In an intimate setting a select group of high-achieving Jamaicans met recently to discuss the state of the Diaspora in the southern United States, hoping to promote open conversations about directly engaging the Diaspora communities in implementing strategic planning and development policies.

Jamaican activist Peter Gracey organised the gathering in the form of a reception and dinner in partnership with groups such as This Is Jamaica; Jamaican Men of Florida; Jamaican Women of Florida; and Jamaica Diaspora Southern USA.

While all indications are that the soiree went well, a concerning observation was made that there is need to engage the younger generation of Jamaicans in the Diaspora, evidenced by the fact that only one person under 25 was among the gathering.

Gracey, a successful real estate broker, told the Jamaicans that: “If we don’t educate the masses, anyone can tell them anything… Years from now our children in Jamaica will make up a great portion of our Diaspora, therefore, making critical decisions and having similar types of receptions, conferences is important.”

“A constant refrain was on the need to increase our visibility and maintaining the respect we have achieved in the community-at-large,” said attorney Alison Smith who attended the get-together.

Smith is the Jamaican American who, this year, became the first black woman to be elected president of the century-old Broward County Bar Association and was visibly promoting Jamaica during the Independence and 60th anniversary celebrations.

Also among those attending was Xavier Murphy of Jamaicans.com fame, who has devoted his life to showcasing successful Jamaicans all over the world, even in Antarctica, he said, with obvious pride.

Freshly minted Jamaican-born Florida Supreme Court Justice Renatha Francis, the first Jamaican and second black woman in that position; judge Jackie Powell, the first Jamaican American woman justice in Broward County; and Corey Shearer, son of former Jamaican Prime Minister Hugh Shearer, were there too.

Francis and keynote speaker Dr Allan Cunningham, who represented the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council for the Southern USA, spoke about their pride in being members of the Jamaican Diaspora and pressed their compatriots to be even more involved in community activities.

Gracey added that: “This event is about creating a solid foundation over time, and the only way we can possibly do so is to get an understanding of where we are so we can understand where we go from here.