Jamaica - Jamaicans In Atlanta

Influential Jamaican in Atlanta: Dr. Noel Erskine

Glen Laman — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:40:00 UT

Dr. Noel Leo Erskine is Professor of Theology and Ethics at Candler School of Theology and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Emory University. A native of Jamaica, he holds a Diploma in Theology from the University of London, a Master of Theology from Duke University, a Master of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary, a Master of Philosophy from Union Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Union Theological Seminary.

He has been a Visiting Professor at ten schools in six countries: the University of Ife in Nigeria, Africa; Facolta Valdese di Teologia in Italy, Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia; the International Theological Center Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya University in Kenya, Africa; The Pastor’s Training Institute in Burundi, Africa; Maryknoll Institute New York, Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio; Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, Birmingham, UK and the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, West Indies. During the fall semester 2009 Professor Erskine will be The Underwood Professor of Theology at Yonsei University, Korea. Spring 2010 he presents the James Gray lecture at Winston Salem State University and summer 2010 lectures on “The Queen of Sheba in the Rastafari Tradition” at the University of Leipzig, Germany.

Professor Erskine is active in the Society for the Study of Black Religion where he served as secretary, the American Academy of Religion and the Black Theology Project in the Americas. He also serves on the Advisory Council for the Secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Erskine has contributed to numerous journals, magazines, and anthologies. His books chronicle the historical and complex nature of Black Theology, Revivalism, Rastafarianism, the theological perspective of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, James Cone and Afro-Christianity in the Caribbean and the American South. His best known book Decolonizing Theology, which has been in print for over two decades, is a historical study of the development of Christianity in the Caribbean. It assesses the religion’s evolution and its adaptation by the indigenous people to meet the socio-cultural and spiritual needs inherent in their struggle for freedom.

Professor Erskine’s publication, King Among the Theologians, compelled one critic to write, “Erskine’s work is more than a readily accessible account of King’s theology; it is an introduction and invitation to the lively theological discourse at the heart of the unfinished struggle in which King participated – and is an invitation to the struggle itself.” His other books include Black People and the Reformed Church in America , From Garvey to Marley: Rastafari Theology (University Press of Florida, 2005), and Black Theoloy and Pedagogy (Palgrave, 2008) Forthcoming, The Black Church: Caribbean and African American (Under contract Oxford University Press).

Dr. Erskine has made scholarly presentations at many universities and conferences throughout the world. He is widely sought after as an engaging speaker. He resides in Atlanta with his wife Glenda. They have three children – Donna, June and Leo.

Jamaicans In Atlanta

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:56:22 UT

Influential Jamaican in Atlanta: Neville Anderson, Sr.

Glen Laman — Sat, 24 May 2008 17:00:00 UT

Neville Anderson is the president of the Rotary Club of Stone Mountain. Rotary is an international organization with over 1.2 million members. Rotarians provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. They are responsible for raising over $650 million for the eradication of polio.

In his professional life, Neville is a Certified Public Accountant, and Principal of Neville W. Anderson Sr CPA, PC. He is also the Managing Broker for Clayton’s Realty, Inc.

He was born in the parish of St. Andrew, Jamaica and attended Franklin Town Elementary School and Tutorial College. Prior to leaving Jamaica, he worked in the
Income Tax Department of Capleton, Jones & Company – Certified Accountants and Wills Battery Co, Ltd. where he was the Financial Controller.

He also worked at the Caribbean Steel Company, Ltd as the Corporate Secretary & Financial Controller. The company began to experience record profits reversing several years of recurring losses after he prepared a price increase application that was accepted by the Government’s Prices Commission.

Neville came to Atlanta when he was recruited from Houston, Texas by Information Systems of America, Inc. to work as a consultant in converting an American Portfolio
Reporting and Investment Management System (PRISM) for use in the United Kingdom.
Since that time he has been very active in Atlanta community work. There is not enough space to list all of Neville’s community involvements. But here is a sampling:

Past Vice President of the Atlanta Jamaica Association
North East Division Lieutenant Governor Toastmasters of Georgia with responsibility for twenty-five clubs with 500 members. The clubs included University of Georgia in Athens (students’ and professors’ clubs), DeVry College, corporate clubs, and other breakfast and lunch clubs. Under his leadership Toastmasters of Georgia was the number one club in the world.
Received the highest award offered by Toastmasters, “Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM)”
Area Governor, Toastmasters of Georgia.
President of Skyline Civitans-an organization whose main objective is to help physically and mentally challenged individuals.
Former trustee of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Former board member of Ebenezer Charitable Foundation, Inc, which owned the Martin Luther King Jr Village in Atlanta.
Former Advisory Board Member of Southside Comprehensive High School Academy for Information Processing; orchestrated their adoption by Information Systems of America, Inc.
Former Treasurer of Scottdale Child Development Center.
Former Treasurer of Decatur Business Association
Former Treasurer of Rotary Club of West End, Atlanta
Current Treasurer of Lakes of Stonebridge Master Association, Inc, which has responsibility for 1500 homes.
Former Treasurer of the Democratic Party of DeKalb County
District 64 representative for the DeKalb Democratic Party

Neville’s wife Gloria is a chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), a Certified New Home Sales Professional, and President & Associate Broker at Clayton’s Realty, Inc in Stone Mountain, Georgia. They are proud parents of four talented children--two daughters and two sons.

