A Salute to Woman

THE WEEKLY GLEANER | MARCH 24 - MARCH 30, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | I5 By Lester Hinds T HE MISSION is to engage Jamaican women in Southern Florida providing them with mentorship, scholarships and forming a bond of sisterhood. Those are the goals that the Jamaican Women of Florida have set for itself. Founded in 2012 and currently boasting a membership of about 110, the JWF has been facilitating the development of young Jamaican women, providingmentorship, and developing their potential through scholarships. According to the treasurer of the associa- tion, Mrs. Judith Cunningham, the JWF has a number of ideals. First among them is providing scholarships to young Jamaican women in Southern Florida. “We provide two scholarships in excess of $12,000 annually. We pay for one through our fundraising efforts while the other is under- written by our major sponsor Broward Meats,” she said. The scholarships are for four years. She said that the money is used for tuition, books and other school expenses. The scholarship awardees must provide their report cards as well as give back in other ways to the organizations. But the organization’s outreach is not confined to South Florida. It reaches into Jamaica, St. James specifically, as well. “We have adopted Melody House, a home for abandoned girls in St. James. We provide them with supplies,” said Mrs. Cunningham. She said that the organization has provided some 15 laptop computers and printers to the house. The organization also provides a stipend to the home to assist in providing meals to the girls. Mrs. Cunningham said that this goes a far way to assist with home schooling for the girls. According to the Treasurer, the association’s major fundraising function is the annual wom- en’s conference. The recent conference had as its major speaker, Opposition spokesman on Foreign affairs with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs, Lisa Hanna. Another fundraising event is the Run-A-Boat held in November each year. Apart from its fundraising activities, the JamaicaWomen of Florida also organizes health fairs and seminars for young women going off to college. A Wolmer’s Girls’ School alumnus, Mrs. Cunningham said the association aims to power young Jamaican women on their life’s journey, WOMEN Continued from, 4 feminist activities through her friendship with Sylvia Pankhurst, Ethiopians and feminist. Gladys Bustamante, “Lady B” as she was affectionately called, was a fierce supporter of women’s and workers’ rights. Born Gladys Maud Longbridge on March 8, 1912, in Ashton, Westmoreland, she was raised by her grandparents because her mother had migrated to Cuba and her father worked as an overseer in St Mary. In 1936, at the age of twenty-four, she accepted a job in Bustamante’s Loan and Securities Company. She served as Alexander Bustamante’s secretary for 27 years, both as a business owner and later during his days as a trade union leader and then when he entered politics, becoming the first prime minister of Jamaica in 1962. Lady Bustamante received many awards and recognitions throughout her life, including: Golden Orchid Award from the Venezuelan Government in recognition of dedication to Sir Alexander Bustamante’s ideals, 1979. The Order of Jamaica in 1982. The Gleaner Company’s Special Merit Award for Outstanding Service to the Nation, 1984. A long-service award from The Bustamante Hospital for Children for 21 years of service. Ivy Baxter – Born in Spanish Town on March 3, 1923, Ivy Baxter was best known for her pioneering work in Jamaican dance. The Wolmerian fostered the development of creative dance in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, and was also actively involved in education up to the time of her death. Baxter, who studied ballet and modern contemporary dance, sought to fuse these classical styles with Jamaican folk movement, creating her own dance vocabulary which was taught at her school, the Ivy Baxter Creative Dance Group, founded in 1950. Dance and cultural icon, Rex Nettleford, was an early member of this group. Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley – Miss Lou was born in Kingston on September 7, 1919. Growing up, she always had an irrepressible sense of humour and a flair for dramatics. Her first dialect poemwas written when she was 14 years old. Over the years, she grew to become one of the island’s most beloved icons, proudly elevating the Jamaican dialect from something to be ashamed of to something to be highlighted and celebrated. Miss Lou worked in a number of areas, including broadcasting, with the popular children’s programme Ring Ding and authored a number of books in her lifetime, but the most popular ones are Jamaica Labrish (1966) and Anancy and Miss Lou (1979). - Gleaner archives Making a difference in the lives of young women JAMAICAN WOMEN OF FLORIDA Over the years, she grew to become one of the island’s most beloved icons, proudly elevating the Jamaican dialect from something to be ashamed of to something to be highlighted and celebrated. THE WEEKLY GL AN R | MARCH 24 - APRIL 24, 021 | www.jamaica-gl eaner co | WOMEN’S M ONTH FEATURE