Recognizing our Unique Circumstances

For years, we’ve asked ourselves: How can we cultivate producers and audiences of high-quality digital scholarship? How can we ensure that this work is recognized and valued within academia? How can we promote collaboration and equal access to resources, bridging the gap between Caribbeanist researchers in the North Atlantic academy and the communities they serve? Most importantly, how can we implement long-term, sustainable solutions to prepare the next generation of Caribbean digital scholars, especially when we are operating in an unequal terrain?

Our answers have ranged in nature and scope, yet challenges persist. Many colleagues still work in silos defined by national, linguistic, and disciplinary boundaries. The terrain remains uneven—some scholars enjoy the advantages of well-resourced institutions, while others struggle with minimal support. This imbalance translates into unequal access to essential infrastructure, from broadband internet and reliable electricity to safe working spaces. Addressing these challenges requires solutions that reflect our unique needs and circumstances.

Working as a Collective

At the CDSC, we believe that our collective efforts can create a significant impact. Our work is grounded in shared values and projects, both established and new. CDSC supports various pedagogical initiatives, including programs from Create Caribbean Research Institute and the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, our summer school, micro-grants, and The Caribbean Digital annual conferences. As a Collective, we mean for these strategies to function in dialogue with one another, fostering a community of experts who train Caribbean DH learners with a shared set of skills, ethical principles, and long-term goals. Together, these efforts will help cultivate the interdisciplinary talent needed not only in Caribbean Studies but in the broader Caribbean region.

Serving the Caribbean and its Diasporas

Our work directly benefits several groups. First, rising cohorts of scholars and memory professionals equipped with new tools and methods to advance Caribbean Studies into the 21st century. Second, the Caribbean region itself will gain from fresh expressions of creativity and problem-solving in an era when global challenges loom large. Finally, the academic world benefits from the unique scholarship and practice emerging from Caribbean students, researchers, and practitioners.

Our Team

Our team includes professors, researchers, students, and administrators across the United States and the Caribbean who help execute and expand our vision. We partner with Caribbean artists and community organizations to bring digital projects and art initiatives to life.