St. Croix's musical traditions—from Cariso to Quelbe to today—present us with a living history of this magical island.  Award-winning director Laura Wall Mansfield and seasoned cinematographer Laura Gasperi, both with Crucian roots, and their team have captured over 50 hours of intergenerational stories with cultural icons including Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights, Ms. Esta Williams, King Derby, Bully Peterson, KC Henry, and Karen "Lady Mac" McIntosh-Bruce, who serves as our guide through this musical journey. These aren't just songs—they're stories of joy, resistance, resilience and the heartbeat of Crucian identity—the history of our ancestors.

This story weaves together the threads of music and history through the matriarchal lens.  From the Cariso Queens, to the Calypso Monarchs and the beautiful songs of the Golden Voices (a high school acapella group that sings both Cariso and Quelbe) viewers will experience the journey and teachings of this music. Much of this project we have self-funded—having just returned from filming for the month of November—we are  now in post-production. 

Your end of year gift will help us complete editing, sound design, and the final cut for screenings—ensuring these stories of resilience and celebration reach audiences far beyond our shores and spark the imagination of future generations who will carry this legacy forward.

We'd be honored to have you join us to  celebrate the spirit of St. Croix. Your support now provides a foundation to uplift cultural heritage education and the arts & humanities in St. Croix—the cultural capital of the Virgin Islands. Thank you.