Advocacy, Policy & Leadership Workshop

Start Date: July 27, 2017

End Date: July 27, 2017

Respond By: July 27, 2017

5 Points

Description

Event Overview: Members of the Jamaican Diaspora will organize an Advocacy, Policy and Leadership Day of Service Workshop for youth and young adults in Jamaica W.I., to be held as a part of the Jamaica 55 Conference.

Advocacy Focus: Advocating for youth and young adults (age 17-35) in Jamaica to become local and global leaders.

Policy Focus: Three featured (youth and/or young adult) speakers will deliver individual remarks on policy they have worked on; while connecting what inspired them to lend their time and the impact of the contribution(s) made.

leadership will deliver individual remarks; break into three separate workgroups to engage, role-play and/or mentor youth and young adult attendees.

Next Steps: Attendees will break into networking and/or focused policy area work group(s) to plan the next steps of local and global policy engagement.

About Jamaica 55 Advocacy, Policy and Leadership Workshop

Date: July 27, 2017
Time: 2PM to 5PM
Location: Mona School of Business and Management. Kingston, Jamaica

The first ever Advocacy, Policy and Leadership workshop is organized by members of the Jamaican Diaspora as part of the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference being held in Kingston, Jamaica. For more information please contact us at JA55APL@shareitcamp.com.



Meet The Organizers

Ronica Brown
Ronica Brown is a certified public accountant and an advocate for change and youth empowerment. She serves on the board of the Atlanta Jamaica Association as the assistant treasurer and the membership committee chair. Her goal is to help the Atlanta Jamaican Association implement programs and activities to attract young Atlanta Jamaican Youths. As a business owner, Ronica helps business owners in areas of financial management so that they can reap the financial rewards of their hard work and build strong businesses. Her goal is to bring her skill sets to help Jamaican youths to drive leadership skills and implement sustainable business ventures through the process of social entrepreneurship. As an advocate for change, Ronica believes that mobilizing on policy and leadership are great assets for aspiring young leaders so that they can learn to impact change in their own communities. Ronica is a core team member of the JA55APL Workshop, she serves a Gameplay Lead.

Rain Jarrett
Born and raised in Jamaica, Rain Jarrett has always been passionate about her country and culture. Rain is currently a Professor at Broward College in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. as a lecturer in Sociology. As a youth, Rain moved to Cuba and studied at the University of Havana, receiving a pre-law degree. Living abroad gave her a new perspective and appreciation for her Jamaican culture. The chance to come to the United States to study afforded Rain many opportunities, including being able to obtain a tertiary level education, receiving a Master`s degree in Sociology from Florida Atlantic University (FAU). While at FAU, Rain served as Student Ambassador where she advocated for the needs of students at the University. Rain served in AmeriCorp as a FEMA trained disaster relief specialist for local non-profits in South Florida, and is also affiliated with the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, the Institute of Caribbean Studies (Washington D.C.) and other civic engagement and leadership programs and organizations in South Florida. A global experience has helped to shape Rain`s life and has given her an elevated sense of purpose and passion for working with the youth and giving back to her community. Through her selflessness and dedication to others, it seems clear, that a part of her calling is to be able to help motivate and shape the lives of the younger generation. Rain has been engaged with Jamaican Diaspora efforts in the context of community development for 10 years. She first attended the 2nd Biennial Jamaica Diaspora conference in Kingston, Jamaica as a delegate of the South East region of the U.S. and has been lending her time and support since then. Rain is a part of the core team organizing the JA55APL Workshop, and serves as Speaker/Partner Lead. Rain has also found a renewed passion for service after giving birth to her beautiful daughter Noa.

Scherie Murray
Scherie Murray was born in Jamaica, West Indies and came to America with her family at the age of 9. She grew up in Southeast Queens, New York. In her early career, at age 17, Scherie worked as a Systems Analyst for NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority summer internship program and taught gymnastics in an after school program at P.S. 105 in Far Rockaway, Queens. In 2004, Scherie, a young entrepreneur, created The Esemel Group Inc. (TEG), a Television Production and Advertising Company with a mission to create jobs in the New York City Tri-State area and to address the lack of employment opportunities for minorities in media. TEG Inc. produced in 2006, most notably, The Hey Mon Stand-Up Comedy Show hosted by Ity and Fancy Cat for the Caribbean International Network (CIN) on NYC World Ch. 73 and produced the Stand-up Comedy show at Carolines on Broadway. In addition, TEG Inc. produced television and radio commercials. Scherie was elected to the New York Republican State Committee in 2013 as State Committeewoman of the 29th Assembly District in Queens, N.Y. She is also the Communications Chair for the Queens County Republican Party. In 2017, Scherie formed the New York State Caribbean Commission on H.R. 4939. The mission for the New York State Caribbean Commission on H.R. 4939 is to engage the United States government on policies related to H.R. 4939. The New York State Caribbean Commission in partnership with the Institute of Caribbean Studies` (ICS), comprised of Caribbean stakeholders across the United States, submitted policy recommendations on behalf of H.R. 4939; to be added to the existing framework outlined by the United States Department of State and USAID in coordination with other executive branch agencies. The New York State Caribbean Commission on H.R. 4939 and the Institute of Caribbean Studies has released a companion report of final policy recommendations focused in the areas of Diplomacy, Security, Education, Health and Economic Development for public review. Scherie also lends her time to important issues impacting her community locally and globally; advocates for the next generation, education and women. Scherie is the JA55APL Workshop Lead, organizing the first Advocacy, Policy and Leadership Workshop for youth and young adults to be held in Jamaica W.I., as a part of the Jamaica 55 Biennial Conference and Diaspora Day of Service.

