Wake Up Radio Honors Guyanese as Mother of the Year

Wake Up Radio Celebrates Mother's Day 2010

By Your Community Collaborator - May 2010

Queens, N.Y. : Wake Up Radio with Carl B. Moxie has been an institution in the New York and Tri-State area for many years, broadcasted on weekends it provides news, information and community service programming that benefits the Caribbean-American based Diaspora. It’s a component of family values, community service and cultural cohesion. Community groups supporting the event on Mother’s Day included, KSI Auto School; the Organization for Social and Health Advancement in Guyana & the Caribbean (OSHAG); the Sickle Cell Thalassemia Patient Network of New York (SCTPN); Naturopathic Nutrition Specialist, Dr. Isaac Fordyce; Family Renaissance Inc., and New York based community writer Allison Skeete who’s collaborated with Carl B. Moxie on programming featured in February and March for Black History and Women’s History months on Wake Up Radio. (Photos by VisionsInPictures: l-r, Hopeton Lewis, Allison Skeete, Carl B. Moxie & Mrs. Shirley Skeete)

Where there is woman, there is magic… were the words used by New York based Caribbean Diaspora writer Allison Skeete as she introduced her mother for what she thought was just a simple tribute celebrating the most revered woman in most of our lives. Having agreed to cite the tribute; Skeete said she focused on not writing a scripted piece about her mother; she wanted everyone to feel what she said when she spoke of her mother as a true inspiration. The Ntozake Shange quote she used was one that recurred in three messages to her that week she said and it seemed the best way to say what had come to mind. After all, she said who else but a mother could kiss a hurt away, making a boo-boo feel better… love you when your friends hurt you and make you feel good no matter how bad things get… who has the paitence of a mother only a woman who is a mother, and that… is magic. “Today you deserve more than just the three words Happy Mother’s Day or I love you” you're an inspiration… is how the writer ended her tribute to her mother.

Wake Up Radio host Carl B. Moxie surprised the pair when he joined them at the podium of the Ramada Adria Hotel and then presented the Mother of the Year Award to Mrs. Shirley Skeete. He complemented the quite and humble simplicity of Mrs. Skeete's spirit and thanked her for the inspiration she is to her family. Mrs. Skeete who emigrated from Guyana to the U.S joining her husband in 1974 expressed her surprise and appreciation and said she’s proud of all three of her daughters. Daughter Dawn Skeete-Walker was recently named NYCHA Director at the Office of Public Private Partnerships and her youngest daughter Melissa, recently gave birth to the family’s newest grandson; husband Lennox Skeete was just as proud of his wife’s honor. (Mrs. Shirley Skeete proudly holds her Mother of the Year Award)

The event’s highlights also included the invocation which was done by Mrs. Lilly Scott, who is the mother of the renowned Jamaican national, Dancer Derek Williams; co-founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem who now heads up the Janusphere Dance Company in Germany; music by DJ Roy of Irie Jam Radio and live entertainment by the internationally popular Hopeton Lewis. His renditions of the night included not only his well known hits but also spiritual songs that called for all to dance and sing along. Host, Carl B. Moxie also surprised the star with a special award for his contributions to music and the Jamaican community in his 43 years of entertainment. Lewis has recovered from two heart attacks and kidney troubles in the last few years and credits his focus on the Spiritual and changed dietary habits for his recovery. He left the crowd calling for more and warmly mingled with everyone.

Wake Up Radio can be heard on station WVIP 95.3 FM every weekend on Saturday at 11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m and on Sunday at 8:00 -9:00 a.m; the program can also be heard on the internet at http://www.wakeupradio.net/