Participation in the Hemispheric Forum for Women-Participacion en el Foro Hemisferico de Mujeres

Greetings family.



I share with you another amazing experience. I attended the OAS, CIM, UN Hemispheric Forum- “Women Leadership for a citizens democracy” I was there in my role as the Diaspora Coordinator/ Panama of the Red de Mujeres Afro. I met so many wonderful women and men and reconnected with a few I met at the last OAS conference. As I shared with the Ambassador from Barbados when I saw him, he does wear nice ties. He shared that he recognized my voice right away when I presented my intervention.



As you will see in my pictures I was surrounded by women who immediately embraced me as an equal and as a sister.



Some of my highlights include, the words by Muni Figueres Ambassador of Costa Rica who said this to men in the space, “ Bendito sea usted entre todas las mujeres.” She also shared some reflective words of President Laura Chinchilla. When the President was asked, What does it feel like to be the first female President. She responded, “ I look to the day when we will not be asked that question.”



Another moment includes my intervention and exchange with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. In her presentation, the Prime Minister stated that a “woman’s agenda is vital to sustainable development in our Region.” She spoke of the importance of a balanced agenda that includes women and children. I loved when she said with great clarity in her voice, “ Women are climbing out and onto the steps.”



In using her words and that of the Secretary General of the OAS, I asked the Prime Minister the following question, Women of African descent continue to face double discrimination of gender and race. On this year that the UN and the OAS have named the year of People of African descent, and as the Secretary General stated earlier, we face a high level of poverty in our community. Using your words Prime Minister, What do we need to do to create a clear agenda that is fully inclusive of women of African descent that will zero in on specific actions and suggestions?



The Prime Minister responded to many questions and waited to respond to me at the end. She addressed me by my name and thanked me for asking such an important question. She then looked at the Secretary General and at the UN Women Representative and said, this question merits a focus in this meeting that you will be having in the next few days. If not, then we are lacking in really responding to the needs of All women.



Yet, my favorite moment was any and every exchange I had with an Ambassador or Minister from the Caribbean. We laughed and shared stories as if we all knew each other for years. Just love that Caribbean love!! As you will see in the pictures, they were fabulous, elegant Black Women.

I give thanks to the ancestors for placing me in this space that feeds growth, clarity and voice to my community.



In peace

Yvette



Saludos familia,



Comparto con ustedes otra experiencia muy especial. Asistí al evento de la OEA, CIM, ONU Foro Hemisférico- "Liderazgo de Mujeres para la democracia de ciudadania" estuve allí en mi papel como el Coordinador de Diáspora/Panamá de la Red de Mujeres Afro. Encontré tantas mujeres y hombres maravillosos y conecté de nuevo con unos pocos que conoci en la última conferencia de OEA. Como compartí con el Embajador de Barbados cuando lo vi, lleva muy bonitas corbata. Compartió que reconoció mi voz en mi intervención. Como verá en mis imágenes estuve rodeada por mujeres que inmediatamente me abrazaron como igual y como una hermana.



Algunos de mis puntos culminantes incluyen, las palabras por Embajador de Costa Rica Muni Figueres, que dijo esto a los hombres en el espacio, "Bendito sea entre todas las mujeres". Ella también compartió algunas palabras reflectoras de la Presidenta Laura Chinchilla. Cuando le preguntaron come se siente en ser la primer mujer Presidenta de Costa Rica? Respondió, "espero el día cuando no se haga esa pregunta".



Otro momento incluye mi intervención y el intercambio con la Primera Ministra Kamla Persad-Bissessar de Trinida y Tobago. En su presentación, la Ministra indicó que una agenda de la mujer, es esencial al desarrollo sostenible en nuestra Región". Habló de la importancia de una agenda equilibrado que incluye mujeres y a niños. Adoré cuando dijo con gran claridad en su voz, "Women are climbing out and onto the steps.” A utilizar sus palabras y las del Secretario-General del OEA, yo le pregunté a la Ministra, las Mujeres Afrodescendientes continúan encarar doble discriminación de género y raza. En este año que la ONU y la OEA han nombrado el año de Personas Afrodescendientes, y como el Secretario-general indicó más temprano, encaramos un nivel alto de la pobreza en nuestra comunidad. ¿Utilizando sus palabras, Como creamos una agenda clara que nombra la inclusion de las mujeres Afrodescendientes que concentrará la atención en acciones y sugerencias específicas? La Primera Ministra respondió a muchas preguntas y esperó para responder a mí al fin. Me dirigió por mi nombre y me dio gracias para hacer tal pregunta tan importante. Ella entonces miró al Secretario-General y a la Representante de Mujeres de la ONU y dijo, esta pregunta merece un enfoque en esta reunión que usted tendrá en los próximos días. Si no, entonces nosotros no respondemos realmente a las necesidades de Todas las mujeres.



