Barbadians Working Together for Community and Country

The gathering, billed Summit 1 - Barbadians Working Together, an initiative of Consul General of Barbados at NY, Mackie Holder, was held at Medgar Evers College.

Barbadians Working Together for Community and Country

Three initiatives benefitting the Child Care Board and the Queen Elizabeth
Hospital in Barbados were launched recently in Brooklyn, NY, at a convocation of individual Barbadians and representatives of Barbadian Associations.

A dedicated cancer funding project and a comfort programme for children will benefit the QEH while a child sponsorship programme will target the Child Care Board.

The gathering, billed Summit 1 – Barbadians Working Together, an initiative of Consul General of Barbados at NY, Mackie Holder, was held at Medgar Evers College.

CG Holder described the summit as “an important success in attendance,
participation and outcomes, reflecting the talents and commitment of Barbadians to continue to sacrifice their time to improve their communities and assist their home country, Barbados.

Consul General of Barbados at NY, Mackie Holder

“I am particularly thrilled by the renewed plan to collaborate and cooperate more, and excited about the possibilities for new initiatives that will advance the solid work Barbadian groups have been doing, attract new support and have greater impact,” he added.

Some 150 individual Barbadians and representatives from 23 Barbadian associations, from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Philadelphia attended the symposium, which ran from 10 AM – 4 PM.

Among the audience were Mayor of Plainfield, Adrian Mapp and First Lady Amelia Mapp, Judge Sylvia Raddix and Earl Phillips, Secretary Treasurer, TW Local 100.

The assembly was treated to a number of presentations, including on tourism and investing in Barbados, and updated Barbadians on vision of Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley, the Gathering 2020, a year-long programme beginning in January 2020 aimed at encouraging Barbadians to come visit and reconnecting them to the culture and achievement of their country in diverse ways.

Health care in Barbados was a focus of Summit 1- Barbadians Working Together, and Barbadians heard first-hand from Chair of the Board of the QEH, Juliette Bynoe Sutherland, who also lead a breakout session on donating to and supporting Barbadian institutions with emphasis on the QEH.

Other breakout sessions included Involving Young People, A Coordinating Body, Interacting with Government Agencies and Adopting a More Business-like Approach.

It is expected that the Barbados Consulate will be mounting a number of similar programmes in NY and in a number of other States during the year.

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