The Jamaican Diaspora (di-as-po-ra) includes all Jamaican nationals and persons of Jamaican heritage living overseas. The Jamaican Diaspora United States encompasses the primary regions of Northeast, South, and Midwest/West. In the United States, the Jamaican community is comprised of hundreds of faith-based/church organizations, alumni associations, charitable organizations (in the areas of health, education, culture, crisis support, etc.), social, sports, and recreational, education, law, and business/trade organizations.

WHAT

In 2004, the Government of Jamaica and the Jamaican private sector invited over 250 persons living in the Diaspora to Jamaica to convene the first Jamaican Diaspora Conference. At this conference, delegates discussed and debated a myriad of issues impacting Jamaicans, at home and abroad. In June 2008, on the occasion of the 3rd Biennial Conference, over 700 delegates convened in Jamaica for the same purpose and appointed 7 Advisory Board members to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This Inaugural Conference (October 3-4, 2008, held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) welcomed over 150 community and business leaders from around the three primary regions in the United States to discuss the direction of the community organizing efforts, related governance, and community issues of mutual interests to local communities in the United States and to Jamaica. Such issues included trade & economic development, faith-based initiatives, health, education, and disaster preparedness. In addition there were specific discussion on ways in which to more meaningfully incorporate and involve the voice of the next generation of leaders. Representatives from the government (Jamaican and United States), along with consular, and business leaders were in attendance at the conference .