New York-November 8, 2025: The 2nd Tea Party and Dance hosted by the Artina Liberia Women Association of Staten Island, New York City, United States of America was held in memory of Ms. Maima Gray on the evening of 8th November 2025. Ms. Gray was one of the strong and active members of the Artina Liberia Women Association of Staten Island . She sadly passed few months ago at the cold hands of cancer.
The Tea Party and dance was , therefore, held in memory of Ms. Maima Gray to raise awareness about the deleterious impact of cancer and raise funds to support cancer awareness amongst Liberians on the Island, the whole of New York and back home in Liberia. The Team Party and dance was also used to raise funds for cancer awareness in general.
During the Tea Party and Dance, The Liberian women group encouraged attendees to promote and support cancer awareness mainly among Liberian females of all ages in the State of New York, United States of America. They encouraged participants to advocate for teenage girls from the age of 14 years and above to do their cancer test annually. They indicated that cancer tests are required for all girls or ladies just beginning to experience their menstrual cycle to do annual testing.
All other older generations of women were encouraged to do their annual cancer tests equally. “It is important for all women from the age of 14 and above to annually do their tests”, the President of the Artina women group asserted.
Speaking at the ceremony, Consul General Kaydor thanked the women group. He praised them for honoring the memory of their deceased colleague in such an honorable manner. Prof Kaydor informed the women that “cancer is like a death sentence back home because Liberians do not have easy access to the kinds of testing facilities found in the United States.”
Consul General Kaydor also encouraged the women to get fully engaged with and to collaborate with the Consulate General in the State of New York to “ensure that cancer awareness initiatives are supported or promoted back home to safe many lives.” He encouraged them to “identify the relevant National Women Groups back home to undertake national cancer awareness initiatives.”
Consul General Kaydor also encouraged the spouses of the individual Artina women group members to support their partners in raising awareness amongst Liberians in New York indicating that “Cancer should not be seen or considered like a death sentence.”
The Artina Liberian Women Association holds annual Team Party and Dance ceremonies to support worthy causes important to the Liberian Community in New York, USA. Last year’s Tea Party and Dance was the first and it was used to raise funds that were used to buy educational materials for Liberian children attending various schools on the Staten Island in New York.