Neville had the following observation on his fellow Jamaicans in Atlanta: “we tend to excel as individuals not as a group.” This fact, he explains is readily recognized by others. A prominent national and Georgia politician once remarked that (Jamaicans) “cannot work together, and if they could they would take over this country.” Since we cannot all be leaders, Neville feels “some must be prepared to be followers who identify good and inspired leaders among themselves, then give those leaders support. In unity there is strength.”

The personal motto that Neville tries to live by each day is “If it’s got to be it’s up to me, no excuses.”

Influential Jamaican in Atlanta: Dr. Beverly Hall

Glen Laman — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:00:00 UT

Dr. Hall is one of the foremost educators in the United States today. She is the superintendent of the Atlanta Public Schools (APS)--an urban school system of 96 schools with approximately 52,000 students and over 4,100 teachers. Under her leadership since 1999, this once low performing school system has embarked on a comprehensive school reform program. The results so far have been remarkable.

The APS is the nation’s only urban district where 100% of elementary schools met federal academic targets. Math and reading scores since 2003 have improved faster than any other urban school district. Schools once labeled “lowest performing” are being turned around and the system has shown a consistent eight year trend of progress. It was the only district in Metro Atlanta to be named as a Title I Distinguished School District.

Strategic initiatives such as Project GRAD, Middle School Transformation and High School Transformation are showing results. Recently, APS received a $22 million grant from the GE Foundation, the largest privately awarded grant to APS which will deliver intensive math and science instruction.

Transforming the Atlanta public schools is “analogous to climbing a mountain” according to Dr. Hall who brings focus and a strategic vision to the task. She contends that “the victory will be won in grades one through five” as it becomes increasingly difficult and costly to change academic outcomes for students who are behind when they enter middle school. Dr. Hall has accomplished much, yet she realizes the steepest climb is still ahead. Last year, the school board voted unanimously and enthusiastically to extend her contract through the 2010-2011 school year – expressing confidence that she can lead APS to the mountaintop.

Dr. Hall was born in Jamaica and immigrated to the United States after attending high school at St. Hilda’s and St. Andrew’s. She earned her Doctor of Education degree from Fordham University.

Before coming to Atlanta, Dr. Hall was State District Superintendent of the Newark Public Schools, the largest school district in the state of New Jersey. Before that she served as Deputy Chancellor for Instruction, New York City Public Schools; Superintendent, Community School District 27, Queens, New York; Principal, Junior High School 113 and Public School 282, Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Hall is also Chair of Harvard University’s Urban Superintendents Program Advisory Board where she mentors participants in the doctoral program. And she was a member of the Teaching Commission, which developed specific policy recommendations to address the teaching crisis in America.

In Atlanta, Dr. Hall was recently named to the board of Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital, one of the largest public hospitals in the country. She also serves on several other boards including: Communities in Schools of Atlanta, Inc., and Junior Achievement of Atlanta, Inc.

In January 2007, Georgia Trend Magazine recognized Dr. Hall as one its “100 Most Influential Georgians.” She has won numerous other awards including the “Flame of Excellence” award from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; the Council of the Great City Schools Richard R. Green National Urban School Superintendent of the Year Award; the 2006 Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, Inc. Legacy Award; the 2006 Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award from the American Association of School Administrators; the 2008 Pinnacle Leadership Award from the East Point College Park Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and was the first recipient of the 2006 Atlanta Urban Debate League Administrator of the Year.

Influential Jamaican in Atlanta: Anthony C. Winkler

Glen Laman — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:00:00 UT

Anthony Winkler is one of Jamaica’s most gifted and successful writers. Two of his novels have been made into movies. His original screenplay, The Annihilation of Fish, has been made into a movie starring James Earl Jones, Lynn Redgrave and Margot Kidder. It’s the story of a retired old Jamaican named Fish who has no purpose in life since his retirement so he fantasizes that his remaining purpose is to wrestle a devil and throw him out of the house whenever he appears. Life gets complicated when he falls in love with his neighbor, Poinsettia, whom he persuades to become his referee.

His most famous work, a satirical novel entitled, The Lunatic was also made into a movie. Its main character is a crazy countryman named Aloysius who speaks to trees and animals. His life changes dramatically when he hooks up with a sex-crazed German tourist named Inga.

Winkler’s first novel is also his favorite. The Painted Canoe took him several years to write and over 10 years to get it published. After many rejections, Kingston Publishers finally published it in 1984. His other works include: The Duppy, Dog Wars, The Great Yacht Race, The Annihilation of Fish and other Stories, and Going Home to Teach which is an autobiographical account of his experiences during the turbulent 70’s at a school in the rural Jamaican town of Moneague.

Winkler was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He attended schools in Kingston and Montego Bay and left Jamaica when he was 21 to pursue a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in English. A teacher in his 2nd form English class at Cornwall College, one Mr. Findlay, first noticed his talent for writing. The class had been asked to write a passage about being trapped. His vivid description about things that he had never actually seen amazed his teacher. Years later, working as a textbook salesman in California, he realized that he could improve on the writing in the books he was trying to sell. Instinctively, he wrote and submitted two chapters which earned him his first book advance of $1,000. He has been writing passionately ever since.

