A Salute to Woman

THE WEEKLY GLEANER | MARCH 24 - MARCH 30, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | I Life Coach and Teacher Enables Other Women to Thrive By Neil Armstrong TORONTO: E VEN AS a small girl growing up in Jamaica, Aina-Nia Ayo’dele Grant knew there were no limits to where her dreams could take her. Having suffered abuse in her childhood, she steeled herself with the mantra – “I am not my abuse” – and has charted a course for her life which focused on healing and uplifting women around the world. Grant says she is a daughter of ancestors who‘have her back’and take care of her. She is driven by the will to see the advancement of her people. The founder of Sacred Women International (SWI) has written two books expected out this year. SWI is an organisation that inspires individuals to realise their highest vision, live with purpose, and influence change in their families, communities and throughout the world. A few years ago, Remembering Her Power , a documentary about her work was executive produced by SWI and premièred at the 2018 Parliament of World Religions in Toronto. It was the featured documentary on Global Africa Television Network and Grant is also featured in the YouTube web series, Souls of Women . The minister of new thought ancient wisdom sees the critical need for women to stand in their power. “I amon this planet to remember my power and to support others to stand in their power and in their vision. This is my life, this is my purpose.” Describing her upcoming books as tablets, she notes that, because of her indigenous practice, she works with mediums, seers and elders. She describes her work as“a journey to inner exploration”. “It’s broken down into 31 days, so the length of an average month. Each day, I give lessons and then allow folks to use those lessons to do their own reflection and their own self-exploration for their own answers; it’s really a guide.” The second book will be similar and, by the time she gets to the fifth tablet, she will speak more about her own journey and share more of herself. The lessons will be from her life. INNER HEALING She explains that her life was changed after a car accident when different teachers and truths were sent to her spirit for her inner healing. “The biggest piece of this happened inmy journey with IyanlaVanzant inmy own studies with her for four years and my initiation with her.” Grant grew up in Rollington Town, Kingston, Jamaica and came to Canada at the end of 1989. She attended Rollington Town Primary School, then Kingston Technical High School, and pursued tertiary education at Duff’s Business College and CAST, now the University of Technology (UTech). In Canada, she pursued studies at Ryerson University. She is a leadership development trainer, ancient wisdom teacher and life coach, and has worked in the area of corporate and community leadership development for over two decades, including the SLT™ (Sacred Leadership Training) programme. Currently the director of community resources at the City of Toronto, Grant was integral to the creation of the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti- Black Racism, and, in 2018, established North America’s first government- sanctioned strategy and permanent office to address anti-black racism. Take a trip to Flamborough to pick up your patio pots and hanging baskets. Call Mary for info and directions at 905-802-1389 PACE will be raffling one of these 12-inch patio pots each week from Mother's Day till end of May (4 weeks). Donation will be made to PACE Launch a Tablet Drive. ‘SERVICE BEFORE self’ is the guiding principle that drives entrepreneur Tracy Tomlinson Dixon’s desire to work in un- derserved communities, fostering and encouraging youth and adults’ intellectual and entrepreneurial capabilities. She launched Joy Alexander Management Inc in 2005, a management consulting business that focuses on the immi- grant business owner, particularly members of the diaspora. She remains active with her high-school alumnae association of Westwood High School, and serves as a mentor to current and past students. Over the years, she has served on the boards of various not-for- profit organisations and is currently one of the co-chairs of the Jamaica Diaspora Economic Development and Empowerment Sector. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from CUNY-York College and a graduate degree (MBA) from Long Island University. Tracy Tomlinson Dixon Tracy Tomlinson Dixon. CONTRIBUTED Aina-Nia Ayo’dele Grant. CONTRIBUTED VANESSA BUTLER (nee Andrew) has spent 20 years promoting the Caribbean and creating equity by identifying key strategic partner- ships and access to resources that contribute to the sustainable de- velopment and capacity building of the Caribbean and its diaspora. Born in Kingston, she has lived in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. Her passion and steadfast dedication to the Caribbean region was instilled at an early age, in- corporating ‘Ubuntu’ diplomacy, which leverages the collective knowledge, experience and will of the people in support of nation building. Ms Butler has served as a thought leader, board member and speaker/ moderator for numerous organisa- tions and initiatives, including the Jamaica Diaspora Summit, Caribbean Development Committee, Caribbean- American Political Action Committee, National Association of Multi-ethnicity in Communications, Caribbean Renaissance Foundation, Institute of Caribbean Studies, Caribbean Tourism Organization and various task forces (education, economic development, immigration). As a founding member and spon- sor (Explore Caribbean Consulting) of the Caribbean Diaspora Disaster Relief Coalition, Ms Butler led the strategic partnerships and stakeholder engage- ment for Caribbean Day of Giving fund- raiser mediation, a humanitarian effort to build capacity and strengthen relief and recovery from natural disasters. Formerly the Jamaica Diaspora repre- sentative for DC, Maryland andVirginia (DMV), she currently serves as the Virginia state representative andmem- ber of the Economic Development and Empowerment sector. She has been a special advisor on several campaigns and was a host committee member of the recent national non-partisan Get Out The Vote (GOTV) initiative Caribbean American Vote. She created the #itsYourfuture youth-based GOTV movement. She is employed at McKinsey and Company, the premier global consult- ing firm, LinkedIn. Vanessa Butler, creating partnerships Vanessa Butler. CONTRIBUTED 36 THE WEEKLY GL AN R | MARCH 24 - APRIL 24, 021 | www.jamaica-gl eaner co | WOMEN’S M ONTH FEATURE