Happy Holidays, Island SPACE Family!

On behalf of our Board of Directors and the entire Island SPACE team, I want to thank you for being part of this journey with us.

When we began this work more than five years ago, our hope was to create a home for the Caribbean community. We still have much bigger plans, but what has grown from that vision is already more than we could have imagined. While we continue taking steps toward realizing a future campus—one that allows us to represent Caribbean countries and territories more fully, accurately, and inclusively—our work is not confined to a building. What we do encompasses representation, connection, and presence, both inside the museum and throughout the community.

Many of you know Island SPACE through our signature events—Reggae Genealogy, the Rum Cake Festival, the Mango Festival, HERS. These are not simply celebrations. They are intentional ways for us to bring Caribbean culture beyond the walls of the museum and into public spaces, inviting broader audiences to experience our music, foodways, histories, and traditions together. They allow us to show up visibly and proudly as a Caribbean community, sharing who we are in ways that are joyful, accessible, and deeply rooted.

At the same time, we invite you to support the smaller gatherings that take place inside the museum—often hosted or presented by authors, artists, scholars, and grassroots organizations within our community. These events are designed to amplify their voices, their initiatives, and their cultural messages. Many of them are free, deeply engaging, and thoughtfully curated, though they may not have large promotional budgets. When we share these events, it is our hope that if something resonates with you, you’ll come out, listen, learn, and support these local culture-bearers whenever you can.

As we look ahead to 2026, we are excited about expanding this work with greater intention. We are making a proactive call to our fellow organizations and cultural practitioners: if you have ideas for partner programming, we want to hear from you. Please reach out to us at mu****@***********fl.org.

While we can’t always promise immediate implementation, we are actively writing grants and seeking support with our local Caribbean partners in mind—whether those partners are nonprofits, artists, educators, or individuals with meaningful creative ideas.

We are also committed to continuing and expanding our support for Caribbean vendors and makers, recognizing that cultural sustainability and economic success go hand in hand. 

In 2026, we plan to launch a new initiative that encourages Caribbean-owned business owners to connect and network through the museum. Our goal is that when members of our Island SPACE family are looking for essential services—a doctor, real estate agent, contractor, or tradesperson—they can find businesses that understand their culture and reflect their community. Supporting each other in this way is part of how we strengthen our collective future.

As we close out this year and move forward together, I want to thank you for every way you support Island SPACE—through your time, your talent, and your treasure. We continue to operate with a small staff and a powerful volunteer community, and we welcome anyone who feels called to contribute, whether consistently or in small moments when you can.

What we promise in return is thoughtful programming, meaningful art, and a place where you and your family can continue to feel connected, represented, and at home.

Thank you for walking this path with us. Thank you for believing in this vision. We look forward to continuing to build this Island SPACE family together.

From all of us at Island SPACE, we wish you the happiest of holidays and a healthy, prosperous New Year.

Calibe Thompson 
Directora Ejecutiva