Racism in the Tourist Industry

In an ongoing effort to foster dialogue and educate our community on racial justice issues, Falmouth Community Television (FCTV) presents the twelfth episode in a series of programs entitled
THE Conversation. Co-hosted and co-produced by Onjalé Scott Price and The Rev. Will Mebane, the series offers a timely dialogue on race with a local focus. The topic of this episode of THE Conversation is “Racism in the Tourist Industry.”

Ms. Scott Price is the COO of Mizar Imaging in Woods Hole. Rev. Mebane is the rector of Falmouth’s
St. Barnabas’s Episcopal Church.

Joining the co-hosts for the twelfth episode of THE Conversation are guest panelists India Rose and Michael Kasparian. Erik Albert, Jerry Lassos, and Olivia Masih White also appear on the program. The discussion in this edition of THE Conversation focuses on the questions: “Where do you find racism in the tourist industry?” and “How can we address racism in the tourist industry?”

India Rose is a highly sought-after motivational speaker for athletes, athletic coaches, and parents of student-athletes. India is an entrepreneur, writer, philanthropist, parent, and social justice activist who was raised and resides on Martha’s Vineyard. Her company, Sideline Sports, LLC, sells branded apparel and accessories from its flagship store on Main Street in Vineyard Haven and online at sidelinebrand.com. She is also the founder and board president of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Thriving, Inc., whose mission is to “strengthen and support small business’s growth for the purpose of thriving main streets; and to assist in positioning student-athletes with access to opportunities to achieve their academic and athletic goals.” In 2019, India created Experience MVY, or EMVY, Martha’s Vineyard’s black-owned business directory. The directory has since grown beyond its digital platform at experiencemvy.com and now has a published booklet to match.

Michael Kasparian moved to Falmouth in 2005 from his native Providence, where he held leadership positions in the banking industry. In 2008, he joined the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation as a Manager of Donor Relations at Falmouth Hospital. Michael also contributed part-time at the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce until 2014, when he left Cape Cod Healthcare to assume his current position as president and CEO of the Chamber. Michael holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Bryant University and is a graduate of Rhode Island College and Rhode Island School of Design. He earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management in 2015 at Villanova University, where he served as co-president of his class. In 2016 he was awarded the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation by the American Society of Association Executives. Michael is also a certified antique appraiser specializing in American furniture.