Community Forum Letter, Tuesday, July 26th

July 7, 2005

Dear Fellow Jamaicans and Friends of Jamaica:

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.

Please RSVP to [email protected] or call 212.459.4390.

Sincerest regards,

Camille T. Barrett, President, Jamaica Impact, Inc. “JAMPACT”
Amir Akbar, President, C.A.P.E. (USA), Inc.
Patrick Beckford, President Friends of Trelawny Ass. (FOTA)
Sadie Campbell, President, Jamaica Progressive League of New York
Andrew DeSouza, President, Jamaica College Old Boys Ass. of New York “JCOBANY”
Rev. Dennis Dillon, Pastor, Brooklyn Christian Center (BBC)
Gary Foster, Chairman & Co-Founder, Upliftment Jamaica
Linval A. James, President, Jamaica Organization of New Jersey (“JON-J”)
Xavier Murphy, President, Jamaicans.com
Jose Richards, President, Sons and Daughters of Jamaica
Nadine Shaw, President, Jamerican Outreach, Inc.
Jason Walker, President, United for Jamaica (UFJ)

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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