Brooklyn's Little Caribbean heating up with Black August block party bash

Flatbush's Little Caribbean community in Brooklyn is about to throw a neighborhood bash they hope will set up years of summer fun for everybody island style - with the inaugural Black August Block Party, set for Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

- By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

Safiya Jones, an independent creative consultant and neighborhood native, is working with local businesses to organize the event. The idea to spotlight the area's Black and Caribbean-owned businesses was first proposed last year, but organizers struggled to secure the funding and permits on time, so community members ended up hosting a small but inspiring fundraiser at Lips Café. This year, with permits in hand, they're set to shut down Martense Street between Nostrand Avenue and Fairview Place - for a free, daylong celebration.