Unity-Building an Influential Jamaican Diaspora Community
This is a special invitation to all Jamaican organizations in the Tri-State area to gather for a
networking forum titled "Unity-Building an Influential Jamaican Diaspora Community." This forum
will be held on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 at the Empire State Development building, downtown Brooklyn
from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.
Over the years, it has become increasingly apparent that though many of us are passionate advocates
for Jamaica and become involved in individual projects within our community circles, we consistently
miss opportunities to maximize our impact because we fail to form cohesive-community coalitions which
have the capacity to present a united front when critical issues impacting Jamaica and the Jamaican
Diaspora arise.
This event will create a forum where all of our organizations can finally come together and create
an official framework for sustained cooperation. We will be sending out a more detailed agenda once
we have received indications of interest; however the forum will be moderated by Gary Foster of
Upliftment Jamaica and Camille T. Barrett of JAMPACT. Some of the general objectives which will be
covered include:
1. Identifying the different organizations/services available in our community,
2. Sharing information about different programs and current initiatives,
3. Creating an effective system of communication and information distribution,
4. Creating database of leadership/contact information for all of our organizations.
As our national motto clearly states "Out of Many, One People." It is time for us to honor that
motto by recognizing that though there are cosmetic differences in the specific objectives being
pursued by our MANY organizations, if we are able to cooperate, our ability to influence the
issues which are of universal importance to our community will be vastly increased. Further,
since our MANY organizations are in essence seeking to achieve ONE common goal, namely the
improvement and preservation of our homeland, this step is all the more appropriate and necessary.
Meeting called by:
Brooklyn Christian Center (BBC)
C.A.P.E. (USA), Inc.
Friends of Trelawny Ass. (FOTA)
Jamaica College Old Boys Ass. of New York "JCOBANY"
Jamaica Impact, Inc. "JAMPACT"
Jamaica Organization of New Jersey ("JON-J")
Jamaica Progressive League of New York
Jamaicans.com
Jamerican Outreach, Inc.
Sons and Daughters of Jamaica
Upliftment Jamaica
United for Jamaica (UFJ)
The Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (UJAA)
Please RSVP to jampact@jampact.org or call 212.459.4390.
When: Tuesday, July 26th @ 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Where: Empire State Development Corporation
Atlantic Center--3rd Floor
625 Atlantic Avenue (near Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn)
Directions: Take the 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, M, N, Q, R or LIRR to Atlantic Avenue Station
| Time |
Agenda Item |
Facilitator |
| 6:00 - 6:30 |
Networking and Information Exchange |
All Organizations |
| 6:30 - 6:35 |
Welcome |
Mr. Richards of Sons and Daughters |
| 6:35 - 7:00 |
Themes: Through Diaspora NGO’s and Jamaica we can transform Jamaica;
The importance of an accountable voice/Educating and re-educating the community
|
Moderators |
| 7:05 - 7:15 |
Establishing Independent lobbying groups to mobilize Jamaican nationals
and their issues concerning Jamaica and the Caribbean
|
Moderators |
| 7:45 - 8:30 |
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Identifying Partnership Opportunities/ Special Projects |
Moderators |
| Resources: |
Please bring literature on your organization to disseminate |