Todavía, mi momento favorito fue cualquier y cada intercambio que tuve con las/los Embajadoras/os y Ministras del Caribe. Nos reímos y compartimos historias como si todos nos conociéramos durante años. ¡ Adoro el amor Caribeno!! Como verá en las imágenes, ellas fueron Mujeres Afro fabulosas y elegantes. Doy gracias a las ancestras por colocarme en este espacio que alimenta el crecimiento, la claridad y la voz de nuestra comunidad.



abrazos

Yvette

Reflection- The Light Within

It is with love in our hearts that we wish you all a Happy New Year.

As we move into 2011, it is important to look at the lessons learned in 2010. Gather those moments when the light, those whispers spoke to us with love and commitment.

This journey may not make sense to most but when I close my eyes and sit in silence, there is no stronger validation.

How do we share that light that builds a unified community?

Our willingness to search for truth, move without fear and create balance in our lives, our community, will be our leading song.

I wrote this week on the fifth day of Kwanzaa which is Nia-Purpose, “Standing on these rocks and speaking of the struggle, strength and love of the Cimarrones/Freed Slaves, brought an overwhelming peace and clarity in PURPOSE. Nia-Purpose, principle is to build and develop our community so that we can restore our greatness. We are great for what we have faced and survived.” Ase

This is the picture I share with you. That moment transformed me. It is with that feeling that I look back at the Reflections of 2010.

These are some of the points that stood out for many.

Humanity-Words we should Stand by-Honoring Ann Marie Coriolan

I share this with you to highlight the common theme of love for humanity. Why do I think this is so important at this time? Like MLK, once our eyes are open to the suffering of the world, you could not but feel the pain of the people of Katrina, Colombia and Haiti, to name a few.

Through my awareness, I have always felt this strong connection to the people of Haiti because if we know history, then we know that what they did has impacted all people of African descent. We should always salute them for fighting, FOR US!! The people of Haiti have been recovering from many disasters over the years. If you have spent any time there, then you know that this devastation will require years of recovery.

Beyond our connection to the country is the connection to the human beings we see on the news and in the papers and the family members of friends we hear about.

So as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr., let us pause and send out a message of love to the people of Haiti. Let us use our collective energy and send these words out into the universe, hope, peace, love, community, prosperity. Let love and humanity be your guide. Let these words be the words we stand by.

Now is the Time, Ahora!!

One of the things highlighted in the dialogue was that our experience, the Afro-Latino experience in this country, is an African American experience. It is not until I open my mouth and they hear an accent, I learned that I am seen as a different kind of Black. It is at this moment that I step up to say,” Speaking bad about those Black people, ”African Americans” is speaking bad about me.”

We all agree that they are different cultural experiences in Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo and the U.S. but the Black experience, lack of inclusion, inequality, access, exist everywhere.

Why all of this? Torii Hunter’s comments places us in a position once again to talk, really talk to each other.

The use of the word “impostor” is strong yet, he hits a note. The note, that African American and Afro-Latino players do not truly see themselves as brothers. His words highlight that both sides need to learn more about each other, moving pass language.

Now is the time, Ahora!! Let us not get stuck on the word and take, grab, this opportunity to talk. Let us, people of African descent, transcend the stigma, perceptions that have plagued us.

Baseball is not just a game. During the time of Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente, it was the platform for visible change, a platform to challenge the status quo and now it can be the platform to confront a divide that exist between us, BLACK people.

We Believe!! Introducing the Young Women of TomorrowI

Sheneka”... When I think about my name and what it means, the following characteristics come to mine; strong, intelligent, independent, hardworking, determined, and successful person. These qualities will guarantee my success. Outside factors like not having much of a family and other things I’ve been through in my childhood are what make me who I am. My mother is a strong person and that part I got from her. She had a rough childhood and she has taught me to be tough and strong because she got through life doing that and it has worked out in her favor. I see myself graduating, giving birth to a healthy child, and then attending college.

