About Us

Celebrating The African Spirit (C.A.S.) is a Poughkeepsie, NY 501(c)3 non-profit community-based organization. Our goal is to commemorate the contributions of enslaved Africans and their descendants in the building of the City of Poughkeepsie. We engage in social action projects to address the consequences of institutionalized racism that Black and Brown people live with today.

Our Board

Carmen Marchaline McGill (Co-Founder and Board Chair), is a retired admissions counselor and personnel administrator. She is an advocate for the rights and justice of all people, particularly sensitive to the needs of people of color. During her 45 years in Poughkeepsie, she has been active in the Kwanzaa Committee, Poughkeepsie City Schools PTA, Bd. Of Education committees, the Black History Project Committee, the Dutchess County Historical Society board, NAACP, AAUW and others, and she is a mentor to many, many people.

Carmen Marchaline McGill (Co-Founder and Board Chair), is a retired admissions counselor and personnel administrator. She is an advocate for the rights and justice of all people, particularly sensitive to the needs of people of color. During her 45 years in Poughkeepsie, she has been active in the Kwanzaa Committee, Poughkeepsie City Schools PTA, Bd. Of Education committees, the Black History Project Committee, the Dutchess County Historical Society board, NAACP, AAUW and others, and she is a mentor to many, many people.

Katherine (Katie) Hite (Co-Founder and Board Chair) is Professor of Political Science on the Frederick Ferris Thompson Chair and the Director of Faculty Research at Vassar College. She is the author of Politics and the Art of Commemoration: Memorial…

Katherine (Katie) Hite (Co-Founder and Board Chair) is Professor of Political Science on the Frederick Ferris Thompson Chair at Vassar College. She is the author of Politics and the Art of Commemoration: Memorials to Struggle in Latin America and Spain, as well as several publications on history and memory, memorials and memorial museums. Her research has been supported by the Fulbright Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Social Science Research Council. Katie teaches classes on social movements, Latin American politics, and the politics of memory. She is now writing on the memorialization of enslavement in Texas. She is an active member and supporter of several community organizations, including ENJAN, Nobody Leaves the Mid-Hudson, and the Center for Creative Education (Kingston, NY).

 
Kalimah Karim (Co-Founder and Board Treasurer) is a Community Health Nurse. The majority of her nursing career has been dedicated to improving health outcomes for people of color, both adults and children. She is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. A lifelong New Yorker, Kalimah has been a Poughkeepsie resident for the past 8 years. A mom and grandmother, Kalimah started Ourstory Collectibles.com, offering Afrocentric, Western and Asian art and decor, because “it’s vital that everyone can feel that their surroundings reflect their story”. Photo: Karl Rabe

Kalimah Karim (Co-Founder and Board Treasurer) is a Community Health Nurse. The majority of her nursing career has been dedicated to improving health outcomes for people of color, both adults and children. She is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. A lifelong New Yorker, Kalimah has been a Poughkeepsie resident for the past 8 years. A mom and grandmother, Kalimah started Ourstory Collectibles.com, offering Afrocentric, Western and Asian art and decor, because “it’s vital that everyone can feel that their surroundings reflect their story”. Photo: Karl Rabe

Elizabeth Randolph (Board Secretary of Membership) is Director of Alumnae/i Communications and Editor of the magazine at Vassar College. Liz also staffs the Alumnae/i Communications Advisory Committee, which consists of alumnae/i in the fields of journalism, marketing, and magazine publishing. Prior to coming to Vassar, she served as Senior Communications Manager at Pratt Institute. Educated at the Grady School of Journalism, University of Georgia (ABJ), and the Tisch School of the Arts Interactive Telecommunications Program, New York University (MPS), Liz is a skilled creator of successful content for print, web, marketing, social media, and video." Liz has also served on the boards of Arts Mid-Hudson and the Astraea Foundation.

Elizabeth Randolph (Board Secretary of Membership) is Director of Alumnae/i Communications and Editor of the magazine at Vassar College. Liz also staffs the Alumnae/i Communications Advisory Committee, which consists of alumnae/i in the fields of journalism, marketing, and magazine publishing. Prior to coming to Vassar, she served as Senior Communications Manager at Pratt Institute. Educated at the Grady School of Journalism, University of Georgia (ABJ), and the Tisch School of the Arts Interactive Telecommunications Program, New York University (MPS), Liz is a skilled creator of successful content for print, web, marketing, social media, and video." Liz has also served on the boards of Arts Mid-Hudson and the Astraea Foundation.

SUMMER INTERNS

  • Zerah Ruiz

    Zerah Ruiz (she/her), Class of 2025, is a Drama major with an Africana Studies minor at Vassar College. She is a CAS intern who has helped recruit students and create the syllabus for CAS’s third annual summer program. She assisted in promoting CAS’ annual Frederick Douglass Day. She is also the current website designer for CAS!

  • Asho Ashittey

    Asho Ashittey (she/her), Class of 2023, is an International Studies major at Vassar College, with concentrations in Geography and Political Science. During the 2021 summer, Asho helped facilitate CAS's first summer program that invited local youth to learn about the hidden histories in Poughkeepsie, and display them through art. Asho also played an integral role in CAS' Juneteenth celebration, as well as the Frederick Douglass Speech Commemoration held in College Hill Park on Aug 1.

  • Ariana Sierra-Chacón

    Ariana Sierra-Chacón (she/her), Class of 2023, is an International Studies major at Vassar College, with concentrations in Education and Political Science. During the 2021 summer, Ariana helped organize CAS’s summer youth program and Frederick Douglass Commemoration. She specialized in online outreach, social media management, web design and management, and other communications.

  • Asho's Reflections

  • Ariana's Reflections

CTAS+logo+JPG.jpeg

Learn the story behind our logo design.

Learn the background of our logo, designed by community member Amya West.

Our Members

Our organization is a community and volunteer based organization that depends on the generous efforts and contributions of our members. Our group is composed of brilliant researchers and historians, institutional partners, and community residents and advocates committed to this work.