Matthew Robinson
Matthew Robinson originally hails from Miramar, Florida but currently resides in Washington, D.C. He is an undergraduate student at Georgetown University studying International Law and is pursuing a minor in Arab Studies and Arabic. Matthew actively competes with the Georgetown Model United Nations team and recently finished his tenure as the CEO of the Georgetown International Relations Association (GIRA). GIRA is a non-profit organization that strives to educate and empower emerging leaders in business, government, and international affairs. When he is not on the tennis court, in class, or in a meeting, you can find him watching Margaret Thatcher videos or clips of Jamaican parliament. In addition to his role as core team member and Moderator for the JA55APL Workshop, Matthew will be in Jamaica this summer working as a Business Analyst for GraceKennedy. He is very happy to be returning to Jamaica and cannot wait to get started.

Marlon Samuels
Marlon Samuels was born in Jamaica, W.I. He has spent the past 15 years in the advertising industry, working with brands to refine and enhance their communications strategy. He has developed and managed communications strategies for marketers across the Retail, Tech, Travel and Tourism, and Packaged Goods spaces, employing his knowledge of traditional and emerging media. He is currently a Brand Group Director at one of the world`s largest privately held media services agency. Marlon is also the founder of the startup, ShareItCamp.com, a platform that enables organizations to work with their supporters in promoting their initiatives and businesses. Individuals on the platform earn reward points for sharing to their social media channels that can be redeemed for various offers. He views this as the start of a mutually beneficial partnership between organizations and their customers. Marlon has outlined a very impressive communications strategy for the JA55APL Workshop and serves as Communications Lead.

Kadian Walker
Kadian Walker is born and raised in Jamaica, W.I. She has been a Motor Vehicle and Property Insurance professional since 2006. Kadian is currently pursuing her Bsc Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Project & Program Management at The International University of the Caribbean. Kadian has volunteered on several local projects, including the painting and beautification of the Mandeville Police Station in Jamaica, W.I. as a part of the Course - Service Learning within the Degree Program. Additionally, Kadian was a part of a focus group that brainstormed and created the name GK MPay, a Mobile Wallet App. As an avid supporter of youth initiatives, Kadian participates in the Sigma and GK Run/Walk, both for the cause of benefiting children. Kadian is currently lending her time and resources to assist as a core team member of the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Day of Service Advocacy, Policy and Leadership Workshop. She serves as the JA55APL Workshop Location Lead. The workshop seeks to engage youths and young adults in an attempt to prepare and motivate them to become global leaders. Kadian lives in Mandeville, Jamaica W.I. with her family. She is a wife and mother to her beautiful daughter Nia.

Tanesha Westcarr
In January 2016 Tanesha Westcarr was elected as the Youth Representative, Jamaica Diaspora - United Kingdom Board and Future Leader - United Kingdom Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board, which is part of the Diaspora and Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. In the latter months of 2016, Tanesha launched The Jamaican Youth Forum - UK, at the Houses of Parliament, supported by 3 MP`s, The Acting High Commissioner of Jamaica and attended by youths from across the UK and France. And, in May 2017 she was named Co-Chair for Youth on the Jamaica 55 UK Subcommittee. Tanesha sits on various other Boards in the UK and works with various groups in Parliament advocating on youth issues relating to drug and crime policy as well as Brexit. As well as being a Huffington Post UK Columnist, Tanesha owns a successful online franchise business. Tanesha`s success started when she expanded her brand to a worldwide audience as a business consultant, empowering entrepreneurs and individuals to convert their spending into earning through the shopping annuity in the UK, USA and Jamaica. Tanesha Westcarr is an Entrepreneur, Humanitarian, Author and an International Speaker. She is currently studying Global Politics and International Relations at Birkbeck University. Tanesha has a professional background in sales, marketing and branding. She has been featured in many media platforms, including print publications, BBC radio, Gleaner newspaper and Sky TV. Tanesha is a core team member for the JA55APL Workshop and has agreed to deliver remarks during the Workshop as a Featured Policy and Leadership Speaker.

Find out more about the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference by visiting: http://mfaft.gov.jm/conference/