The World Heritage Cultural Center (WHCC) is a nonprofit organization that will change the way you think about Culture. At WHCC we understand and speak the language of Cultures and nothing can capture the imagination more than telling great stories through the Arts. Our mission is to create a common ground where any culture in the world can come and celebrate their way of life through arts and food, while making a positive impact through knowledge & charity.
The United States is a nation of blended cultures. Throughout the centuries, alongside the Natives, immigrants and their American-born children have been a part of this patchwork we call America.
WHCC focuses on arts integration to allow people to experience a culture directly and develop a strong self-identity that connects them to their cultural roots. Understanding where you come from and where others come from will help foster a greater understanding and respect for different cultural values and customs.
Since 2009, among other notable accomplishments, WHCC has held 185 of the largest multicultural concerts in New York, Connecticut, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco,[C1] Denver, and Dallas. They work with over 570 plus cultural groups across the United States, as well as numerous foreign embassies and boards. Labeled “The Multicultural Organization of New York” in 2010 by the Huffington Post, WHCC has built an incredible network of National and International connections.
WHCC was founded by Sattie Persaud in 2005 while she worked at IBM in Somers New York. Persaud broke the cycle of seven generations, descendants from India, of women married at or before the age of thirteen in South America, Suriname. She went on to become the first in her family to make it past the third grade, completing a B.A. in accounting from Pace University in 2002 and a degree in Screenwriting from the New York Film Academy in 2004. She has written two screenplays and is presently working on her first novel, while presently managing a day job as Treasury Manager for the United Technologies Corporation and running WHCC. She has an impressive resume that spans multinational corporations such as IBM, UBS, and Lehman Brothers. Embracing her roots, though, led her to found the World Heritage Cultural Center.
“The Universe gave me so much and a chance to fulfill my dream of getting an education, something no one can take away from me,” she began. “Witnessing your most intimate dream come true is the most beautiful and humble experience. Because I wanted to give back to the Universe, I thought about what I value at my core. It’s family. So I started the WHCC to share my overwhelming love for my fellow humans.”
This overwhelming love led her to present International Culture on a Global Platform.
It may be difficult to understand how someone growing up in a small, low-technology nation could feel so connected to all of humanity, but Sattie explained that Suriname is culturally diverse itself.
“My parents taught us that love extends beyond the walls of your home,” she said. “We’re all one Family, one Human Race. Diversity is strength.” From her childhood exposure to the best that other cultures offer, Sattie learned that different is beautiful. “We leave religion and politics at the door. Frequently, those born outside their native land feel lost in a sea of different cultures and backgrounds. Having a personal cultural identity, as well as an understanding of other cultures, is important. My own cultural identity shaped who I am.”
Persaud and her family have lived and grown in the Brewster area for 19 years, so it’s close to her heart. Her sister’s children all went to school in Brewster, and Persaud still lives in the vicinity. Plus, it’s in the heart of the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut tristate area. With public transportation, the availability of a 1.3-hour direct train from Grand Central Station, and its highly diverse population, Brewster is geographically and demographically ideal.
“The time is right,” Persaud said. “Communities want culture, and cultural groups want a home to nurture and celebrate their heritage. The demand is there. There is a growing unmet need for real, in-person cultural connections in communities across the country. The WHCC facilities can provide that home.”
At a World Heritage Cultural Center - year round programming, including summer camps, will be provided for all ages, including special programming for senior citizens and those with special needs. We will offer classes and workshops—onsite or offsite—including dance, music, acting, creative writing, and the media arts and more. WHCC also connects and provides opportunities to receive scholarships, internships, mentoring, skill development, and networking opportunities for our members, especially the youth.
All communities need opportunities for youth to become involved with positive projects and create opportunities where they gain real life professional experiences. In fact, 16-year-old Alyssa Raghu, of American Idol fame, was just appointed as chair of WHCC’s Global Citizen Committee where she will help empower youth around the world. She is also the first youth to be selected for the International Cultural Exchange Program by WHCC and foreign embassies. With such exciting opportunities and programs, WHCC can get children and young adults involved in making a positive impact in the world and help them better understand that our differences are something to be celebrated. “We are passing the torch to future generations. It doesn’t start and end with us,” Persaud said. We will also make Putnam a Global destination with all our International Artists, Teachers and connections that will attend our Center to teach, hold workshops and also learn from our communities.
As a fundraiser for the planned facility, WHCC will hold a red carpet, black tie gala, the Summer Ball on June 23, 2018. With entertainment from around the globe and fantastic international dishes, this is an event not to be missed. The gala will introduce you to WHCC, their offerings, and their plans for the future. It will be broadcast in 160 countries.