The things I value are my unborn daughter, life, and helping people that are in need. I value my daughter because she will be a big part of my life and she’ll be my motivation. I value my life because there aren’t many people who have an opportunity to be in my shoes or even have the chance to go to college. My child will depend on my guidance. I value giving others help because this quality will be beneficial for my social work career.

Myshelle-We have learned to open up and share with each other which I really do not do. I also made some good friends. These girls were there for me on days when I was down and didn’t really know it. Just being able to have someone listen to me and everything I had to say made a big difference. I just want to say thanks to the girls, Ms. Grace and Ms. Yvette for being there.

Pride- Black History Month in Panama

My work has given me the opportunity to see my father on another level. Painful stories of the impact of segregation on our family keep pouring out. Joyous stories of his childhood in Gatun speak to why when they get together, there is nothing but love in their faces. The pride in our family history allows him to take me on a ride to see the location of the Port in Calle 5 where my grandfather and many other Caribbean workers arrived to Panama.

Moments with my father are a realization that this is bigger than me, bigger than us. We are telling a story of a people that had no voice.

Proud to be from Colon- On the official day of Etnia Negra en Panama May 30th, Colon shines. As I shared before I left, it is a day that we stand taller on the shoulders of our ancestors and for that one day, all the bad that is said about Colon gets put aside for us to celebrate our blackness.

Grounded in Blackness

I ask again, what does it means to be grounded in Blackness or Pro Black? Why did I see the connection?

First, Being Pro Black means loving self and loving my Black brother and sister unconditionally.

Pausing for a moment, I know that putting this out is thought provoking and may mean some isolation but there is a sense of freedom that hugs you when you are speaking truth to your own reality. This is not the time for easy conversations if we really want to transform our world.

I made a list of a few things that answer the question for me at this moment in my life;

-Knowing that those who walk close to me and have had a lasting impact on me who are not Black find our similarities, our humanness, but in opening my eyes to the reality of my childhood and my experiences as an adult, that our roads take different destinations when my Blackness come into play.

-Not loosing focus to the discomfort of others who refuse to hear our reality.

-Believing in my power to change and give to my community.

I give thanks to my mother for leaving a legacy of being proud and not allowing anyone to shake that, for showing me the connection between every Black Panamanian, leading me on a deeper search of that unity. Thanks, for the gift of seeing myself in Nicaragua, Belize, Ecuador and the women of Nigeria.

Thanks Mama for supporting my need to break down the barriers that I saw as a child, for reminding me to take my shoes off to be one with my teammates on the track team and for sitting us down as a family to watch Sounder.

Guerrera Spirit

That Guerrera spirit lives deep in the women who fight for the visibility, recognition and empowerment of the Afro Central American community. You hear it in their voices, see it as they stand and speak their truth, when they walk with pride and hold you with love. I commend one of our guererras, Mirtha Colon, who leads the women’s division of ONECA/CABO for moving with that energy.

We, women of African descent, move to the beat of our ancestral drum. It does not matter how tired we are at these conferences, we always leave celebrating and dancing. When we dance you see grace, joy and an ability to get down low like no bodies business.

Guerrera Spirit moves with those women who fight hard, love hard and see the light that leads to justice for our communities.

Footsteps to Unity

We spend a lot of time wanting others to see us, to understand our complexities as people of African descent. Today our focus needs to be how we see each other and accept each other while building towards a better understanding of the complexities of our individual regions.

Looking deeper into understanding that what is happening in Haiti has an impact on Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo has an impact on Puerto Rico. Nicaragua impacts Costa Rica. Colombia impacts Panama. Venezuela impacts Ecuador. Adding to this understanding, our experience in this country and our relationship with Africa Americans, we should see the advantage to building a unified message.

In preparing my opening for the dialogue, I kept saying, Afro descendents of Latin America and the Caribbean need to rename and reclaim history that would speak to our truth.

A Beaming Light- Celebrating Coach Henry Jones

As we get older, we gain the ability to reflect on our childhood and those aha moments that shaped us and the people that have had a lasting impact on us.

