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THE JAMAICAN WOMEN OF WASHINGTON: LADIES ON A MISSION - JAMAICA TOURIST ISSUE 15
Founded by the charismatic Dr. Jacqueline Watson in 2003, THE JAMAICAN WOMEN OF WASHINGTON (JWoW) is a dynamic group of ladies with diverse professional backgrounds bound together by their Jamaican heritage. Referring to themselves as ‘ordinary private citizens’ who do public good, each member is committed to improve the lives of vulnerable women, children and families in underprivileged communities in Jamaica, the Caribbean and the Greater Washington area. Their impressive catalogue of achievements includes a recent donation of life saving medical equipment to the Pediatric Ward of the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.
Jamaican born, Dr. Jacqueline Watson was inspired to give back to her native island during her years in medical school in the early 90s in NY. Explains Dr. Watson, “I was allowed ‘away rotations’. Naturally, I would come back home to Jamaica.” While she was impressed with the clinical skills of local doctors, she found the lack of basic medical equipment and laboratory testing facilities disturbing. States Dr. Watson, “A seed was planted, motivating me to think about how I could do something meaningful to help improve conditions, even if only in a small way.”
A graduate from Immaculate Conception High School in St. Andrew, Jamaica, Dr. Watson went to Howard University in Washington before attending New York College of Osteopathic Medicine on Long Island. She completed the Family Practice Residency program at Georgetown University School of Medicine before attending the George Washington University School of Business and Public Management. Says Dr. Watson, who loves her country of birth with a passion, “I always tell people that growing up in Jamaica was an amazing blessing in itself, and one that I appreciate more and more as the years go by.”
The Founder and CEO of Health Concepts International, a healthcare consulting firm, Dr. Watson was recently recruited as the Executive Director for the DC Board of Medicine by the local Government of Washington DC. Says the Dr., “Taking on this new role during a historic time of change in America, was an amazing opportunity. My office is 2 blocks away from the White House in the nation’s capital, where health care reform is at the center of every major discussion.” Currently, Dr. Watson is responsible for managing regulatory oversight of licensing of over 11,000 physicians and health professionals.
Dr. Watson’s area of expertise and dedication to health made it easy for her to choose a mission for the charity. She explains, “Poverty, poor education and lack of access to quality health care results in negative health and social effects. Women and children, in particular, suffer disproportionately.”
Hence,15 dedicated Washington based ladies agreed to pool their professional expertise and resources with the vision of creating a philanthropic organization that would make a sustainable impact on the lives of underprivileged. Today, the non-profit charity is spearheaded by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of Secretary Dr. Jean Williams, Treasurer Andrea Summers, Alanna Broderick, Jacqui’s sister Kim M. Watson, Michelle Cross Fenty, Esq. Ex Officio as well as Founder and President Dr. Watson.
JWoW organizes two major fundraising events per year dedicated to specific causes such as HIV/ AIDS, mental health, substance abuse and the prevention of teenage pregnancy. Through JWoW’s ‘Tea-Off To Good Health’, an annual high tea and silent auction held in June and it’s ‘Tee-Off Fore The Health Of It’ golf tournament in fall, funds are raised through ticket sales, sponsorships and generous donations. Themes are selected based on feedback from the Ministry of Health in Jamaica about the needs. Explains Dr. Watson, “Once a theme has been selected, we invite community based organizations to submit grant applications. The Charity Selection Committee determines recipients according to strict criteria.”
In 2009 the two JWoW fundraiser events centered on the theme ‘Breath of Life: Reduce Infant Mortality and Save Lives’. The Tea-Off was held poolside at the residence of the Jamaican Ambassador in Washington DC and the Tee-Off golf event was held at Rose Hall’s Cinnamon Hill Golf Course. This was the first JWoW event hosted in Jamaica. Says Dr. Watson, “It was time for us to increase our presence on the island.”
Proceeds from both events were allotted to the Paediatric Ward of Montego Bay’s 400-bed Cornwall Regional Hospital, which serves large parts of Western Jamaica. Infant warmers, a bilirubinometer, pulseoximeters and phototherapy lamps valued at twenty five thousand dollars (US$25,000) were purchased. States Dr. Watson, “This was the first time JWoW gave a tangible gift. We have always given money to support services or programs. However, we learned that many infant deaths in Jamaica can be attributed to the lack of lifesaving equipment, so we felt compelled to make an adjustment.”
States Dr. Watson, “Jamaica suffers from startlingly high infant and child mortality rates.” JWoW’s donation complements the efforts Dr. Carleene Grant and CEO Mr. Everton Anderson, whose team is dedicated to addressing infant mortality in the region. According to Dr. Tracy Evans-Gilbert, Consultant Pediatrician at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, 57% of children’s deaths occur during the newborn stage.
