Earlier this year, Michelle Tulloch-Neil took up her position as the latest elected representative of the Northeast states on the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council.
Based in the Philadelphia area, Tulloch-Neil’s responsibility extends across 13 states, which include New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C.
She is poised to fulfill her representative duties for a term of three years.
Fostering partnership and engagement with the diaspora
As the guiding force for the Northeast Council, Tulloch-Neil has vowed to chart new avenues for augmenting engagement and fostering partnerships with the diaspora, concentrating on topics of mutual interest to the diaspora and Jamaica.
Although Tulloch-Neil made it clear that the Council is not an extension of the Jamaican government, she emphasized earlier this year the privileged position the Council finds itself in, being involved in the policy development of various areas in Jamaica.
These areas encompass education, health, citizen security, development, faith-based community, commerce, arts, sports, and culture.
The importance of collaboration and support for success
After being elected, she drew attention to the diaspora’s rich pool of experts across these sectors, who stand ready to collaborate with Jamaicans living in Jamaica. Their goal is to find the best solutions to issues that have plagued Jamaica for many years.
She expressed her belief that such ongoing collaboration has the potential to significantly advance Jamaica’s development status and simultaneously cater to the needs of the diaspora in the USA. Tulloch-Neil also lauded the efforts made in the northeast USA, particularly during the pandemic, as a testament to this belief.
Following the example of council leads before her, Tulloch-Neil understands the importance of utilizing volunteers from each state. She knows she cannot accomplish her mission single-handedly, and she recognizes the importance of staying connected with the people she serves.
Tulloch-Neil is one of three diaspora representatives in the U.S., with others serving the South and West/Midwest regions.
She expressed her eagerness to collaborate on future projects, building on the past successful connections.
Guided by advice from her predecessor, Karren Dunkley, Tulloch-Neil is prepared to bring her unique ideas, talents, and ambition to her role and to form a team that will contribute to the diaspora’s progress.
She understands the significant impact of the people she works with and the organizations that support and collaborate with her on the changes she aims to implement in the coming years.
Even though the organization operates independently of the Jamaican government, the Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed its commitment to nurturing engagement with the Jamaican diaspora, asserting its ongoing priority for the government.
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