Serving the Community Is Part of KCOBA-GA’s Mission
By Derrick R. Wright
Derrick R. Wright
Serving the Community – Our Commitment
High school students are often called on to do it. Churches do it as a group, too. In fact, more and more these days you see corporations, both large and small, who see the need to give something back to the community.
For those who do not know us well, though, there may be some thought that we are all about Kingston College…and nothing else. However, a brief visit to our Web site will quickly define who we are and what we are about.
Unquestionably, as part of our mission we do raise funds for the College on an ongoing basis, and we provide direction and support for KC old boys and current students. However, we also participate in an array of events and activities designed to “benefit the greater Atlanta area and connected communities.”
Our Role Highlighting the Work of Others
Readers of our newsletter know for sure that, as part of our community spirit and the spirit of camaraderie, we have been featuring community organizations in Atlanta on a regular basis in our online newsletter. This we have done to help introduce the organizations to members of the community, and to help promote and further the interests of the various organizations.
The following features may be found by searching our online archives at http://www.kcobaatl.org . We have featured Holmwood Past Students Association (February, 2006), St. Hugh’s Past Students Association (May, 2006), the Atlanta Jamaican Association (June, 2006), Queen’s Alumnae Atlanta Chapter (July, 2006), United for Jamaica (August, 2006), and Integrity Children’s Fund (September, 2006).
If you are wondering whether we plan to feature non-Jamaican organizations, the answer is a resounding “Yes.” We have been in active communication with the Barbados Association and the Guyana Association, among others. We hope to highlight the work of these organizations in the near future. We are waiting to hear back from them.
Regarding individuals, we have highlighted the accomplishments of prominent members of our community, all for the benefit of our readership. Members of the community featured included Clayton County District Attorney Jewel Scott, as well as the late Michael Mordecai, community leader extraordinaire.
Working with the Office of the Honorary Jamaican Consul
As a further commitment to the Jamaican community in Atlanta, we have been actively involved with the annual planning and hosting of a series of religious and cultural events to celebrate the anniversary of Jamaica’s independence. This we have done over the years as an integral and proud member of the Union of Jamaican Organizations in Atlanta, an organization headed up by the Hon. Vin Martin, Esq., honorary Jamaican consul for Georgia. Sponsored events yearly include a worship service, a cultural variety concert, and a number of sporting events, among other festivities.
Recently, too, we played a major support role in the formation of the Jamaican-American Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta, an initiative spearheaded by Hon. Martin. KCOBA-GA President Everton Barrett chaired the organizing committee for the effort. Other KCOB participants included Earl Adams, a Web technologies guru, and Glen Laman, KCOBA-GA vice president. Mr. Adams will be developing a Web site for this new chamber of commerce.
Separately, we have assisted the honorary consul with his Sister Cities medical mission to Montego Bay. Glen Laman, our vice president, was on hand earlier this year to assist Atlanta-Montego Bay Sister Cities Committee as they packed medicine for shipment to Jamaica.
Disseminating Info – Keeping the Community Informed
We are often called on to “spread the word” about various community activities. We have developed an extensive e-mail distribution list and, through our director, Derrick R. Wright, we have been keeping the community duly informed of local happenings, and keeping the community informed on matters of related interest, as well. This is a role we assumed after the untimely passing of Mike Mordecai, prominent community leader and former Atlanta Jamaican Association president. It was Mike Mordecai who for many years served so admirably in this capacity.
Despite our achievements in this area we plan to go even further. Within the next few months we will be developing and publishing a community calendar, and we will be enhancing and expanding our e-mail distribution system. This is additional demonstration of our continuing interest in, and ongoing commitment to community service.
We Want to Hear from You
If you do know of a member of our community whose accomplishments we need to recognize, simply contact our editorial staff. The same is true if you wish to have us highlight the work of any Caribbean volunteer organization operating in Atlanta.
We want to continue to keep the community informed about matters of local and international interests. It is just one more way we wish to serve you.
Submitted by Derrick R. Wright.
Glen Laman contributed information related to the Jamaican-American Chamber of Commerce.
