Days before the start of the Annual West Indian American Day Carnival Week in Brooklyn, the Family Life Committee at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church (FSUMC) in Brooklyn on Saturday, Aug. 23, ensured that the community and families were kept in the carnival spirit with mas, models, Jazz, sumptuous food and pure entertainment during the church’s third annual Block Party.
Wesley Millington, the Vincentian-born band leader and designer of the Brooklyn-based Mas Productions Unlimited made his costumes available to community kids to showcase his “Mas Infusion” production.
The hard-working Marlene Ferguson, a Trinidadian-born retired registered nurse and chairperson of the Family Life Committee at FSUMC, told Caribbean Life that the purpose of the event was “to promote community cohesion, welcome new residents and provide a fun-safe, family-friendly event for all attendees in the Prospect Lefferts Garden Community in Brooklyn” that encompasses FSUMC.
“Besides the fun, we want the block party to build connections among residents and the parishioners,” Ferguson said. “These connections can make all the difference for future events.
“The event was a success; we achieved its purpose of sharing love, fellowship and unity in the community,” she added, stating that many residents expressed appreciation for “the community spirit and the fun-filled atmosphere.
“Overall, the feedback we received was positive, with 100 percent of participants commenting favorably on the experience, food and organization,” Ferguson continued.
Besides the mas production, she said this year’s event featured “an impressive lineup of excellent performances.”
She said among the standout performers were Imani Rouselle and Eric Wyatt, GRAMMY-nominated jazz artist, “whose performances kept the audience in a jazzy state of mind for three hours.”
Ferguson gave special thanks to Prospect Lefferts Garden Association, the “proud sponsors of the jazz performances.”
She said DJ Kenny Spears provided musical support for the jazz concert and voluntarily continued playing for the fashion show and entertainment.
“We thank you (DJ Kenny Spears) and DJ Alister Aird (Grenadian-born), our very own entertainer for all our events at the church,” Fergusion said. “Their musical talent set the stage for a truly unforgettable community celebration.”
Jamaican-born Diana Brown, chair of FSUMC Highter Education Committee, coordinated the fashion show.
“We did a fast early noon fashion show during the Jazz band intermission, but it was the evening show that captivated the evening,” she told Caribbean Life, describing the outfit that each model wore.
“Yvonne sported a black lace jacket, with black and white floral dress; Linda picked floral jacket with a pink dress; Harriett modeled a blue floral jumpsuit, light blue floral paisley dress with pink shoes and pink clutch bag; Patricia modeled a beige crochet top with a printed flare skirt; Irlene, sported a colorful blue, green and gold saree outfit with gold shoes and clutch bag; Paulina, a designer, showed off her white long button down gather waist swing skirt that she made with a black short sleeve top; Kayden, modeled a light brown dress close in color of tan, sleeveless two sister tare finish dress, with white silver decorated sandals; Sister Joanne, from Canarsie Reform Church, and sister Dianne modeled the 1920s vintage look.”
Brown also said “Nataly showed off her black and white printed summer dress earlier because it was her birthday, and she was not able to stay with us.
“Our compere, Sophie, who introduced the models, joined the fun at the end of the show, showing off her blue fitted angle jeans and fitted t-shirt,” she said. “We had so much fun.
“Now, people see that it is best if one can embrace the unpredictable timing here on earth,” Brown advised. “Make life fun and respectful because it does not cost much. It is what you make it.”
Ferguson said that the youngest model, Kayden Moore, who hails from Maryland, was “so engaged in last year’s event she could not wait to return with some very trendy impressive outfits.
“Kayden is a very special young lady whose heart’s desire is to become a fashion designer and model,” Ferguson said.
She said children’s entertainment in the bounce house was an added attraction.
“Parents passing by with their children were forced to cancel other plans because the little ones did not stop crying and shouting to join the happy band in the bounce house,” Ferguson said.
She said the grand finale “became a pre-Labor Day explosion in the atmosphere, as our stilt walker, Kenny Gibbs, presented a performance with his artistic dance movements on the stilts.
“This was the moment when the rhythm of the music brought many to their feet to join the dance party,” said Fergusion, stating that a Conga line was formed, as directed by the DJ, with participants dancing “through the legs of the stilt walker, posing for pictures as they moved on down the road.
“Words cannot express my heartfelt joy for the support, love, cooperation, contributions, participations and prayers, which brought this year’s event to the highest level of a celebration,” she added, noting that, on the same day, Brooklyn celebrated Open Street Day on Eastern Parkway.
“Yet, this had no impact on the attendance at the Block Party,” Ferguson continued.
She said that, in the August 2024 celebration, she had “envisioned a day when the street would overflow and there would be a cultural display of every race, every color and every nation in ‘One Love.’
“This was exactly what took place on Aug. 23, 2025 in the Bounce House on Fenimore Street and Rogers Avenue,” she said. “The kids were colored blind in that Bounce House as they jumped up and down laughing and rolling over each other.
“This was the confirmation that we, at least, achieved that goal, ‘Love and Unity’, as we ended the Day of Celebration,” added Fergusion, giving special thanks to FSUMC Pastor the Rev. Roger Jackson and First Lady Sis. Kim, “who worked side by side with the teams to make this event successful.
“To the congregation, committee members, sponsors, vendors, caterer, custodian, delivery driver, DJs, residents of Fenimore Street, visitors, family and friends, I salute all of you, because it was the support of each and everyone of you that our light shone brightly in Prospect Lefferts Garden Community,” she continued.
Judy Clark, a resident and FSUMC member, said it was the “best block party ever.”
“It was amazing, entertaining,” she said. “The food was good.”
Clark added that her visitors “enjoyed and had a good time.”
Harriet Mayers, another member, said the celebration was “excellent, fabulous,” adding that “the setting was classy, and I loved the Jazz concert.”
