Island SPACE Caribbean Museum to Honor Six Caribbean American Women at HERS 2026 in Tamarac

Awards, conversation and culture come together for a day devoted to women making an impact across South Florida

By Calibe Thompson

    TAMARAC, Fl — Six accomplished Caribbean American women will receive HERS Awards when Island SPACE Caribbean Museum presents the fourth annual HERS – Honoring Exceptionally Regal Sisters on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Tamarac Community Center.

Under the 2026 theme, “Where Queens Gather,” HERS celebrates women whose work changes communities, invites women across South Florida to celebrate one another and gives younger generations visible examples of achievement.

“HERS reflects the strength, ambition and generosity of women in our community,” said Tamarac Commissioner Morey Wright Jr., a supporting sponsor. “Tamarac is proud to welcome this celebration and the example these women set for the next generation.”

An Afternoon Designed for Queens

The honorees are Melky Jean, Haitian American Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, entrepreneur and Carma Foundation founder, whose humanitarian work has supported communities in Haiti and abroad; Tremaine L. Hemans, Esq., Jamaican attorney, founder of The Hemans Law Group, Florida Bar pro bono honoree and law student mentor whose service includes scholarships in Jamaica and free immigration clinics; Lynn W. Gassant of Haiti, founder of Scholar Career Coaching, which has served more than 1,000 students and awarded more than $80,000 in scholarships; Rev. Dr. Joan Williamson of Jamaica, founder of Living Well Community Care Center, who provides free primary care to uninsured South Floridians and leads humanitarian missions in Jamaica; Jessyka Castillo of the Dominican Republic, engineer and founder of Fitness + Financial Gains, promoting wellness and financial education; and Saisha Delevoe of The Bahamas, founder of EqualPath Solutions, whose college-access work has reached more than 8,000 students.

“HERS creates a space where achievement is elevated and women stand in the light,” said Cleopatra Bauduy Moise, board president of Island SPACE Caribbean Museum. “We want young women to see what is possible and the wider community to celebrate the women setting that example.”

Hosted by Trinidadian thought leaders Stacey H. Luces and Denise Fariel Williams, co-founders of We WHISTLE Global, HERS will feature a steelpan welcome, artisan marketplace, Caribbean Culinary Café, live entertainment and networking.

A limited number of guests may reserve the premium $65 Queen’s Parlor experience, which includes general admission, a curated swag bag, mini massage, Royal Touch-Up Bar, Queen’s Lash Lounge, hair wellness consultation, tea service with a Caribbean small-bite sampler and a relaxing puzzle station.

Queens in Conversation                     

       “Queens in Conversation: Same Author, New Chapter” explores how women make room for something new and move forward with greater clarity about who they are and what they want next. Human resources professional Ayanna Edwards will moderate Andrea Nevins, Nova Southeastern University associate provost, professor, author and life coach; Renée Rivers, licensed mental health counselor and founder of Reflective Rivers Therapy & Consulting; and Dr. Lydia R. Malcolm, licensed clinical psychologist and owner of Authentic Behavioral Health.

Honors and Caribbean Fashion Highlights

The HERS Awards will be the highlight of the afternoon, followed by a fashion show by Haitian designer Zamor of Zamor Creations, known for handmade designs pairing bold color and expressive prints with African and Caribbean influences.

The program will honor the late Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, the first Black and Haitian American woman elected to the Coral Springs City Commission. Her mother, Marly Metayer, will accept in her honor.

HERS is supported by Tamarac Commissioner Morey Wright Jr., the City of Tamarac, Broward County Cultural Division, the African American Research Library and Cultural Center and the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce.

Advance admission is $30, same-day admission is $40, and the Queen’s Parlor is $65. Dress is Island Chic. A limited number of free tickets are available for Tamarac residents through Commissioner Wright’s office at 954-597-3479; valid ID is required, while supplies last.

Event: HERS – Honoring Exceptionally Regal Sisters

Date: Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026

Time: 1-6 p.m.

Location: Tamarac Community Center, 8601 W. Commercial Blvd., Tamarac
Tickets: islandspacefl.org/hers2026

About Island SPACE Caribbean Museum

Island Society for the Promotion of Artistic and Cultural Education (Island SPACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history, culture, and artistic contributions of the Caribbean. Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, located at the Broward Mall in Plantation, Florida, is the only Caribbean heritage museum of its kind in the world.

Museum Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 8000 West Broward Blvd., Suite 1202, Plantation, FL 33388

Admission: $15 adults | $7 children under 12

Visit www.islandspacefl.org or call (954) -999-0989 for more information.