town hall meeting agenda - 11-5-11

8/3/2019 Town Hall Meeting Agenda - 11-5-11

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Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States201 S. Biscayne Blvd., Suite 2812, Miami, FL 33131

786-349-2584 (U.S.) 876-621-0102 (Jamaica) Facsimile: 786-551-0785Email: [email protected]

JAMAICAN DIASPORA SOUTHERN UNITED STATESTOWN HALL MEETING

Holy Family Episcopal ChurchSATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

11AM 1:00PM

1. Welcome and Invocation (Father Horace Ward) (11:00 11:05)

2. Welcome & Meeting Agenda (Marlon A. Hill) (11:05 11:10)

3. Remarks and Greetings from Consul General Sandra Grant Griffith (11:10 11:40)

a. Update on Leadership Transition in Jamaicab. Update on Jamaica 50 Independence Celebrations (in Jamaica, in region

and throughout the United States)

4. Overview of Jamaican Diaspora Development and Engagement (11:40 11:50)

5. Nomination and Election of Diaspora Advisory Board Member and Diaspora

Advisory Board Member (substitute) (11:50 12:20)

6. Next Steps and Questions (12:20 1:00)

7. CLOSING

MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of the Jamaican Diaspora [Southern] US is to unite and galvanize allJamaican nationals, persons of Jamaican descent, and Jamaican organizations,

their talents, resources, and potential throughout the [Southern] United States forthe benefit of their local communities and the future development and support ofJamaica.


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FACT SHEET

WHO: The Jamaican Diaspora (di-as-po-ra) includes all Jamaican nationals and personsof Jamaican heritage living overseas.

The Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States encompasses the States of Arizona, New

Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia,North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. With an estimated 400,000 Jamaicans in theRegion, it is home to hundreds of faith-based/church organizations, alumni associations,charitable organizations (in the areas of health, education, culture, crisis support, etc.), social,sports, and recreational, education, law, and business/trade organizations.

WHAT: In 2004, the Government of Jamaica and the local private sector invited over 250persons living in the Diaspora to Jamaica to convene the first Jamaican Diaspora Conference.At this conference, delegates discussed and debated a myriad of issues impacting Jamaicans,at home and abroad. In June 2006 and 2008, on the occasion of the 2nd and 3rd BiennialConference, hundreds of delegates convened in Jamaica for the same purpose and appointed 7Advisory Board members to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2011, after postponement of the

Conference in 2010, hundreds of delegates convened in Ocho Rios for the 4th

BiennialConference.

WHY: Currently, there are several stakeholder groups interested in deepening the linkagesbetween these Jamaicans residing abroad and those at home. Among these groups are theGovernment, the remittance companies, various Jamaica private sector bodies and a number ofcommunity based organizations in the Diaspora. In the absence of a central entity providingoversight, these stakeholder groups have often pulled separately, although they have typicallyshared similar objectives.

As an independent entity of the Government, the principal goals of the Jamaican DiasporaFoundation will be to: (1) Strengthen the links and support systems between Jamaicans residing

abroad and those at home; (2) Deepen the collaboration and cooperation between thestakeholder groups that serve them; (3) Facilitate and increase the scope and impact of thecontribution of the Diaspora to the development of Jamaicans.

HOW: To this end, the Jamaican Diaspora in the United States, through its three regions isembarking on the process of developing the present tax exempt organization for purposes ofnurturing the development of leadership in each region and ultimately for the national level. TheDiaspora Advisory Board member of each region will serve as the Chair of the Regional Board.The Chair of the national entity shall rotation consecutively among the three regions. TheRegional organizing boards shall convene to finalize the content of the national bylaws anddevelopment of a strategic plan for the Jamaican Diaspora United States.


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TERMS OF REFERENCEJAMAICA DIASPORA ADVISORY BOARD

The Jamaica Diaspora Conference of June 2004 passed a resolution establishing anAdvisory Board to the Minister with responsibility for the Diaspora.

The Advisory Board will consist of no more than twelve persons drawn from Jamaicaand the Diasporic community. At the Conference seven representatives drawn fromCanada, the United Kingdom and the United States of America were elected to theBoard with the others to be appointed by the Minister with responsibility for theJamaican Overseas Community.

The primary function of the Board is to advise the Minister with responsibility for theJamaican Overseas Community on issues relating to the Diaspora. Members of theBoard are required to interface with the community groups in their respective countries,obtain a clear understanding of the issues/interests and concerns evident in the

Jamaican community.

