Jamaican-American Trailblazers Get Their Due

Two Jamaican-Americans were recognized Saturday night for their trailblazing career accomplishments in their adopted home here in the United States. And two Americans became honorary Jamaicans .

That all happened during the seventh Jamaican American Connection (JAC) of Greater New Haven Trailblazer Scholarship banquet held at Zandri’s Stillwood Inn.

Jamaicans who call Connecticut and other parts of the Northeast their home gathered in their best dress to celebrate their heritage and strengthen their connections with their American friends while raising money for scholarships.

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill New York Executive Chef Wenford P. Simpson, who has cooked for the likes of Phylicia Rashad, Taye Diggs, and Hillary Clinton, was the evening’s keynote speaker. He urged attendees to support each other’s dreams and to continue to give back to the children of Jamaica, some of whom are growing up poor as he did and in need of an opportunity. He also vowed to support JAC in providing scholarships for Jamaican students.

JAC was founded in the summer of 2010 by Jamaicans of the Greater New Haven region. The organization provides opportunities to learn about the Jamaican diaspora in particular and the Caribbean diaspora in general through events such as the annual Caribbean American Heritage Festival, according to President Karaine Holness. It also promotes businesses owned by fellow West Indians like Baldwin Shields, whose Johnny’s Cakes, catered the banquet’s dessert menu, which featured an assortment of cheesecakes kissed with a taste of Jamaica.

The non-profit, though small, last year hosted roundtable discussions with Jamaica Minister of Education Ruel Reid and New Haven Public Schools educators and participated in Freddy Fixer Parade. Holness encouraged attendees to join JAC and to continue to support one another and maintain their connection. The organization also has partnered with the Nathan Ebanks Foundation, a nongovernmental organization based in Jamaica, to support that organization’s efforts at providing scholarships.

“We must be there to support one another,” she said. ​“We must celebrate each other’s accomplishments and provide encouragement in times of disappointment. We must impart wisdom to our children, sharing with them the positive cultural values and traditions of our West Indian history and heritage. We must share our knowledge and guidance with one another in an effort to foster individual and collective success.

“We must give back to communities at the local and international level in an effort to uplift one another,” Holness added. ​“JAC is committed to doing just that.”

Two Jamaicans, gastroenterologist Dr. Taneisha Grant, and Caribbean music promoter, Michael ​“Bojangles” Howell, were recognized for their accomplishments in their respective professions.

Grant, a native of Portland, Jamaica, was inspired by her pediatrician to become a doctor. Her mother was the trailblazer who sacrificed so that she could reach her dreams. Howell’s passion for music, particularly reggae and dancehall that inspired him to bring the music to Southern Connecticut, particularly at venues like Toad’s Place.

The biggest surprise of the evening came for two Americans who can now call themselves honorary Jamaicans: Inner City News Editor-in-Chief Babz Rawls Ivy and Pamela Washington, a licensed master social worker in child welfare and an adjunct faculty advisor and instructor at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. Washington was actually serving as the evening’s mistress of ceremonies. Both women were surprised when President Holness called their names to receive recognition as Jamaican ​“cultural ambassadors.”