GGR Book Club: The Black Man Drought by Lorraine Jonelle Stephens

It’s said that true charity begin at home and Keshia Adams is determined not to keep it there.  The Brooklyn-Based Executive Director/Founder of Lifting You For Tomorrow’s Success (L.Y.F.T.S) is on a mission to break the cycle of poverty for families in her community and in Guyana.  L.Y.F.T.S. is a  non-profit organization that tackles many social problems like poverty, at-risk youth, and hunger. Another passion of Keshia is the The Adams Project (T.A.P.); a subsection of L.Y.F.T. that…

Dr. Faith Azelia Harding leaves behind a legacy of impressive political accomplishments and passionate advocacy. A former Minister and PNCR’s first female presidential candidate, Dr. Harding was one of Guyana’s leading political advocate for issues affecting women and children. Born on October 5, 1947 in Georgetown, Guyana to Egbert and Beryl Blackmore, she was the sixth child of a very closely knitted family which consist of three brothers and three sisters. Dr. Harding attended St….

Dr. Latoya Shonell Gooding is a beacon of hope to many cancer-stricken patients in Guyana. She goes above and beyond to ensure they receive the best care as they battle this deadly disease. Her kindness has touched many families and helped most of her patients through those dark days. She was compelled into the field of medicine, specifically Oncology, following the death of her grandfather to prostate cancer. According to Dr. Gooding, he was given…

Fifteen year old Table Tennis Star, Chelsea Edghill, was introduced to the sport at the tender age of 9, and she has served up quite an impressive career record. The Bishop’s High School student first got her start at the Teach Them Young training Summer Camp and later at Mae’s where she regularly competed for the school. In 2006,  Edghill made her first regional appearance at the inaugural tournament of the annual Caribbean Pre-Cadet Table…

Tarana Dance Centre was a vision brought to life by Artistic Director, Deviekha Chetram.  Born and raised in Alexander Village, Guyana, Deviekha has always demonstrated a keen interest in Indian dance since childhood and developed her own free style as she performed and choreographed dances for local events in Guyana. This enthusiasm led her to seek formal training in Kathak at the Indian Cultural Centre, Georgetown, Guyana. She considers herself lucky to have received her…

Dr. Beryl Agatha Gilroy (née Answick) was a novelist and teacher, and “one of Britain’s most significant post-war Caribbean migrants”. Born on August  30th, 1924 in Guyana (then British Guiana), she moved in the 1950s to the United Kingdom, where she became the first black head teacher to be appointed in the borough of Camden in London at Beckford Primary. Beryl  was born in Skeldon, Berbice, Guyana. She grew up in a large, extended family,…

Supriya Singh-Bodden, C.C.H., is a native of Guyana and the Founder/Trustee of the Guyana Foundation. The Guyana Foundation was created by a group of highly dedicated men and women who see an urgent need to contribute meaningfully to the rebuilding of Guyana. Driven by the conviction that great change can be made by people who are encouraged and supported, the Foundation empowers local and international volunteers to transform the lives of individuals, families, and entire…

Guyana celebrates Republic Day or Mashramani (abbreviated as ‘Mash) on February usually on the 23rd. Guyanese citizens enjoy festive and colourful parades much like that of a carnival, music, and games. Guyanese cook on this special day to mark the birth of a new country. Mashramani should not be confused with the country’s Independence Day on May 26. After it gained independence from the British in 1966, the Guyanese people established itself as an independent…

The courage and passion that singer, Lisa Punch, showed during her appearance on the “Rising Star” TV Show inspired me to share this quote.  In just 6-months of living in a foreign country, she fearlessly took to the international stage and showed her fans and the world that nothing is impossible. Always remember that “If you have a dream, don’t just sit there. Gather courage to believe that you can succeed and leave no stone…

UK-based Guyanese Jurist Dale Simon, Chairperson of the United Kingdom Chapter of the Guyana Law Association (GLA) and Director of Equality and Diversity of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), has been awarded a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2013 Queen’s New Year Honours List! Growing up in London’s East End, Dale overcame barriers such as racism and low expectations to excel as a Crown prosecutor. These experiences left her with a desire…

On Sept. 9 in a lavish ceremony in Temple Hills, Maryland, Guyanese Ariana Austin married Prince Joel Makonnen who is the great-grandson of Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia. Mr. Makonnen, known as Prince Yoel, is the 35-year-old great-grandson of Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia. Ms. Austin, 33, is of African-American and Guyanese descent; her maternal grandfather was a lord mayor of Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. · Their marriage had been…

“As queen, I am very proud and feel honoured to be representing my country in Malaysia for the Miss India Worldwide, April 2013 pageant and will do my best to make my country proud.” These were the words of reigning Miss India Guyana 2013, Katherina Roshana, during her acceptance speech back in January. Katherina will  represent Guyana at the International Miss India Worldwide Pageant scheduled to be held in Malaysia on April 21st,  2013.   She…

Sixteen year old swimmer Onika George, was Guyana’s only swimmer at the 2014 Commonwealth Games last month in Glasgow, Scotland.  She finished 4th in the Women’s 50m Freestyle – Heat 2 and 5th in the Women’s 100m Freestyle.  What’s commendable about Onika is her determination to inspire her fellow Guyanese to take up swimming Onika  was part of the small Guyana team in Glasgow and the only athlete in the pool after men’s freestyle and…

PATRICIA A. CUMMINGS was born and grew up in Georgetown, Guyana. Before becoming an attorney, Patricia was the Administrative Director of the Nuclear Medicine/Ultrasound Department at Parklane Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. She is board certified in Nuclear Medicine, Radiology and Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology. Patricia graduated from Ottawa University in 1983 (B.A.) and Syracuse University Law School in 1987 (J.D.) where she was the recipient of the Best Advocate Award, Edmund H. Lewis…

Domestic Violence Awareness! When you allow yourself to be dominated by someone else, you begin to lose respect for yourself. You become silently enraged, both at …the person who is dominating you and at yourself for allowing the domination. Someone else is in control of your life, just as assuredly as if you were a slave obeying orders. Stop doing this to yourself!’ “Reflect on how much pain you’ve suffered, and remember your abuser’s broken…