Shelley Worrell: The Cultural Pioneer Who Founded the World’s Only ‘Little Caribbean’ Neighborhood

Photo courtesy of Dane Isaac

written by Shanida Carter

The well-known Caribbean enclave in Flatbush, Brooklyn has an official name. “Little Caribbean” was officially recognized as a cultural district (the world’s first and only one of its kind) in September 2017. It has since been designated as one of ‘Six to Celebrate’ neighborhoods by New York City’s Historic Districts Council. More recently, it was crowned the “Coolest Neighborhood in New York City” by TimeOut New York. And it’s all thanks to efforts led by Trinidadian American Shelley Worrell. She is the founder and CEO of caribBEING, which she describes as a multidisciplinary venture dedicated to showcasing Caribbean culture, art and film in Greater New York City and around the world.

[Additional Read: Trailblazer Racquel Moses on Climate Change, Gender Equality and the Future of the Caribbean]

Worrell says the Little Caribbean designation may not be a brand new concept, but the naming is about equity among other things.

“Since we launched Little Caribbean, a lot of people were like, ‘Well, it was always that. We always knew that.’ But it wasn't official. It's important that it's memorialized as part of New York City and U.S. history. I think it's important for it to be on maps and just included as part of the lexicon and the cultural contribution of what makes up New York City,” Worrell said.

Inside the I AM CARIBBEING shop

Little Caribbean merchandise

According to National Geographic, about 20 percent of New York City’s population of 8.8 million people can trace roots to the Caribbean. With Brooklyn having the largest and most diverse Caribbean population outside of the Caribbean, Worrell and caribBEING are anchoring that culture with its store-community-space-cultural-hub and even mas camp on Nostrand Avenue in the same neighborhood where Worrell was born.

“I also grew up going back and forth between Brooklyn and the Caribbean. I started going back home when I was six months old. And I spent most of my childhood summers there, if not all of them. So, I grew up very rooted in my culture with my family,” Worrell said.

Worrell is one of the first in her family on both sides to be born in the U.S. Her Afro Caribbean father and Indo Caribbean mother were the first in their families to migrate to the States. Later, her mother and stepfather moved one state over to South Jersey while she was in junior high and high school. She said she was often the only Black person in many spaces like dance and cheer.

“Growing up in a very white environment informs how I navigate the world,” she said. “It was also interesting, that part of my life, because me asserting and claiming to be West Indian amongst African Americans or Black Americans –they didn't understand what that meant to be Caribbean or Caribbean American. They thought I was denying being Black, especially since they saw my very Indian-looking mom.”

Worrell is thankful her mother grounded her in her identity and shielded her, from those toxic relatives (every Caribbean woman has) known to question everything from hair texture to skin color. 

“I’ve just gotten to the point in my life where I'm like, ‘I don't have to prove anything to anyone. I don't have to show you receipts. I don't have to show you a picture of my mother or my grandfather.’ I don't have anything to prove,” Worrell said. 

At the age of 16, Worrell returned to New York. She studied anthropology with a Caribbean focus, switched to hospitality and tourism in graduate school, then switched to a career in media and tech with high-profile positions at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Google and A+E Television Networks. Now, she lives two blocks from her parents’ first apartment in Flatbush.

“I am a property owner in this neighborhood. I was born in this neighborhood. I own a business in this neighborhood. I went to school in this neighborhood. [I’m] deeply vested and deeply committed,” Worrell said.

I AM CARIBBEING started as a film festival in Flatbush in 2010. It led to ‘caribBEING House,’ a pop-up shipping container which’ sits on Colonels Row on Governor’s Island. The space houses a cultural and market space reflecting Caribbean heritage. Last season included a teacher project, a graffiti project by the Guadeloupean graffiti collective 4KG, a residency in partnership with Calabar Gallery and monthly Caribbean-themed picnics featuring Little Caribbean artists and small businesses. 

Today the permanent store is a multidisciplinary hub at the intersection of Caribbean culture, community, commerce and sustainability. Preservation is at the root of its roots. caribBEING was given a 2024 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award from the Preservation League of New York State. It’s now hosted two annual Best of Little Caribbean Awards in June of course – Caribbean Heritage Month. The event presents awards for categories like Best Jerk, Best Roti and Doubles and Best Vibes/Customer Service. Winners of the 2024 awards garnered nearly 6,000 votes from neighborhood residents, influencers and experts. 

Worrell says this isn’t work. It’s a lifestyle.

“Little Caribbean is not a real estate gimmick.. It's not white or outside-led. It's really led from the community within,” Worrell said.

I AM CARIBBEING shop located on 399 Nostrand Ave Brooklyn, NY 11226

Her team is now working on archiving the neighborhood and culture with books, papers, awards, maps and other cultural content. They have plenty to start with considering institutions including Pratt Institute, Cornell University and Brooklyn College have all taught classes on and brought students to Little Caribbean. Most recently, the founder served as a presenter at Princeton University’s Caribbean Conference where she delved into the concept of culture as capital. Worrell explored the topic of entrepreneurship, economic legacy and how it relates to the Caribbean culture. Worrell and her team also plan to use its Brooklyn hub for more workshops and wellness experiences for the community.

While the business of being Caribbean, hence caribBEING, is a lot of work for Worrell, she also has her sights set on much larger things. Literally. The travelholic said she’s been to 80 countries but has not visited Africa yet. “Right now, I'm obsessed with elephants,” she said. “And I want to go on a safari [tour].”

To learn more about Worrell follow her on Instagram.

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