Garvey School honours Catherine Cudjoe with Light-Bearers Award

The Garvey School has honoured Ms. Catherine Kabuki Cudjoe with its inaugural Amy Jacques Garvey Light-Bearers Award, recognising her leadership, service and contributions to the community at the 2026 Women of Excellence Gala in the Bronx, New York.

Cudjoe was recognised in the Emerging Light Bearer category during the ceremony hosted by Friends of Garvey on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Maestro’s Caterers, under the theme, “From Champions to Future Leaders: Passing the Torch.”

The recognition celebrates rising leaders whose accomplishments, vision and commitment to service demonstrate the promise of continued leadership and meaningful community impact.

In announcing her selection, June O’Connor, Founder and Principal of The Garvey School, said in a letter to Cudjoe that her selection reflected the school’s admiration for her contributions and the light she continued to shine through her leadership and service.

“Your selection reflects our admiration for the contribution you have made and the light you continue to shine through your leadership and service,” O’Connor wrote, adding that Cudjoe’s story and accomplishments would inspire others, including young people whose futures the school seeks to help shape.

Cudjoe was among seven women recognised at the inaugural awards. The other honourees were Hon. Una C. Clarke, Dr. Delois Blakely, Monique Rose, J. Lexy Brooks, Theresa Whittick and Lisa Dawson.

The ceremony featured Colin Garvey, a grandson of renowned Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey, as its keynote speaker, adding a generational dimension to the celebration of women’s leadership and community contributions.

Named after Amy Jacques Garvey, the Jamaican-born Pan-Africanist, journalist and second wife of Marcus Garvey, the award programme honours individuals whose leadership, achievements and commitment to community reflect her enduring legacy of education, advocacy, empowerment and resilience.

According to the school, the inaugural awards were established to recognise exceptional leaders across the global African diaspora, particularly from Jamaica, Africa and the wider Caribbean.

Beyond the recognition of outstanding women, the gala also served as a fundraising initiative to support The Garvey School’s continued development and educational mission. The school has announced a building fund campaign aimed at securing a new facility as its enrolment and community expand.

Founded by Jamaican educator June O’Connor, The Garvey School is a nonprofit educational institution in the Bronx, New York, dedicated to providing children with an academic foundation rooted in cultural identity, character development and excellence.

Through the celebration, Friends of Garvey brought attention to the importance of recognising accomplished women while encouraging the transfer of leadership values, experience and inspiration to younger generations.

Written by Abeeb Lekan Sodiq for TheAfricanDream®