in a conversation about leadership, mentorship, civic responsibility, and the future of Caribbean American communities.
The session will explore how established and emerging leaders can work together to build stronger institutions and create new opportunities for future generations.
BUILDING A COMMUNITY AGENDA
Recommendations emerging from the Forum will help inform future advocacy efforts and contribute to broader conversations on education, workforce development, healthcare, immigration, economic opportunity, entrepreneurship, and civic participation.
The Domestic Policy Forum serves as a bridge between community priorities and public policy, ensuring that Caribbean American voices remain visible, engaged, and influential in shaping the future.
All Sessions Are Open to the Public.
Registration information and additional details are available through the Institute of Caribbean Studies.
| | |
Reimagining US–Caribbean Agenda
June 10-11
|
28th Annual U.S.–Caribbean Legislative Forum on Capitol Hill
As part of National Caribbean American Heritage Month, policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, academics, and civil society representatives will convene in Washington, D.C. for the 28th Annual U.S.–Caribbean Legislative Forum on Capitol Hill, taking place June 10–11, 2026.
This year's theme, "U.S.–Caribbean Strategic Engagement in an Era of Poly-Crisis: Advancing Policy for Systems Resilience," reflects the increasingly interconnected challenges facing both the United States and the Caribbean region. From economic uncertainty and climate-related disasters to migration pressures, trade disruptions, security concerns, and financial instability, the forum seeks to foster meaningful dialogue and collaborative solutions that strengthen regional resilience and prosperity.
Hosted during National Caribbean American Heritage Month, the forum serves as a premier platform for strengthening U.S.–Caribbean relations and advancing policy discussions that address shared opportunities and challenges. The event brings together congressional staff, federal agencies, Caribbean ambassadors, think tanks, academic experts, financial institutions, business leaders, and civil society organizations to exchange ideas and develop actionable strategies for long-term regional development.
Day One: Strategic Systems – Senate Side
June 10, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
The first day focuses on strategic systems that underpin economic growth, security, and regional competitiveness. Discussions will explore:
Maritime Security and Regional Stability
Participants will examine emerging security challenges in the Caribbean Basin, including maritime threats, transnational crime, border security, and the importance of regional cooperation in maintaining stability and safeguarding critical trade routes.
Trade, Nearshoring, and Economic Competitiveness
As global supply chains continue to evolve, Caribbean nations have opportunities to position themselves as strategic partners in nearshoring and regional manufacturing initiatives. Discussions will focus on investment attraction, trade expansion, and enhancing the region's economic competitiveness.
Tax Policy, Investment, and Economic Integration
Experts will explore how tax policy reforms, investment frameworks, and regional economic cooperation can stimulate growth, attract foreign direct investment, and create more inclusive economic opportunities throughout the Caribbean.
Development Finance, Energy, and Strategic Infrastructure
A critical focus will be placed on financing sustainable development, modernizing infrastructure, expanding energy security, and leveraging public-private partnerships to support long-term economic resilience.
|
Day Two: Financial, Disaster, and Social Systems Resilience – House Side
June 11, 2026 | 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
The second day shifts attention toward resilience within financial, social, and disaster-response systems.
U.S.–Caribbean Relations in a Post-USAID Era
With changing international development priorities, participants will assess the future of U.S.–Caribbean engagement and identify innovative approaches for cooperation, capacity building, and sustainable development.
Banking Stability, De-Risking, and Diaspora Capital
The forum will address ongoing concerns surrounding correspondent banking relationships, financial inclusion, and strategies for leveraging diaspora investment to support regional growth and entrepreneurship.
Disaster Recovery and Community Resilience
Given the Caribbean's vulnerability to hurricanes and other climate-related disasters, discussions will focus on strengthening disaster preparedness, recovery mechanisms, infrastructure resilience, and community-based approaches to adaptation.
Health Systems, Workforce Mobility, and Migration
Experts will examine the intersection of healthcare systems, labor mobility, migration trends, and workforce development, with an emphasis on creating policies that benefit both Caribbean nations and their international partners.
Why This Forum Matters
The Caribbean and the United States share deep economic, cultural, historical, and geopolitical ties. As both regions navigate an increasingly complex global environment, strengthening collaboration is essential to addressing common challenges and unlocking new opportunities.
The forum recognizes that resilience is not limited to disaster response. It encompasses economic stability, secure financial systems, sustainable infrastructure, workforce development, public health, and effective governance. By bringing together leaders from multiple sectors, the event aims to develop integrated policy solutions that support long-term prosperity and regional security.
More importantly, the forum highlights the growing role of Caribbean voices in shaping international policy discussions and advancing innovative approaches to sustainable development.
The event's guiding principles—Building Resilience, Strengthening Partnerships, and Advancing Shared Prosperity—underscore a commitment to fostering stronger U.S.–Caribbean relations while creating a more secure, competitive, and resilient future for generations to come.
| | |
The Caribbean Journey:
Stories Worth Sharing
June 9
| | |
📚✨ Every immigrant story carries a journey, a sacrifice, a dream, and a legacy.
This National Caribbean American Heritage Month, join us for an engaging evening of conversation, reflection, and storytelling as the Book Bankra Conversation Series presents:
Stories of Immigration
📅 Tuesday, June 9, 2026
🕖 7:00 PM EST
💻 Virtual Event
Through literature, dialogue, and shared experiences, we will explore the immigrant journey and the many ways Caribbean voices have shaped communities, cultures, and generations.
Featured selections from the National Caribbean American Heritage Month Official Book List 2026 include:
📖 Brown Girl in the Snow
📖 How to Unmother
These compelling works invite us to examine identity, belonging, family, resilience, migration, and the experiences that connect us across borders and generations.
We are honored to welcome:
🎤 Moderator: Alecia Haughton-Francis
🎤 Host: Francine Campbell-Hakim
Whether you are a reader, writer, educator, student, immigrant, descendant of immigrants, or simply someone who enjoys meaningful conversations, this event offers an opportunity to connect with powerful stories and diverse perspectives.
The Caribbean story is a story of movement, courage, adaptation, and hope. Join us as we celebrate those journeys and engage in a conversation that is timely, relevant, and inspiring.
Bring your curiosity. Bring your questions. Bring your perspective.
📚 Let's explore the stories that shape who we are and where we are going.
Register today:
https://bit.ly/BOOKBANKRA2026
For more information about National Caribbean American Heritage Month:
Visit: caribbeanamericanmonth.com
#NationalCaribbeanAmericanHeritageMonth#NCAHM2026#BookBankra#StoriesOfImmigration
#CaribbeanAmericanHeritageMonth#CaribbeanAuthors#ImmigrantStories#BookDiscussion
#LiteraryConversation#CaribbeanVoices#ReadersCommunity#DiasporaStories#CaribbeanAmerican#JoinTheConversation
| | | | |
The Taíno word “hurakán,” meaning storm god, is where the English word “hurricane” originated.
The Taíno people, one of the Indigenous groups of the Caribbean, used the term to describe a powerful deity associated with fierce winds and destructive storms. Their understanding of these natural phenomena was deeply connected to their culture, spirituality, and daily lives. Through contact between Indigenous Caribbean peoples and European explorers, the word evolved and was eventually adopted into the Spanish and English languages. Today, it serves as a reminder of the lasting influence of Taíno heritage on Caribbean history and global vocabulary.
| | |
STAY CONNECTED...
Get Daily Updates on Caribbean American Heritage Month
| | | | | |
