NICC Presents: Black History Month Panel with Oral History Presented by Desiree Spriggs

Celebrate Black History Month with Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce at our Black History Month Panel, Thursday, February 23rd, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at the Museum of African American History, 29 York Street. Desiree Spriggs, the Museum of African American History Nantucket Campus Director, will present an oral history of the space to open the event. Sponsored by Nantucket Bank: A Division Rockland Trust with light bites provided by Snick Snack.

Black History Month is an opportunity honor and understand Black histories. This year's theme, "Black Resistance," observes how Black people have resisted historic and ongoing oppression. Whether the oppression is personal, professional, or educational, Black people have persistently fought for a dignified self-determined life in a just democratic society, and this year's theme encompasses this. 

Join us and our impressive moderator and panelist, whom are each making strides in their respective industries and the community.

Due to an overwhelming response, our Black History Month Panel is full! If you were unable to secure a seat, we will be streaming LIVE on our Nantucket Chamber YouTube page HERE and on our Instagram page, @ackchamber. Please tune in and thank for your continued support.

Moderated by Shantaw Bloise-Murphy - Director of Culture and Tourism for the Town of Nantucket and Co-Owner of Supple Sirens Bath & Body 
Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Shantaw moved to Nantucket in 2005 and attended Nantucket High School. She went on to study Communication & Culture at Bridgewater State University. Shantaw returned to the island full-time in 2015 and worked for several non-profit organizations before joining the Town of Nantucket as the Director of Culture & Tourism. Shantaw has sat on several boards such as the Nantucket Equity Advocates, Nantucket Cultural District Redesignation Committee, Nantucket Lighthouse School Board, the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club Parent Advisory Committee, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the Offshore Wind Work Group, to name a few. When not serving our community, Shantaw can be found running her company, Supple Sirens Bath & Body.

• Cavel Mattison - House Manager at The Westmoor Club
  Known as the “Queen of Hospitality” with almost two decades of experience in Tourism & Customer Relations, a former lead Room Reservationist for White Elephant Resorts, and the first Jamaican Farmers Market manager, in the history of Nantucket. Her Jamaican upbringing has groomed her for the role of a lifetime, a driving force when it comes to leadership, food justice, advocating for immigrants; commingled  with a passion for health and wellness with strong ties to the Nantucket Community

• Desiree Spriggs - Associate Director at The Museum of African History, Nantucket "Wash a Shore," Desiree Spriggs is the current Associate Director at the Museum of African American History here on Nantucket. A retired educator, she resides on island with her beloved cat and dog.
• Fernando Jones - Director of Operations at the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club Jones was born in Pensacola Florida but spent most of his childhood in Greenfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from Williston Northampton School 07’ and received his B.A. in History from Hobart College in Geneva, NY. He served 8 years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard as a commissioned officer. He has had numerous types of jobs on island but most notable is his time working at CPS middle school and his current role at NBGC, which have been the most impactful for him. Jones has also coached football at the high school and middle school levels as well as boys and girls basketball at CPS. He has lived on island for almost 10 years and has a wife and two young boys.
• Ochand "Chad Pierre" C. Lee, - Owner of Chad Pierre Photography, Ticket Office Manager at Hy-Line Cruises and Store Manager at Nantucket Boat Basin Authentic Shop 
  Lee Studied, Hospitality Management (Hotel & Restaurant) Human Relations, and Photography. Born in Saint Ann, Jamaica and raised in Saint Catherine, Jamaica, Lee has now lived in Nantucket for over 23 years. Prior to that, he has experience working all over the world in his field of Hospitality Management. He has done charity work throughout his years on the Island, most notably with A Safe Place. His past experience includes employment at The Camera Shop, Nantucket Island Resorts - Front Desk Supervisor,  The Beachside at Nantucket - Front Desk and Reservations, and Provisions - Cashier. He is single and an Apostolic, Pentecostal Christian. His love and adoration lies in his passion for photography and world travel.