In September 2021 Yardy World, Connek Ja and RAGGA NYC hosted a dinner in honor of Connek JA, a non-profit initiative to generate resources and travel opportunities for Jamaica's queer community, bringing artists, allies, colleagues together at one table as friends and family. The dinner was a space of familiarity, community and inclusion while giving room for honest and open discussion to raise awareness about the Connek project to a community of activists, artists and community leaders in NYC.
About the Hosts
Connek JA - Connek is a travel project & platform based in Jamaica dedicated to connecting queer folks and our allies across country borders through online media, story telling, and events. Connek was co-founded by Chaday Emmanuel and Chris Udemezue
Yardy World - DeVonn Francis founded Yardy World in 2017. Francis is a queer, first-generation Jamaican-American artist who began Yardy as a way to investigate his own role in Caribbean culture and to encourage others to seek joy and celebration in their own identities.
Ragga NYC - Udemezue is a multimedia artist & founder of Ragga NYC a platform for queer Caribbeans to connect and share experiences. His work explores how race, sexuality, gender, heritage, and history inform the work and lives of queer, Caribbean artists.