Because of his writing he has had the opportunity to meet some famous people. Gene Wilder has been known to call his house and he got to meet the likes of James Earl Jones, Ann Bancroft and Lynn Redgrave-people he would not ordinarily have met.

While he is famous for his Jamaican stories, Winkler actually makes his living writing college textbooks. He was officially on strike against the Hollywood studios the day I interviewed him at his suburban Atlanta home. He is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America and the Hollywood writers were several days into a strike. At one time, he was very active in the Jamaican community and he was elected president of the Atlanta Jamaica Association for two terms. He recalls coordinating hurricane Gilbert relief efforts and scholarship programs as well as bringing up plays from Jamaica.

He has fond memories of growing up as a boy in Jamaica during the 1940’s and 50’s. When he lived on Mountain View Avenue in Kingston, his best friend was Denny Repole, now a prominent architect in Jamaica. Each morning, as soon as they woke up either one would run next door to play with the other. “He and I used to play constantly, every day,” recalls Winkler. Strangely enough, they both came down with Parkinson’s disease about the same time. He wonders if “running up and down barefoot” back then they were exposed to something, since Parkinson’s has been linked to contaminants.

On the verge of receiving Social Security-his first check will arrive in time for Christmas-he confided that he is “getting all the attention now at the age of 65” that he never got at 35. He has somehow managed to lead “a pretty typical life” with a wife, a daughter and a son. His daughter is an Industrial and Occupational (I/O) psychologist and his son is an English teacher at a local high school.

Tony and his lovely wife, Cathy, were married 32 years ago on All Heroes in the small village of Colgate in St. Ann, Jamaica. Cathy travels with him to various appearances. This year they’ve already been to Jamaica (three times), New York, Miami and Antigua where he has either given readings or interacted with his ever widening reading audience—all the while with Cathy working in the background to make his schedule easier. “She’s my right hand and my left hand; I don’t know where I’d be without her,” explained Tony.

Winkler doesn’t subscribe to any overarching philosophy of life but he likes to be flexible and “tries to see the two or three sides to any story.” And he doesn’t have any particular methodology to writing either, advising that in writing one has to learn to simply “trust the darkness.”

Influential Jamaicans in Atlanta: Rev. Dr. Barry Davies

Glen Laman — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:00:00 UT

The Rev. Dr. Barry Davies inherited the gift of music from his grandfather who was a church organist but his nose was kept to the wheel by his mother who was determined not to have him waste all the money she had to spend on piano and organ lessons. Now in his seventy-eight year, Rev. Davies is still putting those early music lessons to good use.

From 1955 until the late 1960’s, Barry Davies—the Reverend and Doctor titles came later—was the Concert Choir Director at Kingston College. He was hired during the tenure of none other than Bishop Percival Gibson himself. His specific task was to develop a concert choir from the nucleus of the chapel choir formed by Douglas Forrest. And during his tenure, the concert choir gave annual performances--the first Jamaican high school choir to do that--not only in Kingston but also all over the island. At the same time, the choir provided music regularly for the chapel services. The choir was also used when there were diocesan events. And it was also the first Jamaican high school choir to produce recordings for sale to the public.

Rev. Davies says “there were many wonderful, warm and satisfying times which made me so glad to be part of the KC family.” But he can still recall Wednesday mornings in St. Augustine’s chapel when the bishop would call on one usually terrified student to tell him what he had just preached about. He also remembers the choir’s first concert at the huge Carib Theater in Cross Roads: they started the concert right on time but had to stop after a few minutes because of the great line of people outside still waiting to get in--it was a sold out capacity audience!

The first chapter of Rev. Davies life took place in England where he was born in the industrial Midlands, in a very old town called Dudley, in the County of Worcestershire in 1929. He went on to obtain undergrad and graduate degrees in music and education; he also was in show business for a while.

The second chapter of his life took place in the West Indies--mostly Jamaica but also several of the Bahamian "family islands" after leaving Jamaica in 1976--where he worked as a teacher, a musician, the Concert Choir director at Kingston College, a radio and television producer and presenter, a music critic, and an administrator as the Director of the Jamaica School of Music. He says his toughest adjustment to life in the tropics was getting used to being kept awake at night by crickets, tree frogs and barking dogs. In Jamaica, he had many jobs from 1956 onwards in radio and television. The one most people remember is "Children's Corner" which he hosted with Erica Allen.

The third chapter of Rev. Davies’ life is currently underway in the U.S. where he attended Columbia Theological Seminary, received the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees, became music faculty member, was ordained, retired from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta and is now the Parish Associate and Organist at the Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

When asked how he ended up in the ministry, Rev. Davies said “it had been in my blood since I first heard missionaries visiting my church when I was a young boy.” And although he had planned to go to seminary after his first degree, he lost his faith and became a "humanist agnostic" for 30 years. “Faith returned at age 50 as did my call to ministry,” he explained. And so he came to the US to attend seminary and become qualified as a Presbyterian minister.

Today, this father of four and grandfather of three is still working full-time. He and his wife, Laodice, are now in their 40th year of marriage and can often be seen at various Jamaican events in Atlanta.