Already in full use in the Paediatric Ward at Cornwall Regional Hospital, the nurses on duty were not too busy to show their appreciation to JWoW and Dr. Watson, who visited the hospital to see the medical equipment in operation.
Shares Dr. Watson, “It was moving to observe the tiny little infants benefiting from the medical equipment we donated with every little breath. It is incredibly uplifting and gratifying to know that, in our own small way, we are saving lives and helping to improve the services for those less fortunate. I hope others will be inspired to help as well.” After visiting the Paediatric Ward, Dr. Watson took the time to comfort a young couple in the waiting area anxiously awaiting the doctor’s update about their five week old son.
Since it’s inception in 2003, JWoW has raised over US$200,000 and donated to community-based organizations. Local beneficiaries in Jamaica include Mensana, The University of West Indies Development & Endowment Fund, Women’s Media Watch in Kingston, St. Anne’s Community Centre of Concern in West Kingston, Children’s First Agency, Spanish Town Family & Parenting Centre, Community for the Upliftment of The Mentally Ill, Western Society for the Upliftment of Children in Montego Bay, the Westmoreland Association for Street People, Sav-La-Mar Empowerment Program, FAMPLAN in St. Ann and the Jamaica AIDS Support. Affirms the Dr., “Support comes from both Jamaicans and Americans, it is amazing how many people love Jamaica and view it as a special place.”
Recognized by the Jamaican community both for her professional work and charitable contributions, Dr. Watson’s family is also involved in her many philanthropic endeavors. According to her husband of 18 years, dentist Steven Price, and the couple’s 14 year old son Chad, their home usually gets a bit turbulent two weeks before any given JWoW event. With a constantly ringing phone and a steady flow of drop off donations, the entire family pulls together to make it work. Says Dr. Watson, who is proud of her two men’s supportive attitude, “They help do a lot of heavy lifting and close their eyes to the temporary mess! I think it is an important example for our son to observe and recognize that he, too, must give back.”
Following in his mother’s footsteps, the young Chad has already started up his own charity called P.O.SH Movement, which stands for previously owned shoes. The teenager has persuaded his friends to donate little worn shoes to children in Jamaica, and identified a camp in Falmouth to help him to distribute shoes every summer. Explains Chad, “Every kid needs decent shoes to wear to school."
JWoW recently hosted their 8th. Annual Tea-Off in Washington,DC. This year’s theme focused on Homelessness and grant awards will be made to organizations in Jamaica, Washington DC and Haiti.
Individuals who feel connected to Jamaica and want to help JWoW fulfill their vision should visit www.JWoW.org.
Jamaican born, Dr. Jacqueline Watson was inspired to give back to her native island during her years in medical school in the early 90s in NY. Explains Dr. Watson, “I was allowed ‘away rotations’. Naturally, I would come back home to Jamaica.” While she was impressed with the clinical skills of local doctors, she found the lack of basic medical equipment and laboratory testing facilities disturbing. States Dr. Watson, “A seed was planted, motivating me to think about how I could do something meaningful to help improve conditions, even if only in a small way.”
A graduate from Immaculate Conception High School in St. Andrew, Jamaica, Dr. Watson went to Howard University in Washington before attending New York College of Osteopathic Medicine on Long Island. She completed the Family Practice Residency program at Georgetown University School of Medicine before attending the George Washington University School of Business and Public Management. Says Dr. Watson, who loves her country of birth with a passion, “I always tell people that growing up in Jamaica was an amazing blessing in itself, and one that I appreciate more and more as the years go by.”
The Founder and CEO of Health Concepts International, a healthcare consulting firm, Dr. Watson was recently recruited as the Executive Director for the DC Board of Medicine by the local Government of Washington DC. Says the Dr., “Taking on this new role during a historic time of change in America, was an amazing opportunity. My office is 2 blocks away from the White House in the nation’s capital, where health care reform is at the center of every major discussion.” Currently, Dr. Watson is responsible for managing regulatory oversight of licensing of over 11,000 physicians and health professionals.
Dr. Watson’s area of expertise and dedication to health made it easy for her to choose a mission for the charity. She explains, “Poverty, poor education and lack of access to quality health care results in negative health and social effects. Women and children, in particular, suffer disproportionately.”
Hence,15 dedicated Washington based ladies agreed to pool their professional expertise and resources with the vision of creating a philanthropic organization that would make a sustainable impact on the lives of underprivileged. Today, the non-profit charity is spearheaded by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of Secretary Dr. Jean Williams, Treasurer Andrea Summers, Alanna Broderick, Jacqui’s sister Kim M. Watson, Michelle Cross Fenty, Esq. Ex Officio as well as Founder and President Dr. Watson.
