Legacy Project Board Members
Cristin Carole -Founder & President
Cristin Carole, our co-founder, began her dance training at the Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre in Chicago under her great aunt, former director of the National Dance School and Company of The Bahamas, Shirley Hall-Bass. She is a former lecturer at the School of Education at the University of The Bahamas, served for ten years as adjunct faculty for Columbia College Chicago’s Graduate Program in Education and is presently faculty in the Theater department at Loyola University in Chicago. In 2001, Cristin passed The Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Instructor’s Exam and choreographed for various organizations in The Bahamas including the National Dance Company and Youth Choir. Later, Ms. Carole joined The Joffrey Ballet as the Education and Community Engagement Manager and was instrumental in the creation of its Bridge Program for children of color in Chicago. Cristin has worked as a dance consultant, choreographer, and director for many Chicago theaters. In addition to her 20 years of teaching general education in Chicago Public Schools with endorsements in secondary science, social studies, drama and primary education, Ms. Carole has led numerous professional learning workshops for teachers on the implementation of movement across the curriculum. Cristin is a member of the National Dance Educators Organization (NDEO), a NDEO Connected Arts Network Fellow, and Society of Directors and Choreographers Foundation Denham Fellow. She is the director of the Shirley Hall Bass Foundation (SHBF), a US non-profit, which supports the legacy of her great aunt.
Christine Wallace-Whitfield - Cultural Advisor
Christine Wallace-Whitfield, CIPS, CRS, BRI, IRM is a distinguished Bahamian real estate professional and community leader. Five-time elected president of the Bahamas Real Estate Association (2017–2022) and two-term president of the Grand Bahama Chapter, she is among less than one percent of Bahamian agents to hold NAR's trademarked Realtor® certification and one of the only Bahamian brokers invited to address the National Association of Realtors national conference.
Christine began her career in 1997, earning her CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designation in 2000. She practiced in Grand Bahama for 15 years before spending three years in Exuma, then reestablishing herself in Nassau in 2012. A proponent of continuous learning, she achieved her CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist) designation and joined the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing in 2018. She has appeared on three seasons of HGTV's Bahamas Life.
Beyond real estate, Christine serves as 2nd Vice President of the Bahamas Aquatics Federation and Treasurer of the Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Project—a role with deep personal significance, as Shirley Hall Bass was a cherished friend to her family and Christine's own performing arts teacher. Shirley also serves as treasurer of the Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Project. A former competitive swimmer who represented The Bahamas at the inaugural 1984 CARIFTA Swimming Championships, she remains committed to youth development and community service.
Ralph Francisco McKinney
Ralph Francisco McKinney is a distinguished retired Force Chief Petty Officer of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, where he served with distinction for 36 years. Joining as a member of Entry 7 in August 1980, McKinney was motivated by patriotism following the tragic loss of four comrades when HMBS Flamingo was attacked.
Rising from Marine Recruit to Warrant Officer, he served across multiple departments including Squadron, Operations, Military Police, and Diplomatic Services. A career highlight was his security role during the 1985 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, protecting Queen Elizabeth II and other dignitaries.
Beyond military service, McKinney has volunteered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol Division for over 25 years. A longtime student of Shirley Hall Bass' Bahamas Dance Theater, he continues to teach tap at the dance school today. An accomplished sports administrator, he has represented The Bahamas globally and currently manages the Commonwealth Giants basketball team.
Since retiring in June 2016, McKinney actively supports the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Veteran Association, encouraging former servicemembers to maintain their bonds of camaraderie.
Sharon Poitier
Sharon Poitier's connection to the Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Project began as one of its original cultural exchange students, an experience that shaped her belief in the transformative power of cultural education. As the former Deputy Director of Education for The Bahamas, she led a groundbreaking 2017-2022 strategic plan that revolutionized curriculum development across 27 divisions. Her four-decade journey from classroom teacher to national education leader reflects her dedication to academic excellence and innovative learning approaches.
Throughout her career, Poitier has championed the integration of arts and cultural education into traditional academic curricula, recognizing their vital role in student development and national identity formation. Her implementation of The Bahamas' first standardized curriculum development cycle established a framework that continues to enhance educational outcomes nationwide. Holding degrees from Howard University and the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, Poitier now serves as an adjunct professor at the University of The Bahamas School of Social Sciences. Her unique blend of personal experience with cultural exchange and extensive expertise in curriculum development makes her an invaluable addition to SHBLP's Board of Directors and facilitators. Poitier's vision for education, which emphasizes the importance of identity, joy, and cultural heritage in learning, perfectly aligns with SHBLP's mission to empower youth through performing arts and cultural education.