Marsha Massiah - Founder/Executive Director
Marsha's love affair with stories began as she clung to the hemline of her grandmother's skirt, the eager, young, wide-eyed receiving vessel for generations of her families' stories. Unbeknownst to her family and herself, her purpose as a repository for Caribbean anthologies was being fashioned. Much later in adulthood and after two decades in education and event management as a hobby, Marsha migrated her passions to its happy place: the intersection of Caribbean stories, culture and history.
The BCLF was born out of her fiery devotion to her heritage and the need to promote the islands to which she is eternally indebted. Yearly, she mirrors Explainer’s Lorraine and leaves NY and her career as an instructional designer in healthcare behind. She dons wings and flies south to play ah Mas in the Greatest Festival on Earth - although she despises drinking rum. She is a proud honors graduate of the University of the West Indies, lists a 3-day stint in a roti shop among her wealth of work experience, and is obsessed with proving that one can indeed, with exercise, outwork a steady diet of cake and pone.
Mellany Paynter - Founding Partner/Director of Operations
Mellany is a Creative Entrepreneur and Editor with a unique blend of writing prowess, wellness advocacy, and project management expertise. A distinguished alumna of Howard University's Civil Engineering program, she now channels her talents into guiding and executing creative projects for individuals and companies.
As our Director of Operations, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the festival’s logistics, ensuring that each event runs smoothly and successfully. She is the passionate force behind each project’s vision, seamlessly contributing to personal and professional endeavors.
Her additional skills include web design, marketing collateral creation, and transforming social projects into vibrant realities. With a deep commitment to excellence, Mellany is ready to help you turn your vision into remarkable success.
Maurisa Massiah - Director of Development
Maurisa Massiah is a seasoned Army veteran with a distinguished record of service across both branches of the U.S. Military, marked by five well-earned promotions. Her experience spans NYC Domestic Relief missions and a deployment during Operation Enduring Freedom, where she consistently demonstrated unwavering accountability, reliability, and leadership in high-stakes situations.
Maurisa is passionate about data analytics and is driven to achieve meaningful results in all her endeavors.
As an adaptable team player with exceptional interpersonal skills, Maurisa excels in diverse environments, from military operations to corporate settings. In addition to her extensive military and corporate background, Maurisa Massiah brings her expertise to the Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival as the Director of Development. Leveraging her experience in leadership and strategic planning, she plays a pivotal role in enhancing the festival's capacity and fostering its growth. Her unique blend of skills and dedication supports the team in expanding the festival’s reach and impact within the literary and Caribbean communities.