WOMEN WEST INDIES
DIASPORA
SEASON 2
Astrid Dietrich
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GUADELOUPE / BALI
Astrid Friedrich was born in Guadeloupe in 1960 and now lives in Bali. This
self-made businesswoman who speaks fluently French, English, Indonesian and
Balinese is also an active humanitarian who works selflessly in several orphanages
in Flores Island.
Celia Shankar
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TRINIDAD / MONACO
Born in Trinidad, Celia SANKAR has a master’s degree in international
journalism and wrote for some of the leading publications in Europe, the
Caribbean and the Americas. She also created « Monaco Revue », a celebrity and
lifestyle magazine aimed at establishing a fund to help orphans of AIDS in Africa
receive an education.
Alicia Sanabria
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CUBA / BRASIL
Born in Cuba and exiled very young to the United States with her family, Alicia Sanabria studied psychology in New York. She then began a two-year trip to South America to continue her research on the role of women among the African descendants communities.
It was during this trip that Alicia discovered the plight of street children and decided to commit herself to their cause. This vocation was to lead her to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, where she has lived for eleven years.
She is involved in many development projects in education, social issues and culture. Multicultural consultant, she also helps to strengthen the links between Africa and its Diasporas, especially those from Brazil, Cuba and the United States.
Marie-Francoise MARIE-NELLY
MARTINIQUE / CONGO
Marie-Françoise Marie-Nelly was born in Martinique and, after brilliant studies, joined the World Bank in 1994. Since then, she has held several positions of responsibility in this organization, and is now Director of Operations for the two Congos.
Mylene BERNARD
GUADELOUPE / UNITED STATES
Born in Paris to Guadeloupean parents, Mylène lives in San Francisco with her
husband and two daughters. She opened an Art studio in the Mission District
where she designs and makes wonderful jewels where metal thread, stones and
beads are artistically weaved
Coline-Lee TOUMSON
MARTINIQUE / FRANCE
Coline-Lee Toumson was born in Martinique. While studying cultural cooperation in Paris, she
created the “Caribbean Vibrations Festival”, aimed at promoting Caribbean artists
in the field of music, visual arts, literature, social sciences and cinema. In 2010,
the 5 th edition, entitled “Amazones” was dedicated to Caribbean women.
Olga GARAY
CUBA / ETATS-UNIS
Olga Garay’s family emigrated from Cuba to the United States in 1961, when she was still a child. She first passed a degree and then a Masters in Psychology at Florida International University then became an
independent producer and performing arts consultant and worked with prestigious arts organizations such as the Lincoln Center Festival, the National Performance Network and the Doris Duke Charitable
Foundation.
She is now the Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), a position she assumed on August 1, 2007, reporting directly to the Mayor of Los Angeles and
managing a $35-million budget.
Juliette SOME-MEHAL
MARTINIQUE / BURKINA-FASO
Born in Martinique, Juliette Some went to live in Burkina Faso, “the land of
upright men” because she fell in love. Married to a famous jazz musician, she
sings in her husband’s band and opened a Creole restaurant in Ouagadougou,
« la Case à Juliette ».
Rachelle SCOTT
HAITI / PERU
Rachelle SCOTT, was born in Port-au-Prince (Haiti), where, from an early age, she was initiated into the magical world of colors. From then on painting never left her and she left for Boston at the age of 17 to study art at the University of Massachusetts. She will live nearly 20 years in the United States where in 1999, she meets Rafael, an immigrant of Peruvian origin. Four years later, they moved to Peru. As she discovers a wonderful adopted country, Rachelle can finally dedicate herself full time to painting and work as a volunteer in several associations and aid centers for the most disadvantaged.
Pat FRANCIS
JAMAICA / CANADA
Pat Francis was born in Jamaica. She is the founder of a multicultural Christian
organization that gathers over 3000 followers every week in Toronto, Canada. She
also leads humanitarian missions across the world, aimed at eliminating poverty
through “Charity and Enterprise”.
Manuella RAMIN
MARTINIQUE / NORVEGE
Of Martinican descent, Manuela Ramin arrived in Norway in 1991. In October
2007, she was the first black woman ever to become a Minister in the Norwegian
government. She’s now in charge of insuring equal medical care to immigrants,
who represent one fourth of Oslo’s population.
Sheilla SYDNEY
HAITI / CHINA
Born in French Guiana to Haitian parents, Sheilla grew up in France and was exposed to different cultures from a young age, which helped her develop her for the arts and travel. After obtaining her BTS Tourism, she left for the United States for a short time, then returned to France until, again, the desire for new horizons won her over. At that time, China, especially Shanghai, was on everyone's lips. After a few trips, she quickly falls in love with this city dynamic and decides to settle there for good. Sheilla gets her first job as a project manager for the French market with a large tour operator. In her suitcases, she brought with her loincloths from Africa, which she uses to create original models and to launch her own line of clothing, "Habesha", which she created by mixing these small pieces of Africa with Asia, where she now lives. And to let off steam, she also practices ... boxing!