PROGRAM VIGNETTES
Educational Development
Project Education: An Open Letter to My Younger Self for the Montego Bay Home for Girls, also knows as Melody House girls. Chapter sorors and Morris Brown College sorors celebrating their 25th anniversary wrote and read letters of their younger self, providing advice and encouragement to the teenage girls living in the home.
We provide school shoes, backpacks, textbooks, and other educational supplies for children attending Cambridge Basic School and others; facilitate workshops and give donations to teens mothers of Mary's Child; and partner with community organizations on educational webinars.
Physical and Mental Health
Sorors participated in the Giving While Social Distancing project that donated money to Eve for Life, Food for the Poor, and the Montego Bay Home for Girls to help with the COVID-19 pandemic. Jamaica's largest newspaper, The Gleaner covered the activity.
For Worlds AIDS Day, visiting sorors from the Southwest Region's East Harris Chambers Liberty County Alumnae Chapter and others joined us to work with the Eve for Life for Annual Health Expo.
Mental Health & Wellness Videos Series
Video Vignettes Debut May 27th
Video vignettes provided in recognition of Mental Health and Wellness Month. Various topics are covered that include Depression, Stress, and Trauma. These short videos are offered at wellness checkups and healthy check-ins to help you manage during times of difficulty. This is not medical advice.
These videos serve to help you combat emotional and psychological challenges experienced during COVID-19 lockdowns, quarantine, and health restrictions.
Resources:
- PTSD Coach is a smartphone application from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help people experiencing PTSD learn about and manage their symptoms. (http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/ptsdcoach.asp).
- Doing What Matters In Times of Stress Booklet : Al Illustrated Guide is a stress management guide for coping with adversity.
- Are you feeling Depressed? Answer some questions and this Test might be useful
POLITICAL AWARENESS
We have continuously had representation at the annual Delta Days in the Nation’s Capital and Delta Days at the United Nations. These are sorors from the Southwest Region lead by Regional Director Michelle Brown attending the 2020 DDNC.
JAC has an active social media awareness campaign on our JAC Facebook Page to provide information and updates for American citizens living in Jamaica to complete the 2020 Census and Absentee Voting ballots. We also provide updates on pertinent information to sorors using our WhatsApp SisterCircle group.
jac bursary award APPLICATION OPEN
BURSARY Information - DEADLINE EXTENDED
The Hyacinth Veronica Gayle Morgan Bursary Award was established by the Morgan children, in honor of their mother and their love of Jamaica. The Morgan family recognizes the importance of education and how critical it is as a gateway to achieving your life’s dreams.Each year, the family selects a deserving student whose story and application reflect a strong drive, and determination to honor their mother’s legacy.
The Hyacinth Morgan Bursary award provides financial assistance to a student enrolled in a bachelor’s or higher degree program at a college or university in Jamaica. Applicants are required to submit a Bursary application, transcripts, as well as letters of recommendation to be considered for the award.
HOW TO APPLY
Eligible students should review the criteriam and submit their packet of informatio to the Jamaica Alumnae Chapter Scholarship Committee. For more information, click below to apply.
UWIOC SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Sorority erases debt to help single mother at UWI Open Campus complete Bachelor’s Degree
Pictured: JAC President Jewel Daniels Radford, Member Trinette Hylton with Scholarship Winner Monique Abigail Frances, and Vice President Charmaine Flanagan.
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“If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary” is how Monique Abigail Frances describes her motto for overcoming challenges as a single mother.
Her statement reflects the tenacious spirit and high academic success that earned Frances status as the recipient of the Mission Possible scholarship awarded by the Jamaica Alumnae Chapter (JAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. The award pays for her college tuition to complete her bachelor’s degree at the University of the West Indies Open Campus (UWIOC).
“The goal is to help relieve mothers of the financial hardship one faces when pursuing an education and raising a child as a single parent.”
JAC President Jewel Daniels Radford.
Frances, a 27-year-old Psychology major, applied for the scholarship that raised US$10,000 from the organisation’s members located across the globe. The Mission Possible scholarship is the brainchild of JAC President Jewel Daniels Radford, who said: “The goal is to help relieve mothers of the financial hardship one faces when pursuing an education and raising a child as a single parent.” She credits retired UWIOC Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Lutz Longsworth for supporting the idea and shared: “This is an exciting and innovative partnership that will grow from strength to strength because of our mutually shared objectives.”
Longsworth passed the banner to Dr Francis Severin, who carried it forward.
Frances was presented with the honour at the Jamaica Alumnae Chapter’s biennial Sisterhood Retreat that gathered several of its donating members along with Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph who gave a virtual opening address due to receiving Jamaica’s highest honour during Heroes weekend. JAC’s work throughout the island has gained the support of Ambassador Brian Wallace, permanent representative of Jamaica to the United Nations, who was the keynote speaker for the awards banquet. This is the first year JAC has extended this award with plans to renew the offering in two years.
Frances shared “I will use my experience to encourage young women to believe that help and support is available to them. Help is available without demeaning your morals and risking yourself. I am elated to share my journey and I hope that it will cause other single mothers or at-risk women in need, to use initiative, persistence, and faith to bring them through life. My goal is to continue to serve my Jamaica through volunteerism and to one day be a part of the amazing sisterhood of DST.” Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc was founded in 1913 by 22 women on the campus of Howard University who became leaders of their time by participating in the women’s suffrage movement. The organisation stands at over 300,000 members who actively engaged in a Five-Point programmatic thrust that includes Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness & Involvement, Physical and M Mental Health, and Political Awareness.
JAC CHARTERED IN 2004
Members are college-educated women who have a passion for sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action. The Jamaica Alumnae Chapter was chartered in 2004 by 11 Jamaican women with a legacy that has grown to include 18 members who are a beautiful mix of Jamaica-born sorors accented by those with Jamaican roots and Americans who have come to love and live in the country. JAC provides support through its programmes and financial assistance to organisations that include Eve for Life, Mary’s Child, the Montego Bay Home for Girls, and Woman Inc. In 2023, JAC will work with Cedella Marley on a project for Read Across Jamaica Day.