I created HOUSTON INDIVISIBLE to raise awareness and to show the people in the USVI that we know they are the American Virgin Islands and that we care.
My dad grew up on St Thomas. My grandparents are on the island right now with no power after Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria tore through the islands as Category 5 hurricanes – the highest possible category.
I live in Houston TX and there is an American teenager just like me in the USVI – a junior in high school, a Montessori school, an IB school – who has the SAT’s coming up. An American kid whose school flooded and whose neighbors have lost their homes, cars, and livelihood. That’s me in Houston, that’s someone in Louisiana and Florida, that’s someone in Puerto Rico, and a kid in St Croix, St Thomas, and St John: the United States Virgin Islands. The USVI are celebrating their centennial year as a part of the United States of America – that’s 100 years of pledging allegiance to the flag … my flag, our flag.
Texas and Florida received and continue to receive an outpouring of hurricane relief and they are connected to 46 other states – we are rebuilding here in Houston. Puerto Rico and St Croix were there to support St Thomas and St John after Hurricane Irma hit on September 6th … until September 19th after Hurricane Maria hit them too – they are all islands.
I was troubled by the lack of information and media coverage regarding the effects and aftermath of these hurricanes on the USVI. They are not that far away. It’s only a 2-1/2 hour commercial plane ride and cruise ships bring tourists to the islands throughout the year. It’s domestic travel. The USPS will deliver to the USVI for the cost of a regular stamp or a regular flat rate box.
Tim Duncan grew up on St Croix, so did Alexander Hamilton. On St Croix, you can learn about the history of the islands as the Danish West Indies as well as the sugar cane and rum trade. Camille Pissarro - the "father figure" of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art - was born and raised on St Thomas. On St Thomas, you can visit Magen's Bay - a gift to the islands from a Wall Street philanthropist. The St Thomas Synagogue is a National Historic Landmark - over 180 years old and the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the US. On St John, you can visit the Virgin Islands National Park - a gift of the Rockefeller family. And don't forget the fourth and smallest island - Water Island where former slaves owned plantations as freemen. The USVI are a US territory and from there you can visit territories belonging to the UK, France, and the Netherlands, or the 13 sovereign states that make up the Caribbean. Plan a visit when the island recovers, a cruise, or just a getaway to explore a part of America - the United States Virgin Islands.
I have created this fundraiser to show my own support, as well as to raise awareness and encourage others to join me helping the USVI during their time of need. After Harvey in Houston, we received aid from around the nation as people came together to give a helping hand, let’s do that with for the US Virgin Islands. They need help now and they need tourists to return to the islands as they recover.
All proceeds will go directly to local organizations in the USVI.
Please share, please donate, and please visit.
Houston Strong ... USVI Strong - HOUSTON INDIVISIBLE