Jamaican American Club Newsletter
SPRING
2022
The Fabric of Jamaican Culture intertwined in the World
Written by Alicia Fleming
Inside this issue: Fabric of Jamaican Culture intertwined in the World
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Trivia
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7 Ways the world is at
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5 Things Visionary
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Strategies for your brand 5
As a Jamaican living in the US for many years, almost 2/3 of my life, there is always that underlined pressure to assimilate and forget all things Jamaican or put all traces of your Jamaican heritage in that basket underground called "I want to be like everybody else- everything American" Fortunately for me that has not been the case. However, for many Jamaicans (in their misguided sense of assimilation), to identify with their culture is to stick out like a sore thumb. However, thank God for
Tr ivia
Surprisingly, Rastafarians make up less than 5% of the total Jamaican population.
those of us who wear our new found American pride simultaneously with our cultural rich Jamaican pride. Being a person that likes to travel and meet different people, I am truly overjoyed when I travel to some destination and I meet a fellow Ja This past summer, I traveled to Strasbourg, France. One day, on a break from classes and utilizing our time to explore the town of Strasbourg, my friends and I met a young man from Senegal, who told me that one of his good friends was a Jamaican named Lance who had arrived in Strasbourg about 3 months before. I thought to myself "Wow! Even in a little town like Strasbourg, I am able to find a Jamaican!" When I met Lance, he proudly informed me that the summer before there had been 5 Jamaican teaching
students in Strasbourg on a teacher exchange program. He said that they were part of a bigger group of 112 Jamaicans who were in France for this teacher exchange program. Jamaicans have this innate ability to transform whatever atmosphere or environment they find themselves in. As I explored Strasbourg, whether I was the only Jamaican or with Lance and my fellow students, the Francophones from countries such as Morocco, Senegal or Ivory Coast, were always drawn to us with such camaraderie more so than my white counterparts. As a Jamaican, I had the cultural flavor that reminded them of their own flavor and cultural heritage existing in the European community.
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JAMAICAN AMERICAN CLUB NEWSLETTER
7 Ways the world is at your finger tips
Caption describing picture or graphic.
Your Mobile device - the world population will have a mobile device and are quickly adapting to smart phones.
devices – your mobile device now has the capability to complete financial transactions
2. Search engines – i.e the sites you visit to find out what you need to execute knowledge
5. Social Media – can you say Facebook Twitter, G+ and You Tube
3. VOIP- voice over internet protocol 4.
Mobile payment
6. Language Translators – just because you don’t know Spanish or Mandarin, it will no longer hinder you making money.
7. Travel Website – your passport is access to the globe. You can learn about cultures, foods and customs With these steps, what’s holding you back from making money?
5 Things Visionary Leaders Know
Know about international events.
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RIP Fidel Castro Sunrise August 13, 1926 Sunset November 25, 2016
RIP Fidel Castro Sunrise August 13, 1926
Sunset November 25, 2016
Depending on what media you view, Fidel Castro is a hero or tyrant. Was Fidel a controversial and divisive world figure? Castro is decorated with various international awards, and his supporters laud him as a champion of socialism and anti-imperialism whose revolutionary regime secured Cuba's independence from American imperialism. Conversely, critics viewed him as a dictator whose administration oversaw human-rights abuses, the exodus of a large number of Cubans, and the impoverishment of the country's economy. Through his actions and his writings, he has significantly influenced the politics of various individuals and groups across the world. Continue on page 5
Continued from page 4 Castro had a deep influence on Cuba’s nearest neighbor, Jamaica, especially during the years 1972-1980 when Michael Manley was in power. This comradely relationship was almost predictable as Manley. Although Jamaica’s Prime Minister wanted community-based projects and the shared desire of creating a new world economic and political order, the CIA intervened. Democrat Socialism was not in Jamaica for too long. After the honeymoon period ends, we must examine what it takes to become an effective leader. Here are some traits:
1. Know about international events. It is a small world after all; how will the UK pound, Canadian loonie or US dollar impact your savings or investments? The dollar is going to collapse. What are you doing to prepare for that inevitable? Invest in silver. 2. Know what is next. What you do today, will impact you tomorrow. Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not happening. 3. Know your purpose. Define you. Don’t go along to get along. Relish in your uniqueness. Be the orange on the gray canvas; Gadhafi is gone but will never be forgotten. 4. Know how to become an open minded listener. You can hear something but are you listening? The only way the entrepreneur can tap a niche to provide a product or service is to listen to the customer’s needs. That is also how politicians win elections. i.e Donald trump spoke to the psychological needs of poor and working class Whites, especially White men. 5. Know how to be persistent. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do. Keep going and remember: When someone tells you it can’t be done, it’s more a reflection of their limitation not yours. Figure out a way to break through.
Strategies for your brand Why is a brand important? What are the elements that should be contained in a good brand? The brand should have touch points with its customer. This means a way to communicate. I.e. social media, business images or websites In other words, what is connecting you to the intended audience? The tone should be consistent and come together to form one point. A brand could be a product but it can also be a person’s resume. Continued on page 14
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SPRING 2022
Organization
Jamaican American Club PO Box 62 Elk Grove, IL 60009 USA Email: JamaicanAmericanClub@yahoo.com
Jamaican American Club’s sole purpose is to provide useful information for health, education, environment and to instill cultural pride. If you would like to support our mission, please contact us.
UNITED WE BARGIN, DIVEDED WE BEG
Www.JamaicanAmericanClub.org
Continued from page 5 Today most companies require an email resume from the applicant; this is a form of branding. Before hitting that send button, remember that your email address is the 1st impression. ·
Do not use novelty email address such as qutipie@gmail.com.
· Do not use a work related address of your current employer. This is in poor taste plus the potential employer will see that you lack loyalty to your present job. The resume should answer: ·
Who is the community? By employing you, how will that niche group be impacted?
· What selling proposition? Why should they hire you over others? Be specific and stand out from your peers. ·
What do you want the HR person to feel? Put that at the top and don’t use buzz words.
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Create a call to action. Tell the company you want the job.