U.S. Virgin Islands Supports African American Community In New York

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NEW YORK - The United States Virgin Islands continues to strengthen its relationship with the upwardly mobile African American market in the United States with its support of the Weeksville Heritage Center's 10th annual awards dinner in New York City. Held at Jumeirah Essex House in New York City on Monday, November 14, the Weeksville Heritage Center - a national historic site which preserves the entrepreneurial spirit of the independent African American community that thrived during the 19th Century in Brooklyn, New York - honored two prominent individuals and a global corporation for their community work. Former NBA player and now coach Avery Johnson of the newly named Brooklyn Nets; Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the New York Amsterdam News, Elinor Tatum, and Hill International, a global leader in construction management were on the evening's honor roll. "As a territory we remain resolved to continue working with the African American community and other multicultural markets," said Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Commissioner of Tourism of the United States Virgin Islands. The Department of Tourism donated a four-night vacation at the swanky Ritz Carlton St. Thomas along with a number of complimentary destination activities which fetched for US$3,700 during the dinner's auction. Lori Stokes of WABC's Eyewitness News was the MC for the evening. The Commissioner said while marketing to the African American traveler was an important part of the destination's marketing strategy, supporting educational organizations which promote African American culture and heritage in the United States was also key.