Introducing the Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM)
This year marks 10 years of the Carry On Friends Podcast —and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than by sharing something I’ve been working on for a while. It’s personal, it’s powerful, and it’s rooted in all the conversations we’ve had together over the last decade.
Introducing the Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model™ (CDEM)—a new way to understand how our Caribbean identity forms, evolves, and expresses itself in the diaspora.
Why This Model Matters
If you’ve ever asked yourself,
“Am I Caribbean (or insert Caribbean country name) enough?”
“Why do I experience my culture so differently from my siblings or parents?”
“How do I preserve my cultural identity while navigating life in the U.S., Canada, or the U.K.?”
You’re not alone. These are questions that have come up again and again on the podcast, in our newsletter, and in real-life conversations with friends and family. And I realized—we needed a guide to help make sense of these experiences.
The Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM) isn’t an academic theory. It’s a reflection of real-life stories—mine, my family’s, and yours. It’s grounded in observation, personal growth, and years of conversations in our community.
The Six Lenses of CDEM
In this first episode introducing the model, I walk through all six components using my own story to illustrate how identity shifts over time. Here’s a preview:
- Where You Start Shapes the Journey – Whether you migrated as an adult or were born in the diaspora, your connection to Caribbean culture starts somewhere. That starting point matters.
- Where You Live + What You Seek = How You Connect – Living in Brooklyn versus Milwaukee isn’t just geography—it’s a different experience of Caribbean culture. Where you live + your intention shapes your connection.
- Cultural Anchors Keep Us Rooted – Food, music, language, celebrations, spirituality, and family—these are the touch points that carry memory and transmit knowledge.
- Your Identity Will Shift—That’s the Point – As we age, our relationship with culture evolves. It’s not loss—it’s recalibration.
- Cultural Identity Influences How We Show Up at Work – Our work ethic, ambition, and how we navigate professional spaces are all shaped by cultural values.
- You’re Not Either/Or—You’re Both/And – Being fully Caribbean and fully American/Canadian/British at the same time is not a contradiction—it’s our strength.
Conclusion
In this episode, I dive into each component of the model with personal stories—from moving to the U.S. as a teenager, to navigating work culture, to reflecting on how music, food, and language keep us grounded.
I created this model not just to help me understand myself—but to help us understand each other better. My hope is that it gives you language to articulate your experience, connect across generations, and build cultural confidence—wherever you are in the diaspora.
Which part of the model resonates with you the most?
What would you add? What’s your cultural anchor?
This is just the beginning. Over the next few months, I’ll be diving deeper into each of the six components—through the podcast, the newsletter, and community content.
Make sure you’re subscribed to the Carry On Friends newsletter so you don’t miss future guides, tools, and reflection prompts based on the model.
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