I recently wrote in my journal, “This journey has made me see Panama in a different light, love everything about being from Colon, celebrate being a product of Rainbow City, know with purpose that my Black is Beautiful and has deepened my Love for those I call Friends.”

It has also deepened my love for those I call mentors and teachers.

Many say, once an athlete always an athlete. The discipline, teamwork, focus that you develop will carry you through life. What I learned from Coach Jones has stayed with me off the track.

With my young women, I always highlight the talent I see in them and hope that they hold it close through good and bad times.

Coach saw me run at the age of 10 and saw something I did not know I had. He worked hard with so many of us. My parents trusted him and allowed me to gain more than good track skills from this amazing man.Coach was an Olympian, teacher, mentor father and confidant to many.

Report Back- US Launching of the African Women Decade

This is our journey of discovery it is our time to heal all that has made us say” You are a different kind of black.” Today we ask all of you present to stand with us, join us as we move towards a better future of a stronger unified black community.

My international work with the Red de Mujeres Afro has showed me that success in Senegal is success in Ecuador, success in Haiti, success in New Orleans

They are other moments in 2010 that although I did not write about them in my Reflections, I carry them close in my heart.

Here are a few;

-The passing of my dear friend Veena’s mother, Mrs. Mayani. Mrs. Mayani always welcomed me with a smile. I was not able to be there with Veena, Usha and the rest of the family. I called my father to share the news and he said, I will be there for you. I learned that our friendship is also, our family’s friendship.

-Spending time talking and eating with City Councilor Chuck Turner. Chuck opened his doors to me in my early years in Boston and allowed me to learn the true meaning of listening to community. I have learned many other things from Chuck but seeing him face this major challenge in his life, I learned the true meaning of loyalty. There is nothing anyone can say that will change the fact that this man has sacrificed for community and most off all, has loved us, our community unconditionally. It is with that light that I will continue to stand with him.

-Being at the wedding of a dear friend as she married her Soul mate while her father’s spirit hugged her with an abundance of love. My friendship with Sarah has taught me that you can move to the beat of your own drum and those that move with you will gather joy along the way.

-Filming the documentary in Panama with Toshi Sakai and having my lines read to me by Sheila Walker was exactly what the ancestors ordered. This project which Toshi gathers with love will truly be amazing because the experience has been transforming for all those involved.

-Getting a package with the book, The Afro Latin@ Reader- History and Culture in the US. What a moment!! To open the book and look at page 417 and see the dedication to my father was priceless.

To then have the first book signing event in Boston was a validation that this is our story to tell.

-Going to Houston, Texas for a When and Where I Enter Inc., Afro-Latina brunch with Sonia Pierre as the keynote. This was the first time Sonia and I had seen each other since the earthquake and since the passing of our dear friend Ann Marie. I was her translator and while doing it, I felt a level of pain, fear, yet conviction to keep doing what we are doing.

This was balanced with my time with Mr. and Mrs. Layne who knew me as a child in Rainbow City. My cup runeth over as they spoke of my family and of my mother. I was overcome with tears when Mrs. Marva looked at me and said that if you knew my mother and especially my grandmother, then it was no surprise to have me standing there with them.

-Oh Rainbow City, what can I say other than LOVE. I just love everything about it, the people, my friends, who through that common history we can go 20+ years without seeing each other and once we pick up that phone and say, “It’s me” or when we see each other, you are received with a level of love that defies description.

There is one moment that spoke directly to the questions I continue to walk with, that speak to the development of my voice. Reading what I wrote with a dear classmate in high school was an, aha moment of, Yes, I was on this path way before I named it. I wrote, “Both blacks and whites are still aware of the separation even if there are not stated arguments or resentments. The question still stands, will it change.”

So today, as you say to others Happy New Year, reach for that Light Within that moves you towards building our community. Continue your search for truth, holding those who are dear to you close and believing we will be victorious in 2011.

Family, I ask that we move with the love that will transform you and our community, that love that moves beyond the month we are given and the year we are celebrated. Reach for that love, that light, which will make every day, your day.

Peace
Yvette

Report Back-Mobilizing, Empowering and Action- US Launching of the African Women Decade

Report Back- Mobilizing, Empowering and Action- US Launching of the African Women Decade

The Decade is off!!! What better way to share this experience with you than to share the words of the day that will bring you into the space and allow you to feel the energy that embraced us all.

