Hawks
International was originally founded as a club in 1971 by a
group of expatriate Trinidadians and Tobagonians whose main
objective was to maintain and promote Caribbean culture.
Today Hawks International Youth Organization, Inc (HIYO) is
a tax-exempt non-profit 501(c) 3 organization located in the
East Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. We remain
dedicated to keeping the Caribbean culture vibrant for all
those who want to experience its richness. Annually we
organize a series of cultural, social and recreational
activities that not only promote Caribbean culture but also
serve as community out reach programs.
Our
community involvement includes working with teens to reduce
school drop out, teen pregnancies and drug abuse. We
introduced tutoring assistance programs in reading, writing
and arithmetic.
During the
holiday season we host a Thanksgiving dinner for the aged,
homeless and children from a hospice. We host an annual
children Christmas party providing toys and refreshments for
500 to 600 children. We also initiated and orchestrated
several joint ventures with other organizations where the
entire proceeds were used to purchase medical supplies,
dialysis machines and linens for the hospitals of Trinidad
and Tobago. Additionally, and in keeping with our cultural
heritage, we participate in the West Indian American Labor
Day Parade on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York boasting
one of the largest contingents in what is the largest North
American parade.
We are a
dynamic organization and recognizing the potential for
information technology era and communication technologies to
change lives, we have embarked in a new direction in order
to meet the needs of the information.
Our latest
endeavor has culminated in the formation of the Oswald
McClean Technology Center (OMTC) named in memory of the late
Oswald McClean, founder of Hawks International. The OMTC is
an essential necessity for the serving community. From its
inception OMTC has been a vital conduit for people of all
ages and backgrounds to obtain hands on computer literacy
and other enhancement skills.
Our future
goals are to keep pace with the changing world and
technology that the new millennium will bring us, to share
our culture, to continue community involvement with new and
innovative programs and to help bridge the technological
divide as we follow our motto and Dare to forge the future.
Mission
Statement
Hawks
International Youth Organization's mission is to support and
strengthen the community by exposing community members to
and involving them in the rich cultural heritage of the
Caribbean, to create equitable access to technology and to
provide activities and programs to empower tomorrow's
leaders.
Dare
to forge the future . . . make the difference.
"
Sharing Our Warmth With The World"
