Staff WriterPembroke Pines, FL – First Fridays of Florida and Trilogy Productions in collaboration with the Jamaican Diaspora United States will host “A Community Welcome Reception” to open the inaugural Conference of Diaspora Representatives.
The reception welcoming Jamaican community leaders from across the United States and Jamaica will take place at the Grand Palms Hotel and Resort in Pembroke Pines, FL on October 2nd, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm with the October 2009 First Fridays event (themed as a Miami-Broward Carnival Kickoff Party) beginning immediately following the “Community Welcome Reception”.
This reception is open to the general public and provides an opportunity for the South Florida community to meet with conference attendees representing the many Jamaican organizations and community interests throughout various regions of the United States and Jamaica . Expected attendees include the Minister with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs, Senator Dr . The Honorable Ronald Robinson in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica; His Excellency Anthony Johnson Ambassador of Jamaica to the United States; Mrs. Sandra Grant-Griffiths, Consul General Miami; Mrs. Geneive Brown Metzger, Consul General New York and Dr. Neville Ying of the Jamaica Diaspora Institute.
The Conference of Diaspora Representatives in the United States will be held on October 3rd and 4th, 2009 at the Sheraton Hotel Ft. Lauderdale FL Airport, under the theme Responding to the Challenge: Jamaicans Unite for Progress, and will provide a forum to discuss issues of mutual interests to our local communities and Jamaica, and also deliberate on the future strategic direction of the Jamaican Diaspora in the United States.
“This inaugural Conference is a critical organizing step for our community. We must begin the process in fostering a shared vision for governance, financial sustainability, and a consistent message for galvanizing the talents and resources of Jamaicans and persons of Jamaican descent in the United States of America ,” stated Marlon A. Hill, Esq., Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board member for the Southern United States and the host region of the Conference.
Supporting sponsors include Jamaica National Building Society, Grace Foods USA, National Commercial Bank, Digicel, Caribcast TV, Scotiabank Jamaica , Trilogy Productions and First Fridays of Florida.
About First Fridays of Florida , LLC: First Fridays of Florida was established in December 2000 to host monthly events targeting urban professionals seeking a venue to network and socialize. These events are geared towards quality entertainment, business networking, social/cultural enrichment and community development. In addition, First Fridays of Florida frequently partners with outside organizations to educate and enlighten patrons about topics concerning the community and empowering them to support and be active participants in these organizations.
The monthly First Fridays events held at the Grand Palms Resort typically often consists of a networking social which transforms into an energetic party with live music by a band and/or disc jockeys. The music format features current hits and oldies from the R&B, Reggae, Soca and other popular music genres. The October 2009 First Fridays event will be themed as a Miami Broward Carnival Kickoff Party and will directly follow the welcome reception.
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