REFLECTION & REASON

It's terrible. It's completely devastating. It's been less than 24 hours since first hearing about the passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and it still somehow doesn't feel real. We have experienced the passing of many public figures as of late...but this one hits different. He was born the same year as me, 1978. We have watched him progress in real time, and he has always been at the forefront of my generation's experiences. Yes, I miss Whitney, and Michael, Prince, and even Nipsey. Tupac and Biggie...we have had other "celebrities"/public figures pass away for various reasons, and most of the incidents have been heartbreaking. Before their time. Whether they are celebrities or "common folk"...death is never an easy road to navigate. We're not talking about family, or a personal friend here...but we are talking about someone who has had the blessing of influence, and mass appeal, and someone who possesses exceptionally transformational gi

Kya Publishing's carnival-centric outlet @CarnivalSpotlight is featuring a six-part blog series, highlighting various aspect of Caribbean Carnival culture, in an effort to reflect, inform, and encourage the development and documentation of the cultural phenomenon that is celebrated and revered by Caribbean natives, descendants, and supporters around the globe. From a Canadian perspective, we will give an overview and list recommended next steps for those who are curious about and/or committed to sustaining and enhancing the culture that inspires the lives of thousand of international revellers, creatives, and participants each year. We are all stimulated by a range of external factors, and the power and influence of said factors can drive us to engage in particular behaviours, attend certain events, and invest our time in money in very specific activities. For me, that stimuli is music. It never fails. Particularly when it comes to Caribbean music, it's virtually impossi

JENNIFER HARRIS: "SHE OF THE WOODS" A Profile of Author Jennifer Harris She wrote and self-published her first children’s book “What About Me ?” during the summer of 2019. Born in Birmingham, Alabama in the summer of 1992, the 27-year-old writer and poet Jennifer Harris began penning stories as an imaginative child, completing her first tale for a class project at the age of nine. Along with her compassionate spirit, writing is her gift. Within her first year of composing, her teacher at Kingston Elementary School entered Jennifer into the annual Young Author’s Conference for emerging writers. Not only did Jennifer win the contest, but she was also awarded a position at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Restrictions of poverty and limited access to additional resources to support her opportunity made it difficult for Jennifer—who lived with her parents—to attend the arts institution. Nonetheless, she continued her journey, attended a public high school, and excelled