ST. THOMAS: Shemariah Pradia, an award-winning Virgin Islands publicist, journalist and event planner, is bringing together entertainment personalities and twenty subject matter experts for the USVI Economic Empowerment Conference on Friday at the Westin Beach Resort.
The day-long gathering, open to the public at no charge, runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features discussion panels spanning economics, mental health, healthcare, film and technology. Participating actors include Lanre Idewu from "HUSH" and "Church Wives", Maurice Johnson from "Beyond the Gates", and Chris Massey. Musicians and recording artists on the bill are St. Croix natives Cruz Rock, Gyasi Clarke and SouthSide Nova, alongside Legend of Zeus Network.
Additional panelists bring knowledge in business, human resources, construction management, athletics and technology, organisers said.
The schedule encompasses breakout sessions, keynote addresses, a vendor marketplace and school supply giveaways. Attendees who register receive lunch. Topics covered include pathways for entrepreneurs, support for veterans, tourism opportunities, financial literacy, agriculture, community investment and access to historically black colleges and universities.
An evening gala follows from 7 to 10 p.m., featuring a cocktail reception, awards ceremony and dinner, also free to registered participants.
Pradia conceived the event after witnessing hardship across the islands. "I am from the Virgin Islands and I see the struggles people are facing and the high cost of living," she explained. "I wanted to make opportunities for people to survive in this beautiful place."
A retired, disabled Navy veteran, Pradia worked as a nurse at Walter Reed Hospital in cardiology, pharmacology and oncology. She manages systemic lupus and underwent a double mastectomy in 2014 following a stage two breast cancer diagnosis. She is raising three sons and has built a reputation as a celebrity chef preparing Virgin Islands dishes passed down by her grandmother. She also launched a magazine while living in Georgia after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Registration and details are at teec2026.com.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first.