A WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN

LEO GILLING

JDTAN, CHAIRMAN

As we enter a new phase in our lives, post-pandemic, we must correct, adjust, immerse, innovate, and demand more of ourselves, our organizations, and our colleagues to be prepared for the unknown. JDTAN is doing just that.

I am proud of the men and women who continue to grow and serve our nations from afar, collaborating with stakeholders, beneficiaries, and organizations to find gaps and develop strategies for national development It's been my pleasure to meet with and serve with them as they design and deliver needy interventions to support professional and capacity development and open doors for new beginnings.

This year, 2022, with limited access, the members of JDTAN were still able to deliver face-to-face events to restore the success of pre-pandemic.

In March, the return of the education Summit was a huge success entertaining more than 90 educators each day for five days in New York at the Marymount Manhattan College. The event was hosted by the Union of Jamaican Alumni Association (UJAA) led by then President Lesleyann Samuels and Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) Dean Michael Salmon. The key collaboration between the five education task forces, teams, and members significantly contributed to content development and delivery

Our nine-year partnership with the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) with Mr. Winston Smith as President continued at the March Summit The teachers are happy about this relationship as they queue each year to take advantage of school tours, workshops, presentations, and panel discussions.

The second face-to-face event in 2022 was our first Advancement In Health Summit held in Toronto, Canada, at George Brown College. Health professionals from Jamaica, the USA, and Canada were in attendance.

We are thankful for the support of our other sponsors Black Creek Clinic and Humber college, who made this pivotal event a significant one Dr Beverly Fray and Dr. Sylvanus Thompson were the engines that drove this very successful effort. Thanks to our host, George Brown College, the President and members of staff, partners, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and the Nurses Association of Jamaica, all the essential areas and content were skillfully delivered.

The delivery of online content through Jaminars, panel discussions, and presentation were significant deliverables that continued before and during the Pandemic by the various task forces They each conducted planned exercises and executed and were guided by critical needs assessment initiatives. The technology and entrepreneurship task force successfully delivered a key startup initiative sponsored by Google Inc and with a partner, the University of Technology

Likewise, the Jamaica Diaspora World Organizations network planned and delivered its second-degree of JamTalk, where the Chairperson and other members interviewed key individuals around the Diaspora and Jamaica The task force also continued its engagement in non-profit workshops delivering important information about starting and operating 501C3 organizations.