“Luke Cage’s” Simone Missick Among Guests At The Rise Up Foundation Held Second Annual Gala In Barbados

A Caribbean nonprofit hosted a gala over the weekend to raise money to send local kids to dance school.

The Rise Up Foundation hosted it’s second annual gala at an old plantation house in St. John’s parish, Barbados March 19. The invite-only event drew “Luke Cage” star Simone Missick and her husband fellow actor Dorian Missick, along with Olympic gold champion Monica Hargrove and former NY Giants player Keith Carlos, who was the first male winner of “America’s Next Top Model.”

The event raised money to fund the tuition for 25 Caribbean students to attend dance school for a year.

Missick, 35, who plays Det. Misty Knight on the Netflix drama, said she was blown away by the entertainment for the evening, a showcase from Bajan label Pretty Boy Records, as well as the passion of the nonprofit’s founder, Harriette “Sunchyne” Skeete,.

“I was exceptionally astounded at the talent at the gala,” Missick said. “To be part of an event that celebrates women, encourages women to pursue what they need to pursue, despite the responsibilities of being a wife and a mother, daughter and a sister, is refreshing.”

The nonprofit and gala is Skeete’s brainchild, and she told BOSSIP she is committed to continuing her work helping kids with balancing being an entrepreneur, wife and mother.

“It’s so nice when you have a vision, and you have it on paper, or you have it in your mind, and it comes to reality,” Skeete said. “My mission is for every person to know that they are valued, and they can do it.”

You May Also Like

Girl receives flu shot at outdoor free clinic

This week in politics, the vibes are messy, alarming, and straight-up confusing. From late night TV being snatched off the air to vaccine policies getting hijacked, it’s giving “WTF is going on?” Let’s break down the headlines everyone’s talking about inside. First Amendment on the Chopping Block Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show has been pulled from ABC, and Stephen Colbert’s show? Cancelled completely. The official line is murky, but the bigger picture is loud. Free speech is being tested under the Trump administration. While Trump once said he’d “honor” the First Amendment, recent moves suggest he’s working off a remix version that only benefits him. Case in point? The Guardian reports his $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times. A judge already tossed it out, saying Trump’s claims about “false content” violated federal rules. Still, the fact that these lawsuits and cancellations keep happening has people questioning the future of free expression in America. CDC Shake-Up Sparks Health Concerns Meanwhile, over at the CDC, things are getting political fast. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has basically turned the agency upside down, firing all 17 members of the vaccine advisory committee and replacing them with appointees that include vaccine skeptics. On top of that, the CDC director is out, high-level staffers are resigning, and decisions about vaccine safety are suddenly more about politics than science. Public health leaders are calling this move dangerous, saying it dismantles independent oversight just when Americans need clarity most. According to California’s government website, they are one of the few states pushing back on the federal government’s stance. California, Washington, and Hawaii aren’t taking it lying down. The states have formed an alliance pushing back on the feds, promising to keep vaccine guidance rooted in science, safety, and transparency. Their health officers are reviewing guidelines from trusted medical groups like the AAP and ACOG to ensure communities still have access to clinically recommended vaccines. Trump & Xi Meet About US TikTok’s Next Chapter And then there’s TikTok. After years of “will they, won’t they?” drama, Trump announced that he and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping approved a deal for TikTok’s U.S. operations. According to BBC, the plan reportedly hands control to a group of U.S. investors, sidestepping a shutdown. Trump called the call with Xi “productive” on Truth Social, and even, teased a face-to-face meetup at the APEC summit in South Korea this fall. From free speech battles to vaccine wars and TikTok drama, this week in politics has us all asking the same thing: WTFGO?

Global Grind