---
title: At The Heart Of Sisterhood- Keeping the Caribbean Women Connected
description: Caribbean POSH Weekend champions female leaders in business and community, spotlighting mentorship, legacy and self-care for purposeful, lasting impact
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2025-08-04T09:54:33.000Z
updated: 2026-02-26T22:05:28.100Z
canonical: https://richwoman.co/article/at-the-heart-of-sisterhood-keeping-the-caribbean-women-connected
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/uczrhnuedx8.jpg
categories: Female leadership
content_type: Spotlight
region: United States
publication: Rich Woman Magazine
---

The energy at Caribbean POSH Weekend in St. Thomas was electric last month, a colourful collision of [Caribbean women who came not just to network](https://richwoman.co/article/from-courtrooms-to-community-a-woman-s-mission-for-economic-justice), but to be seen, heard and celebrated. Between the vibrant conversations over tropical cocktails and the buzz of business cards being exchanged, one speaker took the stage who embodied exactly what the weekend was about: staying rooted whilst reaching higher.

Teri Helenese stepped up to deliver her keynote with the kind of presence that felt both polished and familiar – like catching up with that friend who’d made it big but never forgot where she came from. The [USVI Director of State-Federal Relations](https://vi175.com/meet-the-members/teri-helenese/) had every reason to feel at home among the gathering of Caribbean women entrepreneurs and business leaders.

## From Frangipani to Washington

‘Before the polished shoes, poise and policy meetings, I was an island gyal from Frangipani, right down the street from Mon Bijou,’ Helenese told the audience, her voice carrying that unmistakable warmth of someone who never forgot her neighbourhood. It’s the kind of introduction that immediately puts people at ease – no pretension, just truth.

That journey from Frangipani to the corridors of power in Washington wasn’t accidental. Helenese was part of the USVI’s ‘Reverse the Brain Drain’ program, designed to bring talented Virgin Islanders back home. She became the [first Virgin Islander to serve as Human Resources Director](https://stthomassource.com/content/2019/09/25/crucian-teri-helenese-joins-virginias-african-american-advisory-board/) at Diageo’s Captain Morgan Rum Distillery, where she increased local employment to an impressive 97 per cent.

Now, as Governor Albert Bryan Jr.’s representative in the nation’s capital, she spends her days advocating for the Virgin Islands on everything from education to economic development. But Saturday morning at Caribbean POSH Weekend, she wasn’t just talking policy – she was talking about the real impact on real families.

## Real Talk: Child Tax Credits & Everyday Life

When Helenese mentioned the $2,500 Child Tax Credit that her work helped secure through 2028, she didn’t reel off statistics. Instead, she painted a picture that every parent in the room could relate to. ‘That is groceries. That is school uniforms. That is [childcare for hard-working mothers](https://richwoman.co/article/when-your-body-betrays-you-how-one-woman-turned-rare-disease-into-community-recognition) and fathers just like you,’ she said.

The [enhanced Child Tax Credit](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/bona-fide-residents-of-the-us-virgin-islands-tax-credits) now provides up to $2,200 per qualifying child for families in the USVI, with a significant portion refundable. For Caribbean families already dealing with higher living costs compared to the mainland US, this kind of support makes the difference between stretching to make ends meet and having a bit of breathing room.

It’s this ability to translate policy wins into kitchen-table reality that made Helenese’s speech resonate. She wasn’t speaking as a distant bureaucrat; she was speaking as someone who understood what it meant to budget for school supplies and worry about childcare costs.

## Keeping the Caribbean Connected

Helenese’s passion for practical solutions showed most clearly when she talked about regional connectivity. Anyone who’s tried to island-hop in the Caribbean knows the frustration – it’s often easier to get to New York than to the island next door. [Shipping costs in the Caribbean](https://blogs.iadb.org/transporte/en/short-sea-shipping-a-solution-to-caribbean-logistics-challenges/) run about 30 per cent higher than the global average, thanks to poor connectivity and multiple transshipments.

‘We safeguarded our supply chain. We kept goods flowing to our people. We protected their jobs,’ Helenese explained, referring to her work fighting burdensome tariffs on regional shipping. She championed the need for better air and sea links, noting that ‘direct air and sea links across the Caribbean must become a priority.’

For the business women in the audience, many of whom import goods or serve tourists from other islands, this wasn’t abstract policy talk – it was about their bottom line and their ability to serve their communities.

