We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anthony Bacchus . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anthony below.

Anthony , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

I have been playing drums for over 40 years, doing live band shows and performances and I’ve also done Drum Circles in the park and the beach. We had a drumming group called Naked Roots” and when the volcano erupted in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1979, we used to go to the evacuation camps and entertain them with drum and dance.

I started doing a show in West Palm Beach called ” Palm Beach Community Artist Performance and Presentations” (PBCAAP) which give Artist an opportunity to showcase their skills. The show also opened opportunities to doctors, chiropractors, and wellness organizations to make presentations at the event.

I decided to take my drumming knowledge into the schools to teach children. I started at Boys And Girls Club PBC and I had a great experience inspiring the children.

After Boys & Girls Club PBC, I became the Teen Leadership Program Director fat the Milagro Center in Delray Beach. I empowered youth, helped them to graduate high school, assisted them with scholarships for college and helped them earned meaningful community service hours, including live performances, community activities and engagement.

I’m currently the CEO and Founder of CAPE Universal Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to empower all children through Cultural arts, Entrepreneurship, Mentorship, and Self-esteem building.

We are focusing on our Multi-Cultural, Youth Awareness Arts Festival, projected to take place mid-May 2024 and to be continued annually.

This festival will inspire children to create art relating to their own identity and culture. This will empower them to embrace their culture and their peer’s culture.

All the children’s art will be displayed at the festival and there will be youth performances and youth entrepreneurship. Prizes will be awarded for youth Art, Performance and Entrepreneurship.

All the leading organizations that empower children are invited set up tents and network with the youth.

We’ll also continuing the annual Black History Youth Awareness Arts Festival in collaboration with Spady Museum February 16th, 2024. The festival will continue to be held at the Spady Museum in Delray Deach.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Anthony Bacchus and I’m a Youth Development Director, Mastre Drummer, and Event Producer. As CEO of CAPE Universal I’ve produced the Black History Youth Awareness Arts Festival and mentored many teens for over 10 years and established a lifetime relationship and bond with them.

I’ve performed in several bands in New York City backing all the Calypso artist from Trinidad and Tobago and in restaurants, clubs and corporate events in S. Florida.

I facilitate many drum sessions throughout S. Florida and beyond, including Maya Angelou Public Charter schools Washington DC. Uplifting the community, children, teachers, parents, including senior citizens also mentoring juvenile justice youths. I’ve introduced the concept of a drum circle to my country St. Vincent and the Grenadines and collaborated with the ambassadors of Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela. Bringing all the drum groups together as one for several successful drum circles on the beach. Inspiring the country to be more mindful of drumming and culture in the land.

Over the summer 2023, CAPE Universal was contracted with Prime Time PBC and Boys & Girls Club PBC, reaching over 1000 children through our Art, Drum, and Dance Programs. We’ll be to continuing the sessions to prepare for the upcoming festivals in 2024.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Having a sense of purpose, empowering children and interacting with the community. What we do is from our hearts, it’s our passion to see the children establish positive mindsets, which enhances their general well-being. Several students received full scholarships to attend college, and we currently employ several of them at CAPE Universal, as mentors and teachers.

We collaborate with all entities in the community including, the School District, Children Service Council, Prime Time PBC, PBC Youth Service Department, PBC Behavioral Health Coalition, the police Department, City Commissioners and Officials. It takes a village to raise a child.

Our first priority is to empower Youth, then we seek funding to do that, the purpose is first, not the funding.

We establish a firm relationship with the children, their teachers, their parents, and their siblings, our support and mentorship are for life.

When we establish relationships within the community, we do it with integrity and consistency. It’s an all-inclusive attitude, involving everyone to participate.

We do not burn bridges; we paint them in gold.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

My advice for managing a team is to acknowledge the values of each individual and place them in the correct roles. To empower them, instead of micromanaging them, and to learn the greatest skill of leading from behind.

In the process each person must be accountable, and most important, buy-in to the vision and mission of the company.

Contact Info:
Phone: 561-633-3289 (first contact by text recommended)
[email protected]

• Website: https://capeuniversal.org/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/cape.universal?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064660361136&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-bacchus-041342284
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/KGHsSC1upSo?si=Vvg4epO9B4SwUTjB

Image Credits
Anthony Bacchus