While there has been a community of Bahamians in the DC area who have been connecting for several decades, the Bahamian American Association of the Washington, DC & Mid-Atlantic Region, Inc., referred to as BAAWMAR, was formally established in 2016. Plans to revitalize the organization began in 2019 with formalizing Association membership and election of a Board.
Engage directly and often with Bahamians and Friends of The Bahamas in the DMV.
Partner with people and institutions to support Bahamians in the DMV and those in The Bahamas.
Bring the experience of Bahamian living to those in the DMV.
Forge bonds among the diaspora around love of and support for The Bahamas.
Meet our Board of Directors:
Chair
Khandra was born and raised in Nassau. After graduating from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill, she moved to the DC area and then Baltimore for graduate school. She has lived in Baltimore for more than 13 years where she now works as a research associate at the University of Maryland. She is excited to serve the Bahamian Diaspora by helping BAAWMAR officially establish itself as a resource for those in the region.
Vice Chair, Finance
Matthew received his Juris Doctorate from the Howard University School of Law and is a member of the MD Bar. After spending his childhood in The Bahamas, he moved to Florida and has resided in the Washington DC metro area for more than 15 years.
Vice Chair, Membership
Service has been a way of life for Hanna since she got her start selling dolls in Nassau’s Straw Market at the age of 6,ever since then she has been working in service to and for her community. Her more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry has informed her deep commitment to generous reception in a particular place.
Hanna sees civic involvement as a way to love her neighbors and is grateful for daily opportunities to connect people to resources and each other in Washington, D.C. where she’s lived since 2013. She is involved in her church and community recently serving the District of Columbia as an elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Ward 8.
Vice Chair, Communications
Born and raised in Nassau, Mikhail has lived in the DMV area since 2014. He spent more than 7 years working the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas, including more than 4 years in post as a Foreign Service Officer at The Bahamas Embassy to the United States and Permanent Mission to the OAS in Washington DC. He currently works in the multilateral arena on partnerships for development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Treasurer
Monique is a culinary and procurement professional who is passionate about creating change through meals. She is responsible for monitoring contracts and ensuring her Department is fiscally responsible. Additionally, her responsibilities also include implementation of strategies that help ensure their work is fiscally sound. She is an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. where she has served in various roles including the Chapter’s 2nd Vice President and also Chair of the Foundation (501c3). She has resided in the DC metro area for 13 years.
Secretary
Katarlah, a native of Freeport Grand Bahama, has resided in the DC metro area since 2006 where she has been involved with and supported the local diaspora in a range of activities promoting The Bahamas, and as a speaker at The Bahamas Embassy’s ‘Young Bahamians Conversation Series’. She maintains strong ties with The Bahamas and since 2014 has served as co-curator of TEDxGrand Bahama and TedxYouth@GrandBahama (since 2016).
If you are an institution that shares our interests of supporting Bahamians in the DMV and The Bahamas , contact us to discuss collaboration.