JWoW organizes two major fundraising events per year dedicated to specific causes such as HIV/ AIDS, mental health, substance abuse and the prevention of teenage pregnancy. Through JWoW’s ‘Tea-Off To Good Health’, an annual high tea and silent auction held in June and it’s ‘Tee-Off Fore The Health Of It’ golf tournament in fall, funds are raised through ticket sales, sponsorships and generous donations. Themes are selected based on feedback from the Ministry of Health in Jamaica about the needs. Explains Dr. Watson, “Once a theme has been selected, we invite community based organizations to submit grant applications. The Charity Selection Committee determines recipients according to strict criteria.”
In 2009 the two JWoW fundraiser events centered on the theme ‘Breath of Life: Reduce Infant Mortality and Save Lives’. The Tea-Off was held poolside at the residence of the Jamaican Ambassador in Washington DC and the Tee-Off golf event was held at Rose Hall’s Cinnamon Hill Golf Course. This was the first JWoW event hosted in Jamaica. Says Dr. Watson, “It was time for us to increase our presence on the island.”
Proceeds from both events were allotted to the Paediatric Ward of Montego Bay’s 400-bed Cornwall Regional Hospital, which serves large parts of Western Jamaica. Infant warmers, a bilirubinometer, pulseoximeters and phototherapy lamps valued at twenty five thousand dollars (US$25,000) were purchased. States Dr. Watson, “This was the first time JWoW gave a tangible gift. We have always given money to support services or programs. However, we learned that many infant deaths in Jamaica can be attributed to the lack of lifesaving equipment, so we felt compelled to make an adjustment.”
States Dr. Watson, “Jamaica suffers from startlingly high infant and child mortality rates.” JWoW’s donation complements the efforts Dr. Carleene Grant and CEO Mr. Everton Anderson, whose team is dedicated to addressing infant mortality in the region. According to Dr. Tracy Evans-Gilbert, Consultant Pediatrician at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, 57% of children’s deaths occur during the newborn stage.
Already in full use in the Paediatric Ward at Cornwall Regional Hospital, the nurses on duty were not too busy to show their appreciation to JWoW and Dr. Watson, who visited the hospital to see the medical equipment in operation.
Shares Dr. Watson, “It was moving to observe the tiny little infants benefiting from the medical equipment we donated with every little breath. It is incredibly uplifting and gratifying to know that, in our own small way, we are saving lives and helping to improve the services for those less fortunate. I hope others will be inspired to help as well.” After visiting the Paediatric Ward, Dr. Watson took the time to comfort a young couple in the waiting area anxiously awaiting the doctor’s update about their five week old son.
Since it’s inception in 2003, JWoW has raised over US$200,000 and donated to community-based organizations. Local beneficiaries in Jamaica include Mensana, The University of West Indies Development & Endowment Fund, Women’s Media Watch in Kingston, St. Anne’s Community Centre of Concern in West Kingston, Children’s First Agency, Spanish Town Family & Parenting Centre, Community for the Upliftment of The Mentally Ill, Western Society for the Upliftment of Children in Montego Bay, the Westmoreland Association for Street People, Sav-La-Mar Empowerment Program, FAMPLAN in St. Ann and the Jamaica AIDS Support. Affirms the Dr., “Support comes from both Jamaicans and Americans, it is amazing how many people love Jamaica and view it as a special place.”
Recognized by the Jamaican community both for her professional work and charitable contributions, Dr. Watson’s family is also involved in her many philanthropic endeavors. According to her husband of 18 years, dentist Steven Price, and the couple’s 14 year old son Chad, their home usually gets a bit turbulent two weeks before any given JWoW event. With a constantly ringing phone and a steady flow of drop off donations, the entire family pulls together to make it work. Says Dr. Watson, who is proud of her two men’s supportive attitude, “They help do a lot of heavy lifting and close their eyes to the temporary mess! I think it is an important example for our son to observe and recognize that he, too, must give back.”
Following in his mother’s footsteps, the young Chad has already started up his own charity called P.O.SH Movement, which stands for previously owned shoes. The teenager has persuaded his friends to donate little worn shoes to children in Jamaica, and identified a camp in Falmouth to help him to distribute shoes every summer. Explains Chad, “Every kid needs decent shoes to wear to school."
JWoW recently hosted their 8th. Annual Tea-Off in Washington,DC. This year’s theme focused on Homelessness and grant awards will be made to organizations in Jamaica, Washington DC and Haiti.
Individuals who feel connected to Jamaica and want to help JWoW fulfill their vision should visit www.JWoW.org.
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