Scores of Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica, residing in the Northeast USA, will converge on Hartford, Connecticut, from Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 28-31, for the Jamaica Diaspora Northeast USA Regional Conference.
Under the theme “Revitalizing the Diaspora, Rebuilding Jamaica,” the Jamaica Diaspora Northeast USA Advisory Board presents its first annual conference at The West Indian Social Club (WISC) of Hartford, CT.
The conference aims to engage the Jamaican Diaspora in a dialogue on how to contribute, in a meaningful and sustained manner, to enable nation building.
On Friday, Oct. 29, the conference will begin with a welcoming & networking session from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., where the focus will be on personal branding and self marketing. Session presenters will focus on tips for persons who are currently unemployed, under-employed as well as small and minority owned businesses.
Saturday, Oct. 30, promises to be an informative, enlightening, and uplifting day.
Recognizing the importance of engaging youth and emerging leaders in the Diasporic effort, a workshop under the theme, “Our Homeland, Our Future,” will be convened to share ideas and best practices consistent with nation building in the 21st century.
Invited speakers include Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, Consul General of Jamaica to N.Y., Geneive Brown Metzger and former Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Jamaica, Delano Franklyn.
The Diaspora Conference will be book-ended by a business exposition put on by the Caribbean Trade Council of Hartford — a Diaspora sub group — on Thursday, Oct. 28 and Friday, Oct. 29. As well, on Sunday, Oct.31 at 4:00 p.m. at the WISC auditorium there will be a conference on education, which is being coordinated by CURET, Inc., a Hartford based research consortium, allied to the Diaspora Movement.
The conference is an ongoing series of events to increase awareness of and stimulate involvement in the Jamaica Diaspora Movement. The aim is to strengthen the relationship between Jamaicans overseas and those living in Jamaica to help in the socio-economic development of the country.
To register and for sponsorship information, please visit www.usa.northeast.jamaicadiaspora.org or e-mail northeastchair@jamaicadiaspora.org. Cost is $25 per person; students: $15 (with student ID). Lunch is included. The West Indian Social Club of Hartford is located at 3340 Main Street, Hartford, CT.
