Metro Atlanta Caribbean Chamber Leads The Way... By Kisha R. Dennis (Atlanta Correspondent) April 2002: Atlanta's Caribbean community has grown tremendously through the years. Caribbean people contribute to the theory of Atlanta being a southern city with an international flair. According to the 1990 Census, the total number foreign-born persons residing in Atlanta at that time was 13,354 and more than 1400 of that comprised up the Caribbean population. Well, those figures have changed. Today, according to the 2000 Census, there are more than 300,000 Caribbean people living within Metro Atlanta. If one were to take a stroll down Memorial Drive, one could partake in the colorful sights, sounds and spirit of the Caribbean culture. "Caribbean people come to the United States to make a better life for himself. They take advantage of the opportunity and then go back home", says Colleen Campbell a native of Jamaica residing in Decatur. "There is no place like home." There is no doubt that Caribbean people have broadened their horizons and taken advantage of the American dream. For some, the dream is the freedom to make an honest living, save money, and subsequently, return back home. For others, the dream is to blaze the trail for those to come by serving as a vital business link between non-Caribbean and the Caribbean market. Canadian born entrepreneur, Chantel Ross-Francois is leading the way for Metro-Atlanta's thriving Caribbean business community, The Metro Atlanta Caribbean Chamber (MACCC). "I know there are several Caribbean people in Metro Atlanta that would like to increase sales for their business and, network and support others in their community at the same time. So I decided to create an organization that provides a network between Caribbean entrepreneurs, companies and individuals in Metro Atlanta who desire to share resources, knowledge and information that will foster economic empowerment." says, President & CEO, Chantel Ross-Francois was born in Canada and raised in Trinidad. She migrated to New York at a young age and eventually ended up in Atlanta. Her father lives in Brooklyn. (MACCC) was founded October 1, 2001 as a non-profit organization to promote and support domestic economic development of Caribbean entrepreneurs, companies and individuals in Metro Atlanta, and to serve as a vital business link between non-Caribbean and the Caribbean market. "I am glad to hear that there's a business organization that supports and recognizes my people, says Trinidad native Cherry Ann Holder. "The Chamber will give us the opportunity to fully understand how Atlanta's business community operates and it can also help us market our businesses more effectively so that our businesses can survive." Research shows that there are more than twenty-five Chambers in the metro Atlanta area and according to Ms. Francois, now it's time for the Caribbean community to take its stand. MACC's objectives are to promote business opportunities/revitalization among individuals and people of Caribbean descent, foster economic empowerment, advocate for immigration and business issues, and serve as a connection for the cultivation of investments in the Caribbean. For more information, call Ms. Chantel Ross-François at 678-523-7001 or send an email at caribcc@hotmail.com.