The Board members must be in regular contact with the nearest Jamaican Mission to bebriefed on the Government of Jamaicas priority areas for development and thereaftertransmit this information to the Diaspora. Board members will also brief therepresentatives in the Mission on developments within the Jamaican overseascommunity.

The members will severally or collectively advise the community through the Jamaicancommunity networks of Diaspora matters as per the directive of the Minister. Themembers of the Advisory Board have no power to establish any structure, association orentity in the name of the Advisory Board.

The Advisory Board will be required to give advice as it relates to the planning of allJamaican Diaspora Conferences.

Members of the Board will serve for two (2) years and will have the responsibility ofassisting in the implementation of decisions in between Conferences.

All decisions regarding communication with and activities in the name of the Diasporaby members of the Board must be preceded by the appropriate consultations with theAmbassador, High Commissioner, Consul General (whichever is applicable) beforediscussions with the Minister. The Advisory Board will meet half-yearly in Jamaica toreport on and discuss matters pertaining to the Diaspora.


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PROJECTEDCALENDAROFACTIVITIES(SUBMISSIONSINVITED)

Jamaica50Launch 2011 August8,2011HistoricCityHall,CityofMiami

JCGCOREACTIVITIES:

January LaunchActivity2012 PresentationofSymbolicFriendship

GiftfromJamaicanCommunitytoFlorida

MarJuly EssayCompetition (Theme: JamaicansAdvancingthe

welfareofthewholehumanrace)

March CompetitionLaunch

July PresentationofAwards

August

8/5 EcumenicalChurchServicetocommemorateIndependence

(GuestClergy:CatholicArchbishopofKingston)

8/6 *OfficialFlagCeremony/Civic Reception/CulturalExpo

(Miramar)(Expo36pmflagraisingat6:00p.m.acrossCities/

Foodfair/simulcastopportunities)

8/24 Jamaica50GalaBenefit&Honours:TheJourney

(Legacy HonourRollof50SouthUSADiasporaPioneers

(19451985)

/Special

Community

Awards/Fundraiser

to

benefitLegacyProgramme)

September InvestJamaicaBusinessForum collaboration JAMPRO/

JAUSACC)

October NationalHeroesWeekExhibition(FocusMarcusGarvey).

collaboration BrowardCollegeLibraryandRootzFoundation

Inc.

November/December `Exhibition Jamaica Peregrination Southwards

(LegacyProject

collaboration

w.

Florida

International

UniversityDigitalLibraryoftheCaribbeanindiscussion

(*FIU/SALISESUWI/InstituteofJamaicato documentand

recordfordigitalpreservation/distribution)


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COMMUNITIY/COBRANDACTIVITIES(ConsulGeneral Patron)

February (BlackHistoryMonth)MissLouReadingFestivalTributeto

SouthFloridaJamaicanDiasporaWriters (History/Readings/

/Discussion)byJamaicaFolkRevue

March

CulturalExchange

Project

(Community

Elementary

Schools)

LaunchbyStooshProductions

May ReggaeJazzFusionby.RiddimsMarketing(featuringMonty

Alexander)(Broward)

June Literary&ArtsCulturalFairfor CaribbeanHeritageMonth

byJamaicaAwarenessInc.& StooshProductionsProject

July CulturamaJamaicaFestival 2012byJamaicaAwareness

Inc,CoralSpring

July

August

Independence

Balls,

Florida,

Atlanta,

Texas

etc.

TBC

MarcusGarveys125thBirthdayCommemorationby Rootz

FoundationInc.(FortLauderdale)

8/5 JamaicaDay(JICCC JamaicaIndependence&CulturalFair

Annualproductionby JAMUSA/Riddims Marketing

(Miramar,Broward)

October (HeroesWeek)LectureJamaica50:Leadership&

Development LegacyofJamaicasPrimeMinistersby

JamaicaAwarenessInc.(NovaUniversity)

JamaicaDiasporaUSAHeroesPlaqueGifttoConsulate

November 5thAnnualDowntownMiamiRiverwalkFestival(Showcase

country2012 Jamaica) byTheUrbanTour(Miami)

Grace JamaicaJerkFestivalbyJamaicaJerkFestivalUSAInc.

(Sunrise,Broward)

SeptDec

JamaicaPantomimebyJamaicaFolkRevue&Friends

(Broward)

RhythmsofAfrica MusicalExtravaganzabyEmbraceMusic

Foundation


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town hall meeting agenda - 11-5-11

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