Jamaica Diaspora Task Forces - A model for Engagement CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) Diaspora Philanthropy Summit November 2-3, 2017 Washington DC

1. 1
Jamaica Diaspora Task Forces:
A model for Diaspora Engagement
§ Leo Gilling, Jamaica Diaspora Task Force Playbook
§ Kimone Gooden, Jamaica Diaspora Task Force Playbook
CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) Diaspora Philanthropy Summit
November 2-3, 2017
Washington DC

2. 2
Agenda
ØThe History of the Movement
ØDiaspora Led Engagement
ØTask Force Overview
ØAccomplishments & Next Steps
ØConclusion and Resources

3. 3
The Jamaica Diaspora Movement Evolution
A History Lesson
3
§ Conference
Recommendations
§ Creation of first
Taskforce – Education
in 2013
§ Sentiment change to
Jamaicans: At home
and Abroad
• Six new Task Forces
by Sector established:
--Agriculture,
--Technology,
--Crime Prevention,
--Immigration
--Female Empowerment
--Community Tourism
§ Create Task Force
Playbook 1.0
Before 2004 2004-2013 2013-Today
Two Prong Approach
§ Remittances
§ Localized Non Profit &
Alumni support
Disadvantages
§ Lack of Alignment and
Communication
§ Jamaicans Abroad vs
Jamaicans at Home
(Them vs Us)
Pre - Movement
Historical Engagement
Movement Established:
Govt Initiated (10 years)
Movement Develops:
Diaspora Led
§ Govt Recognition:
Symposium in 2003
Five Prong Approach
§ Continued
Remittances & Non
Profit engagement
§ Diaspora Conference –
First in 2004
§ Diaspora Advisory
Board & TOR
§ Diaspora Institute
(Policy & Research)
§ Diaspora Foundation
(Fundraising)

4. 4
Jamaica Diaspora Movement Goals
Five Prong Approach
• Show appreciation for the contribution made by Jamaicans abroad
• Involve the Diaspora in economic, social, political and cultural life in Jamaica
• Initiate business, trade, investment and venture capital deals
• Consolidate and expand contributions from the Diaspora in healthcare and education
• Explore how Jamaica will work with the Diaspora to deal with policies in their host
country which have implications for the Diaspora and Jamaica
• Implement and monitor the following recommendations emerging from the first
conference in 2004:
1. June 16th should be commemorated as “Diaspora Day”
2. Establishment of a Diaspora Advisory Board
3. Creation of a Diaspora Bond targeting overseas Jamaicans
4. Establishment of a Diaspora Foundation
5. Formation of a Network of Church Leaders
6. Hosting of a biennial Diaspora Conference in Jamaica

5. 5
• Less Administrative - Minimum
Barrier to Engagement
• Flexibility & Speed: Fast Project
Execution
• Global and Sectoral vs Regional
(Open Membership)
• Greater access to Governments,
Agencies, Private Sector, and
Media
Diaspora Led Engagement - Task Forces
• Transition out of Talk Shop
• Collective Diaspora Effort for
National Sector Development
• Expand Engagement beyond
Non profit organization, Service
Clubs, Mission Trips
• Alignment of Diaspora
Engagement with National
development plans (Vision 2030
Streamlined Diaspora
Advocacy & Leadership
Goals Benefits
Record Diaspora
Mobilization

6. 6
#1
Building a
virtual team
#2
Fact Finding &
Assessment
#3
Fiscal
Sponsorship
(CAF)
#4
Local
Partnerships
▪ Recruit 10 or
more people with
shared vision
▪ Includes:
Individuals & Orgs
▪ Meet via
Teleconference
Task Force Formula for Success
Projects, Projects, Projects
▪ Service Provider
or Reputable
Organization
▪ Quality Reporting
▪ Risk Mitigation
▪ LowersAdmin
Burden
▪ Find Gaps/Opportunities
in support of National
Priorities
▪ Create Short & Long
Term Goals
▪ Identify Projects:
---Low Hanging Fruit
---SMART Criteria
▪ Implementation
Partners on the
Ground
▪ Stakeholders in the
Govt & Private
Sector, Foundations
in Jamaica and
Diaspora

