ON THE CALL with Ozzie Stewart

David Boothman, one of 6 siblings, is a celebrated composer, artist, musician, and educator, currently serves as Master Artist in Residence at the University of Trinidad & Tobago (UTT), and the chairman of Caribbean Renaissance Foundation, founded 8/2012 –  which is a fusion of creative entities plowing the ground for a cultural revitalization and the re-invention of the Caribbean identity; an innovative strategic engine creating the platform for a proactive and inter- active transformation of culture, education and tourism; shaping the future of an integrated Caribbean by preserving its heritage, through the advancement of the arts, science, education, culture and tourism; and highlighting the war heroes who brought pride to and beyond to its shores  – has been involved in the arts for over 45 years. “Booty/Ze Boots” comes from a family of artists and musicians. His uncles, Boscoe and Geoffrey Holder, are two of the best known artists from the Caribbean.Two of his brothers, Michael and Roger are also awarded artists and musicians. David attended Queen’s Royal College in Trinidad and won a scholarship to Pratt Institute, New York, to study Art and became an honor graduate of the institute. In addition to being a top artist, David is also an accomplished Jazz pianist and composer. He moved to the United States in 1996 where he managed several bands. With his older brother, Michael, keyboardist David Boothman, would begin their experiments in that new fusion of African music, Shango rhythms, jazz, calypso, even flirting with the musical seeds of what would become soca in a few years, with David composing and original called “So Dey Say” which won Best Arrangement and Best Original Composition. The band “Family Tree” consisting of the Boothman brothers which later included the steelpan prodigy teenager, Len “Boogsie” Sharp and other wonderful artists, toured with Derek Walcott’s Trinidad Theatre Workshop including Andre Tanker, the great Trinidadian flutist of the time, as well as international Jazz and Caribbean music festivals. David is the founder of CAJE Caribbean Art Jazz Ensemble and Founder/Director of the Caribbean Arts Central and Transcendental Caribbean. As a composer, artist, musician and educator, he has received numerous awards for arts in education and multi-media arts production in Trinidad and the US. In 1980, he was awarded a government scholarship through the Prime Minister’s Best Village. Boothman has written and produced soundtracks for documentaries, composed jingles and has performed and recorded with Caribbean-performing leading artists. His paintings have been exhibited at the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum, OAS, the National Museum in Dallas, Texas, as well international corporate buildings in Europe and Latin America. His works have been published in several publications, including  the Musical America International Directory of Performing Art annually and the International Review of African American Art.  “As a colorist, I am moved by color relationships, the subtleties of texture, nuances of line and shape, creating forms from abstract to figurative, from impressionism to cubism, from expression to quasi-realism.” As a musician, he is compelled to explore the relationship of color and sound from a mystical sense. Check out his Caribbean Renaissance Foundation at: https://www.caribbean-renaissance.org/about/ Follow him @boothmandavid Check him out at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzB11HHjFs4 AND link up with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-boothman-b1372a22/

👉🏾Episode sponsored by: The Emancipation Support Committee @tt_esc👉🏾Art on flyer by: @voodofe  Art, clothing, footwear +++

INGRID LASHLEY: is a graduate of McGill University, Montreal, Canada, and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in Accounting and Finance. She also carries the professional designations of Certified Management Accountant, Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Accountant and serves as a member of the Quality Assurance Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago and spent several years at the helm in banking and mortgage financing, and became the former CEO of Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance Company (TTMF). She spent 18 years at Scotiabank in various senior positions in financial control, private banking, trusteeships and merchant banking. Ms Lashley serves on the Board of Directors of state, publicly traded and private companies in various business sectors in Trinidad and Tobago. She served as Chairman of the: West Indian Tobacco Co Ltd; Angostura Holdings Ltd; National Enterprises Ltd; Bourse Trust Co.; Director of Trinidad Distillers Ltd; Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality & Tourism Institute; Eco-Industrial Development Co. of Tobago Ltd and Colonial Fire & General Insurance Co. Ltd. For her contribution in Corporate Banking/Finance she was awarded the – Doctor of Laws (LLD) from The University of the West Indies (The UWI) in 2022, recognized as an outstanding global citizen. Despite her demanding professional life, Ingrid finds time for involvement in the culture and social life of Trinidad and Tobago and the Board of Management of her alma mater, Bishop Anstey High School and Rainbow Rescue, a Home of Hope for displaced boys. She is an accomplished bass steel- pan player and a former Inter-Bank calypso queen and  also holds credentials in piano and dance. Follow her: @ingridlashley and https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.lashley

👉🏾Episode sponsored by: The Emancipation Support Committee @tt_esc

👉🏾Art on flyer by: @voodofe  Art, clothing, footwear +++ @thespotforart

👉🏾Music by: JLC Media @jacylamarcampbell

ADAM BAPTISTE: is a singer, songwriter, producer, musician, writer, entrepreneur, natural healer whose father is from Trinidad and his mother is from Sweden, and he was just the right age to ride the first waves of hip hop that flooded the streets of Sweden in the 80’s. Adam Baptiste, has a diverse educational background, having studied business and entrepreneurship at Stockholm International Trade School, personal training at SAFE Sweden, and life coaching in Dubai. Adam is also a certified Co-Active Coach and is currently studying web development. In addition to his musical pursuits, Adam has also leveraged his skills and knowledge to build an NFT smart contract platform on the Ripple ledger, showcasing his innovative spirit and entrepreneurial drive. As a Swedish rapper Adam Baptiste, aka ADL, aka Absent Minded solo hip hop music career took off when paired with producer Vladi C. Both the Absent Minded project and ADL are considered pioneers of hip-hop and urban music in Sweden, and the 1996 Absent Minded album Extreme Paranoia in Stocktown is considered a classic of the era. Prior to Absent Minded, ADL had already had success as frontman for the band Stonefunkers, one of the earliest urban-style Swedish groups. The band toured Europe while signed to Warner Music Group. ADL left the band in 1996 to become a solo rapper. As Absent Minded, with producer Vladi C, the group released three singles and one full-length album, Extreme Paranoia in Stocktown, through record labels Polydor, Breakin’ Bread, and Sonet. The single Alright gained international attention when used in a Hugo Boss ad campaign, and Absent Minded toured through Europe with Fugees in 1996. In 2012 he announced that he was going to quit the music industry partly due to his religion but also because he felt disconnected to it as it had become more and more fake and less and less authentic. However he has continued to make music now and then but on his own terms. He’s also been writing lyrics for others. Songs written by Adam Baptiste includes I Like How It Feels, Walking on Air, Crash & Burn, Ready For The Good Life and Boys Will Be Boys. “I Like How It Feels” is a song by Spanish recording artist Enrique Iglesias and  “Walking on Air” is a song recorded by American singer Katy Perry and for her fourth studio album, Prism (2013), is included as its fourth track. His Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Electronic, R&B Soul, Dance, Pop – His featured soundtracks in the important video if it’s time surrounding sustainability “We Don’t Have Time” with Greta Thunberg, for A SONG THAT GOES OUT TO PLANET EARTH was a major impact of its day.

Follow him: @adam_baptiste_ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-baptiste-82341a69/ Episode sponsored by: The Emancipation Support Committee ⁠@⁠⁠tt_esc⁠ Art on flyer by: ⁠@voodofe⁠  Art, clothing, footwear +++ ⁠@thespotforart⁠ Music by: …

TAMIL ROBINSON: Grew from an artist, painter and master airbrush artist, to fashion, crediting his caring instructor Eleta Caldwell at the prestigious Performing Arts High School in Newark for his true artistic development where Robinson free hand sketched, drew, painted, and became a classically trained artist. Robinson worked for the architect firm Campos & Associates for two years where he developed and strengthened his eye for perspective, planting a seed for his love of shapes which would later play a major role increating his signature geo-patterns and logo for his own fashion brand, House of AMIAT, which then was in the May issues of  UKs VANITY FAIR; GLAMOUR, VOGUE and will be in the June and July issues of VOGUE as well!! Employed at the interior design house Concepts Office Interiors in Fort Lee, NJ, he drew two-dimensional drawings, furniture plans, and gained experience working with textiles. After which AMIAT (All Moods In All Textiles) brand was born with an architectural frame of mind, with a logo that symbolizes strength and balance. Before designing luxury fashion, Robinson kicked-off his journey as a streetwear designer. When Robinson met his fashion mentor Glen Senior, a pattern maker who took him under his wings. Senior urged Tamil to use his natural talents to create textile patterns in his fashion designs, taught Robinson discipline and how to develop a true aesthetic when designing. Robinson learned the business aspect of fashion and began building his fashion connections when he worked in several areas of the design industry. Tamil served as a freelance designer and consultant on Seventh Avenue in New York City, delving into building his sports licensing portfolio with companies like Puma, NFL, and more, which led to working  professionally with major corporate companies to design some of the most high-profile apparel projects like the NFL Pro-Bowl All-Star uniforms that Tom Brady, Michael Strahan and other hall-of-famers have worn. Robinson also worked with Reebok’s NBA division where he designed Allen Iverson’s I-3 sports collection. He traveled to other countries like China, Korea, and Japan to learn even more about the fashion business. This gained Tamil the experience of working closely with fabric mills, cut and sew factories and expanded his creative nature. Robinson is proud to announce the launching of the House of AMIAT pillow-stitched, buttery-soft luxury Bags, which exudes impeccable quality and craftsmanship, augmented by plush multi color interior, logoed silk satin lining  In his spare time, Tamil enjoys speaking to students at his alma mater, Performing Arts High School, and other schools across the country including Fashion Institute of Technology. However his favorite “hat” to wear is being a devoted husband and father of 5 girls and 2 boys, with a daughter who is a state champion gymnast, with eyes on the upcoming Olympics and is being scouted already. Follow him @tamilinternational and for more information regarding AMIAT Luxury Bags, go to www.amiatluxury.com and look for him in the upcoming June and July issues of VOGUE!!

Lauren LoGiudice: grew up in the Howard Beach section of Queens, New York. After graduating from Wesleyan University,  she obtained the American India Foundation William J. Clinton Fellowship Award for service in India. During her tenure in Bangalore, India, she worked with a non-profit organization that served victims of AIDS and studied Bharata Natyam. After attending Lakme Fashion Week in Bombay, Lauren decided to pursue acting back in New York. When she returned, she studied at the most prestigious acting schools and teachers in New York: Michael Howard Studios, the T. Schreiber Conservatory, Scott Freeman and privately with Lynn Singer, under whom she began seriously studying vocal production, and learned to speak without a New York accent, which greatly expanded her casting options and opportunities. Her TV and film credits include Veep, Bittersweet Monday, and Galaxy360. A Moth StorySLAM Champ, her work has been featured by The New York Times, BBC, Bust Magazine, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Hyperallergic, La Voce di New York, among others. Her writing has been called “criminal.” Lauren was cast in numerous national and regional commercials, including Zappos’ scandalous “More Than Just Shoes” campaign. Her multi-character projects include her autobiographical solo show Queens Girl, which toured worldwide – Stockholm Pride invited LoGiudice to perform Queens Girl in their cultural festival. The production was noted by Backstage as a valuable performance and marketing tool; Garbo Dreams, a site-specific play about Greta Garbo of which The Red Room performances with Michael Arenella were given mention in The New York Times; and Yule Log With Friends, an interactive video project featured at High 5 Gallery, with Reviews that said, “While you watch the characters go about their lives you’ll see the influences from Sacha Baron Cohen and Tracey Ullman.” Her show The Melania Trump Road Show: Get Out the Vote and Get Me Out of the White House of Garbage toured virtually due to the pandemic and then wrote a book: INSIDE MELANIA: What I learned about Melania Trump by impersonating her!! She produced three short films: Bridal Party (premiered at the Gotham Screen Film Festival), Yes and No, and Reality Check, as well as the web series Ciao Grandma….. LoGiudice debuted over 15 sketch comedy characters on her YouTube channel, including Principal Mary Poppins. She began ANCESTRY DOT COMEDY:  A variety show for anyone who’s ever looked at their family and thought: How did I get here? Giving space for: DNA surprises; donor-conceptions; family; genetics, the absurdity of life in general! Always very busy, Lauren has endorsed several non-profit causes throughout her career. She hosted a photography exhibition by Javier Gomez, voted People Magazine’s Sexiest Artist Alive, to benefit Strengthen Our Sisters, a grassroots, community based nonprofit serving homeless/battered women and children. LoGiudice has also supported United Cerebral Palsy. Follow Lauren at: @laurenlogi and laurenlogiudice.com

Monique Ferguson-Riley: a mother of five, is a recent MBA graduate of Capella University. Monique also graduated from Bethel University with a bachelor’s degree in ministry in 2017. In the Fall of 2021 Monique Ferguson received the esteemed Alumna of the Year Award where she was recognized By Bethel University in the state of Minnesota for the work that she has done in the lives of at-risk youth and her fight against human trafficking. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for several years with the focus on victim services as it applies to youth, adults, and families. Knowing that Victims of sexual trafficking are raped over and over again, in 2019 she founded Freedom Youth Family Justice Center Inc. a 501c3 Nonprofit, which empowers, strengthens, and stabilizes survivors of human trafficking, sexual assault, & domestic violence that reside within New York City and Westchester County by providing holistic comprehensive supportive services, housing, and financial resources for the survivor and their immediate family members.

Monique herself is a sex trafficking survivor, after having been coerced by a friend at the age of 12, but since, Riley has trained over a thousand youth, parents, teachers, and professionals through various organizations and assisted victims, survivors, and their immediate family members, and has also given teens a platform to speak out on many of the social and health issues they are faced with such as bullying, teen pregnancy, depression, belonging, and abandonment, empowering youth to stand up and use their voices. …… Monique has also spearheaded the Vulnerable people project working closely with elected officials, NYPD, and department of homeland security as it pertains to the recovery of young people and promoting awareness and safety in the community. She also worked with various colleges and universities to assist in community efforts and provided jobs and internships for college students and poor youth. Wanting to gauge the community in various neighborhoods of New York City, she created surveys to explore what people knew about human trafficking and discovered that only 27 percent of the people surveyed knew what human trafficking was and how children were lured in the lifestyle. January 23. 2023 Freedom Youth Family Justice Center has reached another plateau by opening up their first Safe Home in New York for girls between the ages of 12-17 years old, VIA Young Adult Discovery (YAD) program.

Folks, If you are being trafficked ​or suspect trafficking activity ​in your area, please call the ​National Human Trafficking ​Resource Center Hotline ​at ​1-888-373-7888 ​or Text “Be Free” to 233733.​ HTTPS://FREEDOMYOUTHNYC.COM     info@freedomyouthnyc.com

FELICIA GEORGE aka ARROW THE SYMBOL: Born in and raised in the suburbs of Maplewood-South Orange, New Jersey y- Arrow, The Symbol, formally known as Felisha George, is a recording artist, performer, lyricist and conjurer of rhythmic color, who walked the same school hallways as artists such as Lauryn Hill, Bisa Butler, and Sza. . Following High School, Felisha studied Acting at American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Manhattan, and one semester later she transferred to Academy of Art University (AAU) in San Francisco Acted in college + high school and is still a teacher of songwriting and hip hop to high school + middle school students…. She fell in love with Hip Hop via cyphers [circle gatherings of rappers etc] in her grandmother’s project garden in the South Bronx, raised in a Trini-American household with parents, uncles and cousins, all extremely immersed in the hip-hop culture and later she performed at jazz+poetry lounges, in NJ and on IG and small events to kick-start her career. When she started recording and posting on social media — that’s when Netflix’s Rhythm and Flow got a hold of her……She was on the first season, hosted by T. I, Cardi B, and Chance The Rapper, which featured phenomenal giants in the music industry such as 🕊️Nipsey Hussle, Snoop Dogg and Quavo and Felisha positioned herself as a Lyrical Queen of Note!! AND made it into the Top 16 contestants. After filming the show she moved to Philadelphia and began doing work with the Black Liberation Family “MOVE”.

In the midst of becoming a rapper, Felisha George ran for office, specifically to be in the Board of Education in her hometown, Maplewood, New Jersey, between the year 2017 and 2018, in her early 20s. Though she didn’t win the election, she knew many were impacted by the things that she said and did when running for office. Soon after, her first album dropped, Wash Your Soul Out, with 10 singles. April 2022, she performed @carnegiehall …. a big deal for femmes in Hip Hop; 2023, Cape Town- South Africa AND residency @ @houseofsedulo  ✨ BALTIMORE. ……..Her  future  projects,  include working with Noriko Shakti,  a music  producer  from Japan,  and  Lady Skavya, a  musician  from  India + London B from Rhythm + Flow……….NOV 2022…She changed her name to ArrowtheSymbol.

J. ANDRE LAVEAU: Consul General and father of 3, born in Trinidad and Tobago, has served our beloved country and Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as a Foreign Service Officer for over 30 years. Mr. Laveau gained his BA in History and Law (Law Major) at the University of the West Indies, Barbados, a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations, at the Institute of International Relations at UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad, and his Master’s degree in International Politics (Hons.) from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Brussels, Belgium, where he became fluent in French. Since then, he became a Foreign Service Officer at the Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, in 1993, where his major assignments were: Director-Consular Division; Chief of Protocol; Director-European Affairs Division; Director-Mission Inspectorate; First Secretary-Trinidad & Tobago High Commission in Brussels; First Secretary-Mission to the European Union; Deputy High Commissioner-Trinidad & Tobago High Commission in Kampala, Uganda -[entrusted with the establishment of the High Commission in Kampala in 2007; also entrusted with heading a preparatory Mission for the re-establishment of a High Commission in Bridgetown in 2017], from November 2017-November2018, Mr. Laveau was the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Labor and Small Enterprise Development with duties such as: ILO matters, Launch of key labor related legislation, Communications, International Migration Policy – Chair of two inter-ministerial Committees, Oversight of International Affairs Unit, Work Permits, Heading Recruitment processes for new staff, from June 2016 – December 2016, he served at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries with duties that included Leading recruitment exercises, Policy Analysis of Renewable Energy matters, from December 2016 – July 2017, Mr. Laveau served in the Ministry of Agriculture Land & Fisheries, with Land Division related matters to Fisheries duties: from June 2005-June 2007, Mr Laveau as Communications Manager/Advisor to the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, where he managed official participation: event management, publicity activities for the participation of Trinidad & Tobago, for the first time in the FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament; assisted in steering Trinidad & Tobago participations in the hosting of the 2007 ICC World Cup Cricket Tournament. Since 2018, Mr. J. Andre Laveau has held the position of Consul General at the Trinidad & Tobago Consulate General in New York, with vested powers to represent the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, in all matters related to the bilateral relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of accreditation and related bodies. He serves as Head of Chancery, and manages the strategic direction and day to day operations of the Mission, providing professional and technical leadership. * We see and appreciate you, Mr. J. Andre Laveau. Thank you for all your excellent service to us and our country! Find out more about our Consul and our country at: https://foreign.gov.tt/cgnewyork -Host/Exec. Producer – Ozzie Stewart @onthecallpodcast.com -Editor: Kaleem -Website: James Bailey -Music: JLC Media @jacylamarcampbell -Camera: Jacy Campbell …

CECILLE FORD: Was Born in Trinidad, and for over 15 years CECILLE has worked in the financial services arena as: Personal/Executive assistant to senior executive management within financial, social security and human resources organizations, for Deloitte & Touche and UBS Investment Bank, prior to which she managed and developed marketing strategies as Business Development Coordinator to the Hay Group, the global management consulting management consulting firm. Ms. Ford presently manages a staff of 28 at Deloitte. Cecille gained a Phi Theta Kappa, President’s Award, in the US, upon maintaining a 3.9 GPA, after being a part of its activities and societies at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad, where she gained her Bachelor’s in Business Management. For over 16 years, Ms. Ford has served WIADCA [West Indian American Day Carnival Association], as its Board Secretary to date for 7 years and since 2017 as Chair- Mas Committee. She helped to create a pantry to help those affected by the pandemic, which still continues today via WIADCA, as well as the introduction of steelpan programs in schools. One of her goals within WIADCA, is to forge alliances with the bandleaders of New York Bandleaders Association and United Bandleaders Association toward unification and a better financial outcome. Working within mas camps from an early age, then playing mas after high school, Cecille grew to love the industry and proudly wants people to understand the melting pot of the Caribbean, the Trinidadian culture and the gift of the steelpan. She aims to impress on the world, the pageantry of Carnival in New York and its artistic portrayals, all the while grounded deeply in her faith and being someone who lives by her word, truly supportive to those with whom she comes into contact. Cecille Ford, we see you, and applaud all your efforts on behalf of WIADCA and the continuing elevation of New York Carnival.
Find out more about WIADCA and our country at: https://wiadcacarnival.org/
Full chat also @onthecallpodcast.com
-Host/Exec. Producer – Ozzie Stewart
-Editor: Kevin “Cheese” Tinsley
-Website: James Bailey
-Music: JLC Media
-Camera: Kevin “Cheese” Tinsley
-Art: Dawad Philip

Dr. Kendall K Williams, son of Trinidadians, began playing pan at the age of 4 and later performed with large, world-renowned steel bands in Trinidad and Tobago as well as bands in the New York-based scene for years, then after studies in architecture, he graduated from Florida Memorial University with a BA in Music under the direction of Dr. Dawn Batson, with his main instrument being the steel pan. He continued to further his studies at NYU Steinhardt, where he pursued a Master of Music Degree in Music Theory & Composition, studying with Julia Wolfe, Michael Gordon, and Rich Shemaria. There he also actively participated in the NYU Steel band under the leadership of Artist Faculty member Josh Quillen. Kendall was awarded the opportunity to work with the Brooklyn Philharmonic on a project that involved steel pan and contemporary music compositions. From 2013 t0 2014 he was the Van Lier Fellow with the American Composers Orchestra and graduated with his PHD in music composition at Princeton University! One of his goals is establishing steel pan music programs in colleges and universities that will allow musicians to major in steel pan and heads the WIADCA educational/development programs for schools, especially as he teaches in elementary schools to universities. Dr. Williams sits as CEO of Pan in Motion, an organization that he started in 2014, to promote history, education, and sustainability in steel pan. He has played in the Macy’s Parade and has won the People’s Choice award and placed 4th at the Panorama steelpan competition this past September in his second year of competition. In honor of the steelpan, which is the only new instrument invented in the 20th century in its birthplace of the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Kendall’s dream is to own a building dedicated to the steelpan, its culture and history, with a steelpan museum, concert halls, performance spaces for mas and other aspects of carnival, rehearsal space, soundproof rooms for recordings, reading and teaching rooms, board rooms, artwork, storage for steel pans. He dreams of offering his employees: 401K retirement benefits, just like any other Fortune 500 company. He is passionate about raising the view of the steelpan to the level of rock, funk, soca, classical music in the eyes and ears of the world. Follow him at: https://www.paninmotion.com