Vincy Creatives: Making It as an Entrepreneur

On April 29, 2022 we hosted an in-person panel discussion at the NIS Building in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The discussion was moderated by public speaker and systems builder Carly-Ann Fergus and included accomplished guest speakers Chef Rawlson Williams, photographer Nadia Huggins and visual artist Calvert Jones.

Our panelists, whose experiences range from local to international success, shared their entrepreneurial journeys while attendees were able to ask questions and participate in an insightful discussion on the ins and outs of navigating entrepreneurship as a creative.

Vincy Creatives: Making It As An Entrepreneur was organized by Soka Gyal, CAF Consulting LLC and Calvert Jones.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

PANEL MODERATOR

Carly-Ann Fergus - Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builder / Owner CAF Consulting LLC

Carly-Ann Fergus builds ecosystems and programs for organizations that bring together the right people, tools, and resources to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. She has created programs and led partnerships for Parsons Entrepreneur Academy, a platform that empowers creative entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses around their craft.

She previously served as the Director of Labs at XRC Labs, a retail tech accelerator launched out of Parsons School of Design. Prior to XRC she received an M.A. in Fashion Studies from Parsons School of Design with a focus on Strategic Design & Management and holds a B.A. in Visual Communications from SUNY Farmingdale.

She served on the Associate Board of Directors for the Opportunity Network, a non-profit organization focused on fostering networks and opportunities for students from historically underrepresented communities. She served as an advisory board member for the CFDA Elaine Golde Launch Pad Program, a grant committee member for the 2020 CFDA/ VOGUE Fund A Common Thread initiative, a selection committee member for the Gucci Changemakers X CFDA Scholars by Design initiative, a Grant Reviewer panel member for D.C. Mayor Murial Bowser’s MOAAA (Mayor’s Office (DC) of African American Affairs), and serves as the Chairwoman of the inaugural New School Alumni Council.

Carly-Ann has been featured on Forbes.com and the NASDAQ Spotlight. She has spoken at the MIT Media Lab Hacking Arts conference, the CFDA Education Summit, the SUNY Quad conference, and the NYU Black in Tech panel.

PANELISTS:

Rawlston Williams: Chef & Owner at the Food Sermon

Born on the island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, raised in Brooklyn, and trained at the French Culinary Institute, Chef Rawlston Williams offers an elevated, forward-thinking take on Caribbean classics, a unique approach influenced by the chef’s worldly background and free-spirited life experiences.

After immigrating to New York at ten years old and living in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, Chef Williams studied theology at Oakwood University in Alabama, a private university operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. While faith still plays a large role in his life, he found his true calling in the kitchen. After graduating from New York’s famed French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Center) Williams opened the first Food Sermon location in 2015. Originally intended to be a small outpost for his catering business, the pint-sized restaurant quickly attracted loyal neighborhood fans, soon drawing the attention of food critics (The New York Times’ praised Williams “gift for meat” and “extraordinary brightness of flavors.”)

Now with devoted customers throughout NYC, Williams’ innovative approach features creative takes on traditional Caribbean standards. His signature Island Bowls present savory stewed meats swimming in coconut-ginger and spicy tomato sauces. Inspired by an array of cultures, cuisines and techniques. Chef Williams is constantly experimenting with new flavor combinations, always paired with bold and beautiful presentations.

Nadia Huggins: Artist/ Photographer

Nadia Huggins was born in Trinidad and Tobago and grew up in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where she is currently based. A self-taught artist, she works in photography and, since 2010, has built a body of images that are characterized by her observation of an interest in the everyday. Her work merges documentary and conceptual practices, which explore belonging, identity, and memory through a contemporary approach focused on re-presenting Caribbean landscapes and the sea.

Nadia’s photographs have been exhibited in group shows in Canada, USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Ethiopia, Guadeloupe, France, and the Dominican Republic. In 2019, her solo show Human stories: Circa no future took place at Now Gallery, London UK. Her work forms part of the collection of The Wedge Collection (Toronto, Canada), The National Gallery of Jamaica (Kingston), and The Art Museum of the Americas (Washington DC, USA). Nadia was selected for the New York Times Portfolio Review (2018), and her work has been included in several publications, including A to Z of Caribbean Art. She is the co-founder of ARC Magazine and One Drop in the Ocean – an initiative that aims to raise awareness about marine debris.

Calvert Jones: Owner & Founder of Tropical Realism™ and McAllister Designs

Calvert Jones is an entrepreneur and self-taught Visual artist whose professional career spans photography, videography, graphic design, interior design, and fine art. He’s also a Government Advisor on the Metaverse and Digital Platforms for the Creative Industry.

After leaving his last full-time position as the Regional Operations Manager for telecoms company, Karib Cable, he developed his own personal trademark style of Artwork he coined “Tropical Realism”. This Art Style can be described as a synergy of Impressionism, Realism, Cubism and Pop Art and is nostalgically traditional Caribbean, consisting of captivating landscapes, cultural activities, fauna and flora.

This Art he describes as “Nostalgically Caribbean” as it embodies the essence of our Tropical Paradise, the vibe, passion, colours and lifestyle we enjoy. To date, his work has appeared in USAToday, AOL.com, TheWeek UK, Travel UK is licensed to two Universities for academic usage and has been gifted as official state gifts to several world leaders.