7. 7
Task Force Accomplishments
• Four Types of Giving: In-Cash (Donations), In-Kind
(Resources), In-tellectual (Virtual Return/Brain Drain),
In-vestment(Business)
Giving
• First-time Diaspora Led National Projects
• Greater Policy Impact
Policy
• Specialized Volunteering
• Increased awareness and participationEngagement
• Prolific collaboration between Govt, Agencies, Private
Sector & Diaspora
Collaboration

8. 8
In the News:

9. 9
Next Steps for Task Forces
1. Sharing across Task Forces: Best practices,
joint resources etc.
2. Sub-sector Task Forces
3. Succession planning: Leadership pipeline
within Task Forces
4. Access to international grants
5. Investment Clubs and Groups
6. Taskforce Playbook 2.0
7. Business Owners Conference

10. 10
Conclusion & Resources
§ The Task Force Model as designed is a proven mechanism to practically
engage Diasporas in National Development
§ Download the Jamaica Diaspora Task Force Playbook & Startup Guide:
playbook.callingalljamaicans.org
§ Your key partners:
Ø Ministries of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs
Ø Embassies & Consulates
Ø International Organization of Migration (IOM)
Ø International Diaspora Engagement Alliance (IDEA)

11. 11

12. 12
Appendix

13. 13
Summit Agenda

14. 14
Leo Gilling
• Leo Gilling is originally from Oracabessa, Jamaica and currently resides in
Miramar Florida where he operates an Insurance brokerage.
• Leo served as Diaspora Advisory Board member and Alternate Diaspora
Advisory Board member for the West & Mid-West USA from 2008-2015.
• As Advisory Board member he spearheaded the creation of the Jamaica
Diaspora Education Task Force (JDET) which assembled a global team of
Education Professionals to deliver programs, services and resources that
have positively impacted the Education sector in Jamaica.
• JDET has successfully: Provided professional development to hundreds of
teachers; Raised a quarter million dollars through a partnership with USAID
to fund a summer program for at risk grade 3 students; Facilitated a Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teacher training program at
Loma Linda University in California; Launched an ambitious fundraising
campaign in 2016 that aims to raise $2M US to be invested in the
infrastructure of Basic schools across Jamaica.
• Leo has also served as: As Board member of the Jamaica Awareness
Association of California (JAAC). JAAC runs one of the largest medical
missions to Jamaica and has recently built a Laparoscopic facility at the
Annotto Bay Hospital; As Founder of Celebrate Jamaica Los Angeles. Which
organizes a one-week series of events during Jamaican Independence; As
Founder of the Oracabessa Homecoming event, a grand celebration and
fundraiser that provides necessary supplies and upgrades to schools in
Oracabessa; As Alternate Diaspora Advisory Board member from 2008 to
2013 and As Board member of the Issa Trust Foundation for Education
which supports pediatric healthcare education and training in Jamaica.
leogilling@gmail.com
909-438-1819

15. 15
Kimone Gooden
• Kimone Gooden is originally from Portmore, Jamaica. She currently resides
in Oakland, CA and works in Silicon Valley as a Management Consultant.
• Kimone is the outgoing Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board Member for the
US-West & Mid-West and the current Chair of the the Jamaica Diaspora
Agriculture and Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Forces.
• The Jamaica Diaspora Agriculture Task Force is committed to Sustainable
and Organic Farming, Food Security and new markets for Jamaican
Farmers. To date JDAT has supported the Organic training of hundreds of
small Farmers and is currently launching an Investment Circle to further
facilitate Diaspora involvement in Agriculture.
• The Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force is committed to promoting
Software Development and a virtual tech workforce in Jamaica. JDTT has
facilitated a growing number of virtual employment opportunities for
Jamaicans in Jamaica through the Diaspora.
• Kimone has also served as Chair of Stanford's Caribbean Student
Association, President of the Jamaica Association of Northern California, and
Board Member for the Nor Cal Caribbean Heritage organization.
• Kimone has also served: On the board of Future Women Leaders, a
non-profit committed to developing emerging women leaders. As Citizen
Teacher for Citizen Schools, an organization focused on closing the
achievement gap in low income middle schools. And as Mentor for
Immigrants through Upwardly Global, UpGlo provides workforce integration
support for under-employed professional Immigrants.
• She was the recipient of Obama’s Presidential Volunteer Service Award in
2014 and 2015.
kimonegooden@gmail.com
408-406-8775