We thought it was important that all participants leave with the information that was shared throughout the day so I gathered points made by all the presenters.

I share with you some of my closing and words from the strong, passionate and energizing presenters of the day.
The energy in the room is that of true Sisterhood and Community.It is with the guidance and the whispers of my ancestors that I stand here with you. What an amazing day!!!

Today we kickoff the African Woman’s Decade yet, it is more than that, today we stand to say, We are here!!! Estamos Presente!!! We remove “I” to say “We”.

Today we say we will create our own agenda, moving from our own reality.

The reality of our health, our community, our family and our future.

We are tired of being ignored. We will not wait for others to arrive. We will take care of our self and of each other.

It has been a wonderful personal experience to be at the table with these amazing women. I have to share that I now know I have a sister in Chioma. Thank you for inviting me to the table. To the Women of the Soil, Thanks.

The flyer spoke to how important this is to all of us. You could not tell who was from where. Our faces, the grace, the kindness, the depth spoke to oneness as women of African descent.

This is our journey of discovery it is our time to heal all that has made us say” You are a different kind of black.” Today we ask all of you present to stand with us, join us as we move towards a better future of a stronger unified black community.

My international work with the Red de Mujeres Afro has showed me that success in Senegal is success in Ecuador, success in Haiti, success in New Orleans.

The Beijing conference marked an international women’s movement. It brought women together and allowed them to share and create a clear gender rights agenda.

The principal themes were the advancement and empowerment of women in relation to women’s rights, women and poverty, women and decision making, the girl-child, violence against women and other areas of concern. This theme continued into the Durban conference on Racism and Beijing +5.

The conference signaled a clear commitment to international norms and standards of equality between men and women that protects and promotes our human rights.

Launching this decade also falls into the UN declaring 2011 as the year of people of African descent.

It is time to rename our priorities to community and self and reclaim self meeting at our root.

Let’s MOBILIZE and build a strong community that includes all aspects of our life. WE ask that our men join us, bring your children along and honor your grandmothers. The Decade highlights the following;

To create awareness and mobilize continental support and
political will in implementing the agreed international, regional
and sub regional decisions and gender commitments.

• To re-invigorate commitment to accelerate implementation on
agreed global and regional commitments on the human rights
perspective focusing on priorities such as education, health,
agriculture, women’s economic and political empowerment,
gender based violence etc

In preparing for today I looked back at some of my presentations throughout the years asking the following question. What has brought me to this place? What words do I carry with me? What words can you leave with today.

Empowering

I see you!!! I see you Trina, Chuck, Jemadari and Ester. That sounds simple yet when you arrive at that point in your life, the light within shines brighter.

I walk with the words of Assata Shakur as I learn more about myself and my role in the mending of our community. She wrote in her autobiography,” Our desire to be free has got to manifest itself in everything we are and do.”

Today we feel a unity and a love, yes love, for each other. That cannot change when you walk out this space. When someone says something negative about Haiti, Nigeria, stop and say, you are speaking about my sister, you are speaking about me.

As Audre Lorde said, divide and conquer, in our world, must become define and empower.

Let us love each other in the light. Empowerment for this decade should mean a cleansing of self denial and self hatred. Audre lorde wrote in Eye to Eye Sister Outsider- “We have to consciously study how to be tender with each other until it becomes a habit because what was native has been stolen from us, the love of black women for each other.”

Be tender with self. Take the time for your spiritual and physical health.

It is our right to determine our future, we will do so empowered today walking with our heads held high never looking down for anyone.

Today we heard from a group of wonderful women and men.

The MC for the day was Elizabeth Siwo-Okundi. She was amazing. Elizabeth kept everything flowing and did it with such grace.

The Chancellor of UMASS Boston, Keith Motley welcomed all to campus and to the event. He shared that women are agents of change and that he knew that this group of women will be leading this movement, making the world save for women and children. His voice was filled with pride, joy and true partnership.

We also heard from our highest ranking official in the space, State Representative Gloria Fox who in her soul sister, elder grace spoke of the importance of Massachusetts launching this decade. Rep. Fox was followed by the President of the Shalupe Foundation, Jeanne Kasango l. Ngondo and the President of the African Student Union at UMASS, Wlede Stemn.

