Our Board of Directors
|
Officers:
Trusha Patel, President Andrew Gordon, Vice President Alexis Goffe, Secretary Alex Nugent, Treasurer |
Advisory Board Members:
Dadri-Anne Graham Susan Goffe Andre Moulton |
Trusha Patel, President
Trusha grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Business Management at the University of Florida in Gainesville and her J.D. from the University Of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, MN.
A huge proponent of community service, Trusha has participated in several nonprofit organizations in a volunteer capacity, as a project leader and through the Americorps program at Hands on Miami, a subsidiary of Hands on Network. Professionally, Trusha worked briefly in Child Protection for local government before becoming a judicial law clerk for a District Court Judge in the State of Minnesota.
Although Trusha has spent much of her adult life outside of Jamaica, her heart remains back home. With a passion for youth and a strong belief that fresh ideas and enthusiasm will create a better Jamaica, Trusha serves on the Board of Directors for JaMinn Link as its President.
A huge proponent of community service, Trusha has participated in several nonprofit organizations in a volunteer capacity, as a project leader and through the Americorps program at Hands on Miami, a subsidiary of Hands on Network. Professionally, Trusha worked briefly in Child Protection for local government before becoming a judicial law clerk for a District Court Judge in the State of Minnesota.
Although Trusha has spent much of her adult life outside of Jamaica, her heart remains back home. With a passion for youth and a strong belief that fresh ideas and enthusiasm will create a better Jamaica, Trusha serves on the Board of Directors for JaMinn Link as its President.
Andrew Gordon, Vice President
Born and raised in Jamaica, Andrew grew to love and appreciate the unique culture and heritage of Jamaica. He played cricket for Campion College and the Kingston Cricket Club before moving to the United States for School. He attended Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, and eventually graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School and was admitted to the Minnesota Bar in 2008. Professionally, he’s worked as a Public Defender in Minnesota and Massachusetts, and is currently the Director of the Legal Education Program at the Legal Rights Center.
While he works in the United States, his heart has never left his home in the surrounding hills of Kingston. Encouraged by the force and dedication of his friends, family and contemporaries, he is dedicated to actually doing something for the betterment of his Jamaican brethren. It is not enough to sit idly by while we complain about and lament our lot in life. Action is needed, and Andrew believes that if his generation of Jamaicans doesn’t take the lead in that effort, then no one will.
While he works in the United States, his heart has never left his home in the surrounding hills of Kingston. Encouraged by the force and dedication of his friends, family and contemporaries, he is dedicated to actually doing something for the betterment of his Jamaican brethren. It is not enough to sit idly by while we complain about and lament our lot in life. Action is needed, and Andrew believes that if his generation of Jamaicans doesn’t take the lead in that effort, then no one will.
Alexis Goffe, Secretary
After being born and raised in warm and sunny Kingston, Jamaica, it is a wonder why Alexis Goffe has endured the tundra winters of Minnesota, USA since 2002. Alexis attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota and University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Despite being away for so long, his passion for Jamaica has never wavered.
During his eight years away from home, Alexis became increasingly frustrated by feelings of helplessness as he read constant reports of violence, human rights violations and corruption. Determined to switch frustration into action, in 2009, Alexis was an instrumental member of the group that founded JaMinn Link. His dedication to being a contributing member to Jamaica is as certain as it will snow in Minnesota. One thing is for sure, wherever he finds himself in the world, Alexis is dedicated to continue jaminn for a cause.
Alex Nugent, Treasurer
Born and raised in Spanish Town, Jamaica and is a past student of St. Jago High School. After high school, Alex attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and subsequently pursued graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in Minneapolis, MN. He currently works as an Engineer in the Minneapolis area.
Alex maintains very strong ties with Jamaica though family, friends and frequent trips home, particularly at Christmas which is his favorite time of year. As a firm believer in education being the key to success, he thinks Jamaica should channel more energy and resources into providing quality education for the entire populace, since a more education population will lead to a more prosperous Jamaica.
Alex maintains very strong ties with Jamaica though family, friends and frequent trips home, particularly at Christmas which is his favorite time of year. As a firm believer in education being the key to success, he thinks Jamaica should channel more energy and resources into providing quality education for the entire populace, since a more education population will lead to a more prosperous Jamaica.
Dadri-Anne Graham, Advisory Board Member
Dadri-Anne was born and raised in Manchester, Jamaica. She currently resides in Minnesota, where she is pursuing a Political Science degree with a Legal Studies concentration at Macalester College. Before Mac, Dadri-Anne attended Bishop Gibson High School for girls and later, Hampton School for girls. Dadri-Anne’s family has always been strongly involved in the Jamaican education system and this developed her strong passion for youth development and education. Additionally, since attending Macalester, she has been involved with human rights and advocacy. A proud Jamaican, Dadri-Anne often shares the Jamaican culture with the Macalester community through dance and involvement with student organizations on campus.
Dadri-Anne believes JaMinn Link is a perfect medium for her to contribute to effecting social change in her country, whether from afar or with occasional visits home.
Dadri-Anne believes JaMinn Link is a perfect medium for her to contribute to effecting social change in her country, whether from afar or with occasional visits home.
Susan Goffe, Advisory Board Member
Susan Goffe is a prominent human rights activist in Jamaica. Born and raised in Kingston, Susan received her formal education at St Hugh’s High School in Kingston, Wellesley Collegein Massachusetts (BA English) and the University of the West Indies, Mona (Diploma in Education).
She is a teacher by training and profession, and has taught for years in both public and private educational institutions. She joined Jamaicans for Justice, the leading human rights institution in Jamaica, in 1999, the year in which it was formed and has remained a member ever since. She has been a member of Amnesty International in Jamaica since 2001, and this has been an avenue for pursuing her interest in global human rights issues. She is an avid reader and creative writer.
She is a teacher by training and profession, and has taught for years in both public and private educational institutions. She joined Jamaicans for Justice, the leading human rights institution in Jamaica, in 1999, the year in which it was formed and has remained a member ever since. She has been a member of Amnesty International in Jamaica since 2001, and this has been an avenue for pursuing her interest in global human rights issues. She is an avid reader and creative writer.
Andre Moulton, Advisory Board Member
Andre Moulton was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica and was privileged to have spent his early years in the Jamaican country side in the small towns of Grange Hill and Frome, located within the parish of Westmoreland. The country side is an integral part of his life; it is here that he learned from his parents and grandmother what it means to help one’s community. Even after moving to Kingston, and migrating to Toronto, Canada, and eventually immigrating back to Jamaica; his family made frequent visits to Grange Hill where his grandmother never turned away any visitor who asked for a meal or any of disabled individuals who came looking to work in the yard. Out of the little she had, she gave much and that is ingrained in the community development work Andre has sought to be a part of ever since.
As a global citizen who holds official dual citizenship status in Jamaica and Canada, Andre has lived in Kingston, Jamaica, