River Runway Icons of Influence awards to honour Trinidad and Tobago nationals in Brooklyn
Honourees at the 12 September event include Superblue, Iwer George, Carol Addison-Lewis, physicist Dr Stephon Alexander and DJ Teddy Mohammed.
NEW YORK, United States. The Trinidad and Tobago River Runway 2026 Icons of Influence awards will honour a group of nationals on 12 September at an evening reception at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, 80 58th Street.
Awards will be presented in four categories.
Lifetime achievement
The Lifetime Achievement Award will go to vocalist Carol Addison-Lewis; theoretical physicist, author and jazz musician Dr Stephon Alexander; model, artist and entrepreneur Alvin Clayton Fernandes; hairstylist Clem LueYat; soca artist Austin “Superblue” Lyons; and fashion creative director Richard Young.
Movement and style
The Masters of Movement Award will be presented to dancer and choreographer Michael Manswell; Michael Salickram, founder of the Shiv Shakti Dance Company; and Solange Sandy, who has performed on Broadway and with Alvin Ailey.
The Imagination of Style Award honourees are Ste Madeleine-born makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran; Larry Rampersad of The House Of Jacqui; Trinidad-born, Switzerland-based entrepreneur Zalina Wälchli; Kimberly Jones, founder of LOC FEST; Marsha Massiah, founder of the Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival; and Angela P. Sealey, a champion of Caribbean culture in the US.
Music
The Curators of Culture Music Award will go to soca artist Neil “Iwer” George; DJ Teddy Mohammed; steel pannist Joshua Regrello, known as De Pan Man; Yvette Rennie, president of J’Ouvert City International; and soca artist Natasha Wilson Jean.
Honouring talent now
Renée Cummings, honorary chair of the gala, said the event celebrates people “while their work is still unfolding”.
“We believe there are far too few opportunities to honour the brilliance that exists in the world. That is why we say thank you now,” she said.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