Our opening Keynote speaker was Ms. Liz Walker. She would answer the question, Why are we here? Why now? Ms. Walker is an award winning television journalist who is currently working in war torn Sudan. She is also an ordained minister. All that said, Ms Walker took it to the pulpit, she truly set the tone for the day.

Ms. Walker spoke of lessons learned from her trip to Sudan. She heard stories about rape and torture. She got there and in addition to addressing those issues, her job became more important. As she said, she had to “walk across the lot”.

She realized that you cannot “Save a people who have been here longer than us.” This was a time to go into the world and learn something from the world. In Sudan she saw relationships, tribalism, clanship and sisterhood. It was time to look beyond material wealth and felt that the world was “Saving her”.

There was a spirit of reciprocity a power shift in this experience for her. Ms. Walker was moving around, lifting her hands with such believe and peace.

She closed by sharing this reflection, which brought on a chorus of Amen, Ase, speak Sister, in the space. “This problem will be solved, heart to heart. We will move on heart. The balance of the world is off. This is a time of great opportunity. We are not here to save each other but to learn from each other. We are caught in a single garment of destiny and we cannot disconnect.”

Ambassador Amina Salum Ali shared the importance of our role in politics and owning our own business. Ms. Ali is the first women to be the Permanent Representative of the African Union in the US.

We then had a powerful performance, Voices of Women of African Descent. that was directed by our own Women of soil Sisters, Akiba and U-Meleni. This group of young women shared their first painful experience with racism. Many cried while listening to these stories.

They closed the performance by saying out loud, “If we speak it, it will become a Decade for African Women.” Everyone joined in, clapping, signing, dancing, to the rhythm of our soul.

The Talk Back was just as powerful as participants spoke openly about the issue of rape and the need to support each other.

After lunch we had the panel, Women of the African Diaspora in the 21st Century. Many felt it was refreshing to see us, women from the Continent, Latin America, the Caribbean and the US engaging in a dialogue on identity, commonality, resiliency, conflict and strategies.

I then came back to my presentation, Mobilizing, Empowering and Action. After listening to what has been shared in this space today, how will you join us? What does it mean to join us? If you want to focus on one area, what will it be?

I went into the crowd and they shared the following;

-Acceptance of all
-Inclusion of young women. Holding hands with young women a treasure/learn process.
-Learning more about the issues that are affecting us in our individual Regions
What will be our testament to each other to our community?
I pointed out two that I feel are very important for our true unity.
-Afro descendents Immigrants- We need to acknowledge, not dismiss the struggle of African Americans that allows us to march down the street today.
-Black men- We love you, we welcome you. We need to change the tone in our exchange.
Hold each other with a bit more care.

What are some of our challenges and what are our hopes for this decade? These are the 10 areas of focus.

1. Fighting Poverty and Promoting Economic Empowerment of
Women and Entrepreneurship,
2. Agriculture and Food Security
3. Health Maternal Mortality and HIV/AIDS
4. Education, Science and Technology
5. Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development
6. Peace and Security and Violence against Women
7. Governance and Legal Protection
8. Finance and Gender Budgeting
9. Women in Decision Making
10. Young Women Movement

We handed out commitment cards. Many took the time to make a commitment to the African Woman’s Decade.

I went into the crowd and many shared some Action Steps.

-Generate money
-Black enterprise
-Networking
-Promoting Africa
-Shifting language
-Development of a loving dialogue between black men and women
-Story telling
-Self-Representation
-Protect what we make
-Making our own media

Say I see you, I am here, Presente, Venceremos!!!

As we leave here today, move with the words, My AFRICAN is,

My African is,

The gentleness in your eyes as you see my real beauty.
The kindness in your voice as you call me Queen.
My African is
Revolutionary,
I will keep my head up high and fight for my right to be free.
We will not be silent.
We will speak out against the system that fails us, excludes us and minimizes us.
My African will extend my hand out, we will walk together for this decade saying I am you, you are me.

What is your African?

Thank you all for coming, thank you for your support. Thank you, Gracias Merci.
Celebrate you, celebrate your Africanness.
PEACE

A Beaming Light-Celebrating Coach Henry Jones

A Beaming Light-Celebrating Coach Henry Jones

As we get older, we gain the ability to reflect on our childhood and those aha moments that shaped us and the people that have had a lasting impact on us.

