Hi.
Welcome to FeteWorld!
Welcome to FeteWorld!
Mansa is a proud Jamaican American who loves his Caribbean people and nations. In February 2019, Mansa gathered a team of 12 talented Caribbean Americans to start a podcast platform called FeteWorld. He is passionate about creating a space where all people of Caribbean descent have a voice and can share their experiences in order to improve the social consciousness and conditions of Caribbean people everywhere. Mansa has a passion for community service and leadership. He attended the State University of New York and has over 12 years of experience as an avid public health advocate and professional. He has worked with a variety of populations including high-risk youths, individuals with mental illness, substance abuse, and developmental delays. Mansa has also managed a variety of Public Health Initiatives including addressing tobacco use in underserved communities. In 2006 he re-established the Association of Black Social Workers group in Albany, NY and was President from 2007-2009. One of his proudest achievements was establishing a mentorship program called The Minority Achievement Program (MAP). MAP provided an opportunity for high school students who were positive role models to mentor 4th grade students in order to promote a sense of community, encourage younger students to exhibit positive behavior, and promote the value of education. Mansa is co-host of both the new podcast “What Happened to Yuh Accent” and “Kinks and Drinks”.
Melanie, affectionately known to family and friends as Mellie Mel, Lee Lee and LLA is a 1st generation born Bajan American. Raised in Brooklyn by a loving family, Melanie was always encouraged to follow her passions from a young age. She set her sights on dance and choreography and majored in ballet and modern dance in high school. However, her dreams of becoming a professional dancer didn’t quite pan out so she sought out her other passion…. Healthcare and helping others. She is currently working at the City Department of Health as a Project Coordinator, where she hopes to effect real change in the field of substance use. As a woman of many talents, Melanie began making jewelry because of her love to shop and joy for buying fashion jewelry. With her family’s nudging to sell what she created Imperfections was born in 2011. Melanie has always been in awe as to how so many people have been blessed with similar talents, yet each person has a unique signature. Who knew that something as simple as a necklace or a pair of earrings could enhance a simple ensemble, uplift your mood, give you confidence, allow you to express your sense of style, to step out and be daring knowing all eyes are on you. She enjoys making imperfect jewelry for imperfect people and recently took her jewelry-making skills to the next level by becoming an LLC in June 2019. Teaming up with FeteWorld has allowed Melanie to outwardly express her love for the Caribbean and her people. This platform has placed Melanie and her fellow podcasters in a position to help empower and bring life to the voices of a people whose stories are often left untold; an awesome and necessary responsibility. Knowledge is power and that includes knowledge of self and the story of where you come from, which is ultimately where all our stories begin.
Makeda is a public health professional with 12 years’ experience in public health policy, youth advocacy and community mobilization. Outside of her work duties, Makeda is a business owner, a New York State certified Farmers Market Manager, past president of a local Toastmasters International club and recently the newest edition to the FeteWorld Family, co-host of “What Happened to Yuh Accent”, a podcast on the FeteWorld Network.
Fabian E. Ferguson works full time as a Marketing Manager in New Jersey and is an accomplished wedding photographer and children’s book author. He also likes to consider himself an accomplished chef, fitness model, and DJ, but there is really no evidence to support these claims. With his current role as 1/3 of the Fete-Talk podcast team, he will soon be able to add master podcaster to his ever-growing list of accomplishments. He attended the State University of New York at Albany, where he studied marketing and management and somehow managed to graduate with honors. During his time as an undergrad, Fabian served as commander in chief of the Pan Caribbean Association. Here he developed and delivered educational and social programming to the school’s Caribbean student population. Although originally from Brooklyn, New York, he now lives in Maplewood, New Jersey (wife’s decision) with his wife, their two children, and their very non-destructive cat.
Kat J. Stephens, Ed. M. is a 2nd-year PhD student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She migrated with her family to Queens New York, then Brooklyn, New York once they traveled from her home country, and place of birth, Guyana, W.I. Kat’s lived experiences in her formative years would later prove essential to her scholarship on Black foreign-born immigrant collegians and international collegians. Kat has published on bi-cultural socialization for Caribbean immigrant, Black women, children, and young adults. Other publications include the community college learning experience of English majors. She is a graduate of Borough of Manhattan Community College, (’12), Sarah Lawrence College, (’14) Teachers College, Columbia University, (’18) and will be the first person in her family to earn a PhD, (from) University of Massachusetts Amherst (’22). Kat’s scholarship on (Black Transnational) Afro-Caribbean immigrants and international collegians focuses on the experiences of, formation of a racialized ethnic identity [in often unfamiliar] American context, and their uses of on-campus services like counseling centers and disability services. Kat’s scholarship has taken her to the U.K., Cuba, Colombia, Guyana, and countless cities across America. Kat’s podcast, CaribbeanScholarTings is a manifestation of a long-held dream to create space for Caribbean scholars along their journey in the academy. It is primarily a space that pays respect to what we know to be ‘liming’ and ‘reasoning’, traditional aspects of Anglophone-Caribbean culture where all can participate, whether they have formal education or not, despite earning post-secondary degrees or not. Kat’s podcast is a nod to our shared culture, but furthermore a way to integrate the landscape of Black scholar-creatives hosting academic podcasts, with representation across the Africana Diaspora, but having little to no representation among Afro-Caribbean scholars. CST is solo-hosted, and occasionally has guests to share their scholarship, culture, and love for the Caribbean. CaribbeanScholarTings has merchandise, a twitter @CST_Digital_ and an Instagram @CaribbeanScholarTingss. #CST #IslandBrilliance
Cherise is a Youth Counselor for Pregnant and Mothering teenagers in a foster care for the past 8 years. Outside of her 9-5, Cherise is also a licensed Cosmetologist for the past 13 years. She is very passionate about our youth and educating them on life outside of foster care. Above all, Cherise is a Mother first. As much as she won’t admit it, she travels a lot more than most. Cherise loves learning, educating, or discussing anything that has to do with sex. As co-host of the podcast “Kinks and Drinks” she is an open-book. Always coming with some crazy story for every topic. From unknowingly dating a homeless man to being “Flewed out” on lavish vacations. Cherise’s life, Your entertainment. Quote: “God knows my heart but the Devil knows my vocabulary
Sasha aka Queen Sasha is a proud Trinidadian-American and a host of Kinks and Drinks. Her pronouns are she, her, hers. Queen Sasha has worked in the field of Communications for the last several years and is currently transitioning into becoming a certified sexual health educator. Known for her laid back, caring, and chill personality she believes that every Caribbean individual should be able to live their sexual truth without fear or judgement. Sasha has planned and participated in many events including community forums, community service activities, and fetes. She is a proud mother of 4 wonderful children and loves to travel to different Carnivals with her husband and partner Hollywood.
Quan aka Hollywood is an American- Trini (Lol) and host of the Podcast Fete- Talk. He is an avid feter and has been a great supporter of Caribbean music for over 30 years. He has been featured on a variety of dance hall and soca platforms from B-Cat music programs to promotional soca videos. There is no denying Hollywood’s presence and aura at a fete. He is known for his nonstop energy and his patented Michael Jordan tongue out wine. He is a proud hardworking father of 4 and has planned and participated in many community service activities including the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Walk, collection of gifts for children on the shelter system, and clothes drives to the homeless.
