CEO & Editor in Chief
Marva Griffiths Herman
Marva Griffiths Herman was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica and has been involved with the Caribbean-American community for much of her life. After a break of caring for her two young sons, she became active again in the Caribbean-American community when she was approached by longtime friend Dr. Claire Nelson of the Washington, DC-based Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), to assist her with efforts to petition the United States government to establish a National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.
On February 14, 2006, the United States Senate passed the Concurrent Resolution establishing June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. Herman spearheaded the successful Los Angeles grassroots campaign and the inaugural celebrations held on June 16, 2006 where the Los Angeles City Council presented a proclamation establishing June as Caribbean American Heritage Month in Los Angeles in perpetuity.
As a result of the congressional resolution, in 2007 Herman founded the Caribbean Heritage Organization, Inc. (CHO), which produces the official Los Angeles Caribbean-American Heritage Month gala, the Caribbean Heritage Salute to Hollywood & the Arts and the CaribbeanLens International Film & Arts Festival.
In addition to serving as executive director of the CHO, she is the West Coast Representative for ICS and serves on the advisory board of the Office of the Los Angeles Honorary Consul of Jamaica.
This proud mother of two Jamericans is pleased that her Anansi and Jamaican folklorist, the Hon. Louise Bennett, bedtime stories paid off when her younger son, garnered a spot on Bill Cosby’s “Kids Says the Darndest Thing” with his toothless recital of Miss Lou’s “Love Letta.”