I recently wrote in my journal, “This journey has made me see Panama in a different light, love everything about being from Colon, celebrate being a product of Rainbow City, know with purpose that my Black is Beautiful and has deepened my Love for those I call Friends.”

It has also deepened my love for those I call mentors and teachers.

Many say, once an athlete always an athlete. The discipline, teamwork, focus that you develop will carry you through life. What I learned from Coach Jones has stayed with me off the track.

With my young women, I always highlight the talent I see in them and hope that they hold it close through good and bad times.

Coach saw me run at the age of 10 and saw something I did not know I had. He worked hard with so many of us. My parents trusted him and allowed me to gain more than good track skills from this amazing man.Coach was an Olympian, teacher, mentor father and confidant to many.

On my recent birthday, I heard that Coach was in the US with his children. I was so excited and on the spot decided I would give myself the gift of going and sitting with him and saying Thank you. I have seen him throughout the years but I was not able to sit and have a long conversation. I was always overcome with tears.

I wanted to ask him so many questions. I wanted to understand why he meant so much to me and to so many others.

I got to see Panama with him as a member of the Colon track team. I learned to push pass class differences with my teammates who are still today some of my closest friends. My love for running comes from this time period of being trained by him.

When I arrived to visit him I was overwhelmed with love for this man. I laughed with him, cried, held his hand, read to him and got to know him all over again on a deeper level.

One of my friends and teammates gave me a joke to share with him. As I told him I saw his face light up. I had shared my plans with others and many took the time to send him a message. They were many wonderful stories, jokes yet I will only share a few.

-He was always about simply doing your best.

-He really helped me…Please tell him, he is often thought about and some things he said to me, I’m passing to my son and daughter.

-Coach Jones was the best track coach ever at Cristobal.!! Striving for excellence with every stride, regardless of the outcome. He was always an encouraging Coach.

-Please tell Coach Jones hello. He taught me a lot about life. He is the man!!!

-Please give him my best and remind him of all those he had a great impact on.

He was moved by the messages and his face was filled with such pride. I was able to read some of my work to him. I would ask him if he was tired and he said he wanted to hear more. I asked about the challenges he faced at home during segregation and what he did to overcome them. One of the things he did was to keep studying. I found out that coach received his Masters in Education from NYU.

The more he shared, the more I realized that this man shaped many of my views on life,moving pass class differences and pride.

On the last day of my visit I woke up early and wrote this to him.

A Beaming Light

Faster than a speeding bullet,
Charming and Gracious as an African King.

Believe in self was part of your DNA.

You walked with pride that was passed on to each
and every one of us.

Doing your best was your song,
Being our best was our chorus,

I am you Coach Jones
because I am disciplined.

An Olympian, a star in our eyes,
Education was your key to success.

You were more than just a man who showed
us to pick up our legs and move our hands.

Father to many, Mentor to all.

I am you Coach Jones
because I am strong.

Preaching Unity from your starting block pulpit,
we were all Colonenses, Beep Beep Colon!!!

We hold your love for running as we find clarity and peace
on a long run through the streets.

I am you Coach Jones because I see love
and give love.

Many ask, who taught you this, I say, this beaming light
on the track field.

Then they ask, what did he say and I share a line that
I will forever hold, “not to worry about them, let them
worry about us."

I see you in me, running past the given line standing
straight and tall.

This is not an accident. I was "saved" in you hands.

Thank you Dario and Kimaura for sharing him with us.

I am you Coach Jones because I am family.

The sun rises and sets on my love for you.

You gave me long life friendships that allows me to sit and
laugh about the cow milk in Coclé, the bunk beds in Bocas,
and the loud music on the bus after another victory.

I am you Coach Jones because you are you,

The runner, the coach, the mentor, the star, the king,
The light that I will always be reaching for.

When I finished reading it, I asked what I should name the piece. I then looked up and saw the light in his eyes and the name came to me, A Beaming Light. I now speak to him weekly and get to share my life as an adult with him.

So today, I ask you all to stand and shout out, Happy 80th Birthday Coach Jones. Thank you, thank you thank you for having a lasting impact on who I am as a woman, a friend and an activist. May the ancestors continue to fill your life with joy and surround you with love.

Love you!!!

Peace
Yvette