One club at Kennesaw State is growing its membership by spreading a message of unity and appreciation of island cultures.
The Caribbean Students Association at KSU contains over 200 members of Caribbean descent or otherwise, and its membership is continuing to grow.
Members of the CARIBSA use the group as an outlet to discuss topics of interest to Caribbean society, including politics, culture and celebrities. Members also engage in activities to raise awareness of island cultures and the benefits those cultures contribute to global society.
The group also works to keep its members aware of events that might be of interest, including potential threats such as those made in the racist GroupMe chat last month.
“It is very important to us that our group members all be safe and happy,” CARIBSA Public Relations Officer Jeanelle Posy said.
Meetings for the CARIBSA usually consist of topical discussions and team building exercises. In one team building activity called “four corners,” members are given four choices of topics, one for each corner of the room, and then converse with others who pick the same corner.
The CARIBSA participates in large-scale events such as “FroRibbean Fest” in Atlanta that allows the group to mingle with like-minded individuals. “FroRibbean Fest” is a festival celebrating the beauty and interconnectedness of African, Carribean and African-American cultures and experiences.
The CARIBSA has previously held events including game nights, flag parties, movie nights a Valentines-themed speed-dating event called “The Bae Draft.” The club even held a fitness event in late February.
Posy said she wants to offer as much as possible to the friends and acquaintances that she now calls her family.
“We are a family and we support one another both inside the club and out,” Posy said.
Reaching such a high level of membership and representation for the CARIBSA has not been easy, Posy said, attributing the challenges to a lack of resources left by the previous administration.
“It’s difficult to plan events when you can’t cover the basics,” Posy said. “Building a reputation has been a lot of hard work, but we have made it a point to improve. We have been more engaged with our members to prioritize their wants and needs. With a team this open, honest and helpful, maintaining an air of positivity is easy.”
Posy added that KSU was very helpful in assuaging some of these dilemmas, noting that having chairs, tables, space to work with, audio and visual equipment and refreshments have allowed for drastic improvement. The club has also collaborated with the African and Latino Student Associations to foster a sense of solidarity and continue their upward momentum.
The CARIBSA encourages all KSU students to join and is holding a general body meeting Tuesday, March 19, at 6:30 p.m. The location has yet to be announced.
“We want our family to continue to grow regardless of ethnicity, age or background,” Posy said. “It’s all about who you are [inside], not outwardly. One love, one people.”
For more information on the CARIBSA, visit its Owl Life page at kennesaw.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/caribsa or its Instagram @ksu_caribsa.
