The Community Service Society of New York

Brooklyn's J'Ouvert is a pre-dawn celebration rooted in Caribbean tradition, but for years its cultural significance was buried under public safety concerns and negative press coverage.

The 2015 Labor Day weekend became a turning point when Carey Gabay, a member of Governor Cuomo's administration, was fatally shot in the hours surrounding the celebration. The incident prompted a citywide reckoning with how J'Ouvert was being characterized, and a coalition led by the administrations of Mayor de Blasio and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams formed to change the narrative.​

I joined the campaign in 2017 as part of a small creative team, owning all design and image selection from the start. After a pause during the pandemic, Yvette Rennie of J'Ouvert City International invited me to return as the sole creative. I expanded my role to include copywriting and social media, and launched wearejouvert.com in June 2024.