On arrival in Atlanta (in 1979) Dr. Davies set up a weekly evening service for newly arriving Jamaicans who had not yet joined a church. Since then he has been in constant demand to make music for Jamaican functions, and has preached at two of the Independence services as well as at the Memorial Service following the death of former Prime Minister, Michael Manley.

His wife was born Laodice Dooley in Kingston where she attended Excelsior and worked there before being employed at the Jamaica School of Music where she was librarian and staff accompanist. She then went to do a music degree in London and earned four diplomas as a pianist, singer, teacher and performer. “You could say that music brought us together!” remarked Rev. Davies. “We had a lengthy courtship correspondence and I proposed to her in a letter. When she said ‘yes’ I went over to England where we got married and spent the first 18 months of our marriage.”

After returning to Jamaica, Laodice taught first at Excelsior, then at Alpha Academy. After moving to Nassau, The Bahamas, she taught at an elementary school where her choir won many first places in competitions. She has now been employed for approximately 24 years at DeKalb Technical College in Atlanta.

Rev. Davies offers these words of wisdom: “Try to make the most of every day of life, and if changes need to be made, make them at no matter what age. Ministry is my 6th career and the skills from my previous professions have now all come together in a very satisfying way.”

Influential Jamaicans in Atlanta: Dr. B. Waine Kong

Glen Laman — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:00:00 UT

As CEO of the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), Dr. B. Waine Kong has been at the forefront of efforts to reduce the ravages of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. In the twenty one years since Dr. Kong became its CEO, ABC has become an international organization representing over 600 members; staff of 25; and a host of volunteers who actively advocate for culturally competent health care, increased representation of minorities in the health professions, and availability of appropriate health care and medication for all citizens.

Basil Waine Kong was born in “Kingston Jubilee Hospital” in Kingston and moved to the tiny community of Woodlands, in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. After living in St. Elizabeth for ten years, where he excelled in track, Boy’s Brigade and cricket, he left Jamaica at the age of 14 to join his mother and stepfather in Morristown, New Jersey.

Dr. Kong received his B.A. from Simpson College (1967), an M.A. from American University (1970), his AGS in educational psychology (1974) from the University of Maryland, and his Ph.D. from Walden University (1977). Twenty years later, he returned to Dickinson School of Law, received his J.D. and became a member of the Georgia bar.
Beginning his career as a probation officer in Montgomery County, Maryland, Dr. Kong became an assistant professor of human development, counseling and criminology, then associate dean of students at the University of the District of Columbia. Before joining ABC in 1986, he served as director of research and grants at Providence Hospital, and executive director of the Urban Cardiology Research Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Kong partnered with Dr. Elijah Saunders, who was then chief of cardiology at Providence Hospital as well as president of the Association of Black Cardiologists, to conduct the first clinical trials for African Americans relating to the efficacy, sexual side effects and quality of life of various treatments for high blood pressure. With a grant from the American Heart Association in 1978, Drs. Kong and Saunders developed language describing the early warning signs of heart attack that was later adopted by the AHA. When they learned that less than 5 percent of Baltimore residents knew about CPR, they directed the training of 10,000 Baltimore residents in cardiopulmonary resuscitation between 1978-79. Drs. Kong and Saunders also authored the Vital Signs Quality of Life questionnaire that was used in several clinical trials.

Dr. Kong said he is most proud of pioneering the organization of churches and barbershops as health promotion centers with a grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, programs that were adopted.
He has traveled to over one hundred countries where he always seems to run into Jamaicans.

Dr. Kong is married to Dr. Stephanie Kong, a pediatrician and managed care executive. They have four children and three grandchildren. Dr. Kong's hobbies include golf, tennis, duplicate bridge,
bid-whist and international travel. He is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha and a deacon at Providence Missionary Baptist Church.

Influential Jamaicans in Atlanta: Vin N. Martin

Glen Laman — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:00:00 UT

Mr. Martin was born in Jamaica, West Indies and in 1965 migrated to the United States to attend College. He holds an undergraduate degree from Howard University (1969) in Washington D.C., an MBA (1972) in Finance and Investment from Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctorate (1976) from the Washington College of Law of the American University in Washington DC.

In 1972, Mr. Martin commenced work as an Accountant with Fannie Mae, the nation’s largest provider of residential mortgage loans. Upon graduation from law school, he was transferred to Atlanta and commenced work in Fannie Mae’s Atlanta legal department. In that capacity he provided in-house legal advice to Fannie Mae’s business divisions and was a member of the region’s management team. He was at various times responsible for legal services to Fannie Mae’s marketing department where he drafted and reviewed complex contracts for purchases of single family mortgages from numerous mortgage lenders. He was also actively involved in the establishment of Fannie Mae’s Mortgage Backed Securities program which, prior to his retirement from Fannie Mae, had grown into a huge (billion dollars) portfolio.

After 30 years at Fannie Mae, Mr. Martin retired to open his own law practice in Stone Mountain. His areas of emphasis are Immigration, Real Estate, Wills, Business Transactions and Family Law.

Since 1997, Mr. Martin has been Jamaica’s Honorary Consul in Atlanta. In this capacity he provides consular services to the Jamaican community in Georgia and to foreigners seeking entry visas into Jamaica. He also meets regularly with Georgia business leaders interested in transacting business with the country of Jamaica.

Mr. Martin’s other community involvements include former member of the Board of Directors of his neighborhood YMCA; Board member of the Georgia Council of International Visitors; member of the Georgia Consular Corps; past Vice Chair of the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission; and Chairman of the Atlanta-Montego Bay Sister Cities Committee. As Chairman of the Sister Cities Committee, he is credited with organizing medical doctors and nurses for volunteer service at annual health missions in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Recently Mr. Martin was appointed by Governor Purdue to serve as Board Member of Hemisphere, Inc., an organization responsible for seeking to locate the secretariat of the Free Trade Areas of the Americas in Atlanta.

Mr. Martin is a member of the District of Columbia, Georgia and Maryland Bar associations. He is also a member of the American Bar Association and has numerous other professional affiliations.

Mr. Martin currently resides in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He is married to Hazel and has two adult sons, one who is an Associate with a New York law firm and the other a consultant with an accounting firm in Washington DC.

Mr. Martin is an avid soccer enthusiast and a licensed Georgia youth soccer coach.

Influential Jamaicans in Atlanta: Allan Alberga

Glen Laman — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:00:00 UT

Allan Alberga is President of the Atlanta Jamaica Association (AJA), the longest serving and one of the largest Caribbean organizations in Atlanta. He was its President in 1994 and has been President since 2005.

An Attorney at law in private practice in Atlanta since 1991, Alberga was trained in England. He holds Bachelor of Laws degree (London) Barrister (Lincoln's Inn) and is a member of the bar of England and Wales since 1965; he was admitted to the bar in Jamaica in 1970.

Alberga holds a British Government diploma in International Trade. He also worked in the Supreme Court, Attorney General's Office, Legal Reform and the State Trading Corporation in Jamaica and was a Legal Advisor, Jamaican High Commission in London.

In Atlanta, he attended the Georgia State University and John Marshall law schools and received the degree of Juris Doctoris (Hons) in 1990. A member of the Georgia State Bar, he is also a Georgia Certified Mediator and Arbitrator.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he is a graduate of St. George's College where he represented the school in cricket and soccer. He later played cricket at the senior cup level for Kensington and St. George's Old Boys and was in trials to represent Jamaica, just before leaving for studies overseas.

Now in his second marriage to Professor Janice Liddell, Alberga has seven children, including two stepsons. He also has several grandchildren. Over the years he has enjoyed listening to music, reading and playing tennis.

The welfare and revitalization of Jamaica is always uppermost in his thoughts and he looks forward to a time when the old ingrained patterns that retard Jamaica’s progress will give rise to new ways of thinking. He also envisions a world devoid of national boundaries in which people can travel unrestricted as world citizens.

Influential Jamaicans in Atlanta: Jewel C. Scott, Clayton County District Attorney

Glen Laman — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:00:00 UT

The Honorable Jewel C. Scott made history in 2005 when she simultaneously became the first female and first Caribbean-American District Attorney for Clayton County, one of the counties that comprise the Atlanta Metro area in the state of Georgia.

Originally from Mandeville, she spent her formative years in the Parish of Hanover in Jamaica. As a child, she attended Bethel Primary School in Hopewell, Hanover and later went on to Montego Bay and Manchester High School.
She graduated from the Norman Manley Law School, University of the West Indies, Mona in 1984, entered private practice and later worked at the Fair Trading Commission in Jamaica. She then worked in the Turks and Caicos Islands before immigrating to the USA where she obtained her J.D. degree from the Mercer University School of Law in Macon, Georgia.
Admitted to practice law in Georgia, New York, Jamaica W.I. and Turks and Caicos Islands. District Attorney Scott is a member of the Clayton County Bar, Georgia Bar, American Bar Association, and New York Bar. She is experienced in criminal and civil litigation having worked as a staff attorney with such organizations as New York City Office of Legal Affairs, HRA, litigating Conservatorship and Committee applications in the Supreme Court.

A Community Educator on legal rights, she also authored a book, “Portrait of a Woman,” in 1998. Married for over 20 years and a mother of two teenage sons, she is an active member of World Changers Church International and often volunteers with local hospice and community activists.

On her role as District Attorney, Jewel states:
"I seek to promote safe communities by prosecuting those who jeopardize community safety and well-being by flagrantly disobeying our laws. I AM TOUGH ON CRIME, but I will work just as hard to ensure that innocent persons are not wrongfully convicted.”
One of Atlanta’s most influential Jamaicans, DA Scott, is “qualified, experienced and humble.”

Influential Jamaicans in Atlanta: Elaine Bryan

Glen Laman — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:00:00 UT

Elaine Bryan is Atlanta’s award winning school counselor. She is the recipient of numerous awards including:

Judge Glenda Hatchett Educational Mentoring Award - October 2005
Barbados Association 2005Trident Award For Excellence - November 2005
Turner Broadcasting Systems (TBS) Award for Educational Excellence - May 2006
Mayor Shirley Franklin Phoenix Award for Outstanding Achievement in Education - July 2006
Atlanta-Jamaica Association Award for Outstanding Community Service in the field of Education - August 2006

A counselor at one of the top charter High Schools in the country, Chamblee High School, she is currently involved with the B.A.M. group at the Microsoft Corporation, helping them identify candidates for scholarships and internship opportunities being offered by the Bill Gates Foundation.

Elaine even found the time to start the E. B. Success Center and was interviewed on TVJ in Jamaica in January of 2006. She was also recognized as a Phenomenal Woman in a special Gleaner edition on March 8, 2006.

In her spare time, Elaine is also is a Real Estate investor who has excelled in this area so well that she was invited to share her knowledge on “What You Get for the Money”, which airs on HGTV and the Fine Living Channel. The show compares homes across the country; it is the top rated prime time show on HGTV and is aired nationally in 90 million homes.

Elaine attended Excelsior High School and Kingston Technical High where she was president and Head Girl. A resident of Barbican and Meadowbrook, she left Jamaica after completing high school for Chicago where she attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois

After college, Elaine returned to Jamaica for a few years to work in sales for Air Jamaica, in Kingston. She credits her father Dudley C. Grant with being a great influence in her life--he was an entrepreneur.

Elaine’s wish for the Jamaican Community in Atlanta is that, “with our growing numbers and talents, that we give back to Jamaica and make a positive difference while living abroad. We should always strive to support, enhance and pave the path for current and future generations. While accomplishing our goals, remember the strong foundation that we were privileged to receive from our beautiful homeland Jamaica.”

Read more about Elaine at www.elainebryan.com.

Jamaican & Caribbean Organizations in Atlanta

Glen Laman — Sat, 01 Mar 2003 17:00:00 UT

Atlanta is reputed to have to have the highest number of Jamaican organizations for its size of any city in the US. Many of these organizations are alumni groups that raise funds to support the schools back in Jamaica. Below is a partial listing:

Atlanta Caribbean Association
http://www.atlantacaribbean.org/
404-377-5506

Atlanta Jamaican Association
http://www.ajaatlanta.org
email: secretary@ajaatlanta.org
770/593-9290

Atlanta-Montego Bay Sister Cities Committee
404-508-4711

Atlanta Sports and Dominoes Association
770-465-9004

Benevolent Missions of Atlanta
http://www.benevolentmissions.com/
770-833-8179

Calabar Old Boys Association
http://www.calabaratlanta.org/
404-918-9168

Clarendon College Alumni Association
404-284-7725

Caribbean Sports & Social Club
770-369-0288

The Carilanta Players
404-296-6600

Holmwood Technical Alumnae Association
678-485-4112

Integrity Children’s Fund
http://www.www.integritychildrensfund.org
800-304-2862

Jamaica Movement for Social Change
770-277-1357

Jamaican Tourist Board
770-452-7799

Kingston College Old Boy’s Association
www.kcobaatl.org

Kingston Technical Alumni Association
770-469-1134

Queens Alumnae Atlanta Chapter
770-413-6216

St. Andrew Old Girls Association GA Chapter
Email: sahsgeorgia@yahoo.com
Phone: 678-933-6886

St. Hugh’s High School Alumnae Association
404-731-8461

Stone Mountain Youth Soccer Association
www.smysa.org
770-879-1123

Tropical Sports Club
770-365-7684

Union of Jamaican Organizations in Atlanta
404-289-3358

United for Jamaica
http://www.unitedforjamaica.org/
404 533 1248

Jamaican/Caribbean Media in Atlanta

Glen Laman — Sat, 01 Mar 2003 17:00:00 UT

Newspapers/Magazines/Newsletters:

JamAtlanta www.jamatl.com
The Caribbean Star www.thecaribbeanstar.com
Caribbean Spice Newspaper http://www.caribbeanspice.net/
Caribbean Trends www.caribbeantrends.com
KC Times Newsletter www.kctimes.org

Radio:

WRFG 89.3 FM www.wrfg.org - Caribbean Runnings w Jason; Fridays 2 - 4 pm
WIGO1570 AM wigoam.com Bashment Bay Radio on Sat 8am-10am

WRFG 89.3 FM www.wrfg.org - Rockers International w Lisimba & Paul Abrahams; Saturdays (2-5 pm)
WEAC 860 AM - http://www.supremecaribradio.com/ Saturdays 9am-11am
WATB 1420 AM www.futuremovementradio.net - Pat Baccas Mon-Fri 1pm-5pm and Sat 10am-1pm.
WRAS 88.5 FM www2.gsu.edu/~www885/ - More Fyah; Fridays 8-9 pm
WREK 91.1 FM www.wrek.org - 54-46 Authentic Ska; Thursdays 7-8 pm

Bashment Bay TV program - Comcast Channel 5, AT&T U-Verse Channel 6, and on Charter Communications' Channel 22.

Life in Atlanta

Glen Laman — Sat, 01 Mar 2003 17:00:00 UT

Atlanta, the capital city of the state of Georgia, is considered the Capital of the New South and is one of the most important economic centers in the American South. With a metro area population in excess of five million and the busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic, the city too busy to hate is experiencing a constant influx of newcomers attracted by affordable housing and its southern charm. With African Americans in the majority, the city has elected a black major in each election since 1973. Former UN ambassador Andrew Young was elected mayor in 1982.

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in the city, and his boyhood home on Auburn Avenue in the Sweet Auburn district is preserved as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. King's final resting place is in a tomb at the King Center, which is a popular destination for tourists. Other attractions include the world's largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, which features over 100,000 specimens in tanks holding approximately eight million gallons of water. One unique museum is the World of Coca-Cola featuring the history of the world famous soft drink brand and its well-known advertising.

There is an abundance of activities to satisfy every taste in this thriving city. Sports enthusiasts can cheer the Atlanta Falcons in football or the Atlanta Braves in baseball. The annual Black Arts Festival which provides a 10 day exposure to music, dance, theatre, literature and visual arts and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, attracting artists from all over the country, are just two of the many popular events held in the city throughout the year. Atlanta also boasts the largest 10 kilometer road race in the world with over 55,000 participants running down Peachtree Street on Independence Day, July 4th each year.

For Jamaicans who want a taste of home, each year there is a week of activities to mark Jamaica’s independence. Most of these are coordinated by representatives from various organizations who make up UJOIA, the Union of Jamaican Organizations in Atlanta, headed by Jamaica’s honorary consul to Atlanta, Vin Martin. In addition, there are numerous organizations that bring plays and performers from Jamaica to the community. For example, The Atlanta Jamaican Association and the Kingston College Old Boys’ Association have featured the Fab Five Band at their respective banquets. Touring companies have enabled Atlantans to see Oliver Samuels and Charles Hyatt in various plays over the years. And it is not uncommon to see flyers for appearances by the likes of Buju Banton or Beres Hammond, to name a few.

Jamaican Events in Atlanta

Glen Laman — Sat, 01 Mar 2003 17:00:00 UT

Jamaicans in Atlanta are treated to a week-long series of activities during the first week of August each year that commemorate emancipation day and the island’s independence from Britain. These events include a festival dance, a cultural evening, a thanksgiving service, a health fair, an independence ball and a Jamaica Fun day in the park—see pictures at www.ujoia2006.blogspot.com. The Independence ball is coordinated by the Atlanta Jamaican Association (AJA). All other activities are coordinated by a committee comprised of representatives of various Jamaican organizations known as UJOIA, the Union of Jamaican Organizations in Atlanta and spearheaded by the island’s honorary consul to Atlanta, Vin Martin.

The rest of the year there are numerous Jamaican events organized to raise funds for various worthwhile projects on the island. One of the most successful is the Integrity Children’s Fund (www.integritychildren.org) which raises funds to educate needy children on the island. Their main events are walk-a-thons, concerts and wine and cheese parties.

In April of 2006, a new event production company known as A Fashion Affair www.afashionaffair.com , put on a spectacular and memorable fashion and cabaret show featuring top Jamaican models including, Miss Jamaica World 2005, Terri Karelle Griffith, in designs by Uzuri International, the Mutamba Collection, Bill Edwards Menswear and Polka Dots swimwear. Its director, Norma Jean Martin assured the public that it will be an annual event.

The Atlanta Chapter of the KCOBA--Kingston College Old Boys’ Association (www.kcobaatl.org) -- raises funds for the school with an annual banquet and an annual scholarship fund dance. These events have included such notables as Barbara Gloudon, Bishop E. Don Taylor and Stephen Vasciannie as guest speakers and Jamaican entertainment in the form of the Fab Five Band and Lovindeer.

Each year, the Atlanta-Montego Bay Sister Cities Health & Human Services Committee plans and implements a medical mission to Montego Bay where a team of doctors, dentists, nurses and others deliver free medical care and medicine to the needy. To help fund this mission, an annual Health Mission Ball is held in Atlanta during September.

The ladies at the St. Hugh’s High School Alumnae Association provide an evening of Wine and Jazz during the fall months each year. In addition to tasty hors d’oeuvres and relaxing music, one can enjoy the delightful singing of cabaret star, Karen Smith, herself a St. Hugh’s alum.

Each Father’s day is the Kingston Technical High School Alumni’s Father’s Day Brunch a very successful event that receives widespread support from the community.

Below is a partial list of Jamaican/Caribbean events that happen annually in and around Atlanta:

February is Reggae Superfest
April is Caribbean Culture Festival
May is Caribbean Carnival (www.peachcarnival.com)
June is Reggae Sunsplash and Kingfest International
July is Festival of Cultures and One Love Rastafari Gathering
August is the Annual Grand Independence Ball

Where Jamaicans Live in Atlanta

Glen Laman — Sat, 01 Mar 2003 17:00:00 UT

Jamaicans have been moving to Atlanta since the early 1980’s and the pace seems to have picked up in recent years. Why are people moving here? Many are attracted by its mild winters, affordable housing, laid back lifestyle and southern charm. Most often you run into people who have moved from New York, New Jersey and the Northeast in general but increasingly people are moving from Florida after bad experiences with hurricanes.

Most Jamaicans are concentrated in the eastern suburbs of Stone Mountain, Decatur, Lithonia and Snellville but you will also find enclaves in College Park, Lawrenceville, Alpharetta, Roswell, Duluth, Austell, Riverdale, Loganville, Marietta, Jonesboro, Stockbridge, Fayetteville and Fairburn. You can probably find a Jamaican in each of the 28 counties that comprise the Atlanta Metro area. Newer arriving residents are continuing to widen the area in which Jamaicans can be found. And so you will hear of people living in Buford, Ball Ground, Bremen, Kennesaw, Acworth, Winder, and Suwannee, places that only a few years ago seemed like foreign countries.

The Atlanta Metro area has population of approximately five million but the city of Atlanta proper has only about 500,000 inhabitants. Because Atlanta has no natural boundaries, urban sprawl continues in all directions and this is reflected in the very long commute times. In fact, a recent study revealed that Atlanta drivers have the most expensive commuting costs in the nation. Consequently, newcomers are advised to first determine where they are going to work and , then and only then, look for a place to live that will afford a reasonable commute. And drive you must as public transportation in the metro area is woefully underdeveloped. Many newcomers find that the typical family will need at least two cars get around.

Online Resource Atlanta Area

Elizabeth a/k/a JAstargirl — Fri, 28 Feb 2003 17:00:00 UT

Resources on Atlanta, Georgia

Jamaican "Eatings" in Atlanta, Georgia

Glen Laman — Fri, 28 Feb 2003 17:00:00 UT

If you long for some jerk chicken, oxtail, curry, brown stew, escoveitch fish; ackee and saltfish, bananas and dumplings or even calaloo, mackerel, plantains, ground provisions and cow foot, you can find it in Atlanta. It is estimated that there are over 75 Jamaican restaurants in the metro area. Most are small mom and pop operations but some have made a name for themselves.

Kool Runnings is one of the best known Jamaican restaurants. They're a big supporter of community projects and reporters and TV cameras are there whenever they want to get the Jamaican view of any issue. Their flagship restaurant on Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain is a cafeteria styled setup where you can eat indoors or on the outdoor patio. They are also in the Gwinnett Place and Northlake malls.

Royal Caribbean Bakery is one of the busiest and another big supporter of the Jamaican community. It's also on Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain and it's a regular meeting place as everyone passes through regularly to stock up on beef patties, hard dough bread and spice bun. They also sell the usual Jamaican dishes such as curry goat and chicken, oxtail and rice and peas. At peak hours the line goes out the door.

Captain Mike’s Jerk Chicken and Seafood has only been in Stone Mountain a few years but in that time it has developed a reputation for mouthwatering jerk chicken. Word of the captain’s food spread quickly as they are a perennial contributor to local fund raising functions and attendees want to know if the Captain’s hors d’oeuvres will be served before buying tickets.

If you’re downtown Atlanta, you can stop at the Negril Caribbean Restaurant, One Stop Pattie Shop, Jamaica Jamaica or Calypso Café. If you’re in Austell, C& D Jamerican is the place while in Fayetteville it’s Jerk Palace. In Lawrenceville, the Loaf is popular and in Marietta it’s the Jamaican Jerk. But no matter where you are in the Atlanta area there is bound to be a Jamaican eatery near you.

The following is a partial listing of some of the better known establishments:

Golden Krust
JerkQZine
Island Cafe
Mom’s Peppa Pot
Patmar Bake Shop
Carnival Grocery
Della’s Jerk Palace
Bev’s Jerk
Just Jerk Café
Peaches Jamaican Cafe
Taste of Caribbean
Sunshine Jamaica
Banana Tree
Jam Down Café
Caribbean American Wings n Things
Jamaica Country Kitchen
Jerk Stuff Kitchen

Jamaican Businesses - Atlanta Area

Glen Laman — Fri, 28 Feb 2003 17:00:00 UT

The majority of Jamaican businesses in Atlanta involve food. Anywhere you are in Atlanta there is bound to be a Jamaican restaurant near you. Some estimate that there are more than 120 Jamaican restaurants in the metro area. In addition, there are numerous grocery stores, meat shops and bakeries. The largest restaurants include Kool Runnings which has three locations, Golden Krust which has two locations and Royal Caribbean Bakery with one location.

To supply all these restaurants with meat, food and drinks, there are several food distributors such as Ocho Rios, Scotchy’s International, Jefferson Martin and Tropic Products International. And there are many real estate companies helping to locate housing for those moving to Atlanta; also associated with these are mortgage brokers, insurance agents, home remodeling companies and attorneys to handle the closings.

Whatever service one can name there are Jamaican businesses that provide it in Atlanta. Whether it’s a doctor, dentist, hairdresser, printer, musician, travel agent or caterer, you can be sure that a Jamaican is in the business.

The following list provides examples of Jamaican businesses in Atlanta:

AEB Technology –.770.313.4019
Captain Mike’s Jerk Chicken & Seafood -- 770.498.1873
Car Tech Auto & Body Repair -- 770.434.6385
Clayton’s Realty, Inc -- 770.465.8100
JAPH Management Services, CPA -- 770.918.8586
Jefferson -Martin, Inc – 404.725-.6080
Karl P. Stewart Building & Civil Engineering Contractors -- 678.576.4260
Roberts family Dentistry -- 404.243.0217
Royal Caribbean Bakery -- 404.299.7714
Redan Hairston Pediatric & Adult Medicine -- 404.297.1818
Scotchy’s International -- 404.505.9950
Withmore Web Designs, Inc -- 678.393.9276