## Standing on the Shoulders of Queens

But Helenese’s most powerful moments came when she connected her current work to the legacy of Caribbean women who’d fought for change long before her. She invoked the spirit of Queen Mary and the Fireburn Queens, referring to the [1878 labour revolt on St. Croix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1878_St._Croix_labor_riot) led by four remarkable women who stood up against oppressive working conditions.

‘We stand on her shoulders – and the shoulders of all who knew that freedom is not given – it is defended,’ Helenese declared. Queen Mary Thomas and her fellow leaders, Mathilda McBean, Axeline Elizabeth Salomon and Susanna Abramsen, had led workers in burning around 50 plantations and much of Frederiksted in their fight for better conditions.

The reference wasn’t just historical name-dropping. It was a reminder that the work of improving conditions for Caribbean people – whether through labour rights in 1878 or tax credits in 2025 – has always been led by [strong women who refused to accept the status quo](https://richwoman.co/article/from-immigration-advocate-to-cannes-shirley-maia-cusick-s-journey-of-boundless-vision-and-uns).

## Sisterhood as Strategy

The thread running through Helenese’s entire speech was the power of [women supporting women](https://richwoman.co/article/sisterhood-anchored-in-grace-a-catalyst-for-success-beyond-business). ‘We must mentor each other. Because mentorship is the bridge between potential and power,’ she told the crowd, her voice gaining strength with each word.

This message hit home at an event that began in 2016 as the [POSHgirl POWER Brunch](https://caribbeanposh.com/wkd/), founded by V.I. native Janette Brin to empower Caribbean women in business and leadership. What started as a single brunch has grown into a weekend-long celebration that draws women from across the region and diaspora.

‘When you choose to support a Caribbean sister’s business, you are not just buying a product – you are investing in a dream, [a family, and a community legacy](https://richwoman.co/article/joan-templeman-s-necker-island-a-world-of-strength-and-love),’ Helenese emphasised. In a region where [women entrepreneurs](https://cherieblairfoundation.org/what-we-do/programmes/mentoring/) often face additional challenges accessing capital and networks, this kind of [intentional support can make the difference](https://richwoman.co/article/in-conversation-with-dame-neslyn-watson-druee-women-empowering-women) between a business thriving or failing.

The audience nodded along – many had their own stories of how a mentor’s advice or a sister’s referral had opened doors that might have otherwise remained closed.

## Protecting Hearts and Minds

Helenese didn’t forget to address the mental and emotional toll of building businesses and fighting for change. When she announced a Nevis retreat giveaway courtesy of the Caribbean Media Exchange, it wasn’t just about a luxury prize – it was about recognising that [self-care is strategic](https://richwoman.co/article/inner-peace-where-to-find-it-and-cherish-it-during-self-isolation).

‘Your well-being and clarity are not just part of being prepared – they are your superpower,’ she reminded the audience. For women who often juggle multiple responsibilities whilst building their careers and businesses, [this permission to prioritise wellness](https://richwoman.co/article/sisters-on-the-vineyard-the-power-of-honest-conversation) felt revolutionary.

The retreat prize was a tangible reminder that taking time to recharge isn’t selfish – it’s necessary for sustained success.

As Helenese built toward her closing, the energy in the room was palpable. Women were sitting forward in their seats, phones out to capture her words, heads nodding in recognition and agreement.

‘Do not leave this weekend the same way you came. Leave charged. Leave changed. Leave with your crown straight and your voice projected,’ she declared, her voice rising with conviction. ‘We are the ancestors someone prayed for. We are fully present, fully powerful, and [just getting started](https://richwoman.co/article/from-barranquilla-to-miami-how-a-woman-on-a-mission-turns-setbacks-into-possibility).’

The standing ovation that followed felt like more than appreciation – it felt like a collective commitment. Here was a woman who’d navigated from the neighbourhoods of St. Croix to the halls of Washington, never losing sight of the community that shaped her or [the women walking similar paths](https://richwoman.co/article/finding-your-voice-the-women-and-men-who-discovered-confidence-when-left-self-doubt-behind).

As the applause died down and conversations resumed over lunch, you could feel something had shifted. Caribbean POSH Weekend had always been about celebration and connection, but Helenese’s keynote had added something else – a sense of shared mission and the recognition that [individual success could be a vehicle for collective change](https://richwoman.co/article/what-drives-you-to-keep-giving-the-heart-and-hope-behind-philanthropy-s-champions).

The weekend might have been about business, but the real business at hand was clear: lifting each other up, just as the Fireburn Queens would have wanted.