Senator Malaka Parker, UPP senator and caretaker for the Rural North constituency, briefly stepped away from the political arena this week for a milestone far more personal — travelling to Savannah, Georgia, to witness her firstborn child cross the graduation stage.
Mene' Tovi Lewis, the senator's eldest daughter, graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a Bachelor of Arts in Animation, marking the completion of a rigorous academic journey at one of the most prestigious art and design institutions in the United States.
Senator Parker, never short of words in the Senate chamber, let her heart do the speaking on social media, writing: "Help me congratulate, applaud and hug up my first born — Mene' Tovi Lewis who graduated yesterday from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, with a Bachelor of Arts in Animation! Thank you thank you thank you dear God for your grace and mercy."
The post, brimming with the unfiltered joy of a proud mother, resonated widely among followers and well-wishers across Antigua and Barbuda, many of whom flooded the comments with congratulations for both mother and daughter.
SCAD, founded in 1978, is widely regarded as a world leader in arts education, attracting students from across the globe. A degree in Animation from the institution signals not only creative talent but also the technical discipline required to compete in the international entertainment and media industry.
For Senator Parker — known publicly for her sharp advocacy, her trade union roots, and her outspoken voice in national affairs — the graduation represents something that no political achievement can replicate: the sight of a child she raised stepping fully into their own purpose.
Mene' Tovi Lewis now joins a growing generation of Caribbean graduates making their mark in the creative arts on the world stage.
