I am Ineke F Hodge, affectionately known in our community as “Neka" or ".Neekes”. I am the owner and Director of  Kaiso Caribbean Entertainment Group and President of Kaiso Cares Inc. - a Non-Profit Organization located on the island of St. Croix US Virgin Islands.  As a 4th generation, Virgin Islander my goal and passion has always been broadening the impact that the Virgin Islands culture has on the world through entertainment and the cultural arts. Our territory is made up of the cultivation of unique practices, ideas, beliefs, and values, all of which contribute to the varying experiences one can have while visiting our white sandy beach shores.

As a territory, we offer traditional tourism, cultural tourism, and educational tourism all within our four small islands. This culture should be shared, and we strongly believe the best way to ensure it is not lost, is through the resources that provide education, opportunities, and inspiration for our youth. 

In our territory, we lack only in the areas and industries that we are not educated and supported in.  Many of our creative industries lack the resources necessary to keep the craft or skill set going.  In an attempt to bridge this gap, our team and organization will host a 5-week Cultural Youth Workshop geared towards exposing and familiarizing the youth of the territory with the varying elements and aspects of Virgin Islands art and culture. This workshop encompasses our many cultural art forms from music and dance to storytelling, poetry, Kaiso & Quadrille and the blowing of the conch shell. This workshop encourages learning about various foods, crafts & skill sets; it includes educational trips to prominent VI landmarks while working alongside many local businesses and entities that share their expertise to create opportunities for attendees to be exposed to potential unfound passions.   

The young women you witness entertaining the tourists at the cruise ship dock in Frederiksted are products of our program and training incentives. We also offer event services, varying entertainment services and artist services under Kaiso Caribbean Entertainment.  Our non-profit, Kaiso Cares Inc., our goal is to create resources, create opportunities and encourage an attitude of self-sustenance among locals who believe in creating the change we need to take our cultural products to more mainstream audiences. Each child will leave our workshop with a sound sense of pride in who they are and where they are from.  They will be trained to not only represent us as ambassadors but will also know who they are as Virgin Islanders and the greatness that makes up the fiber of our territory.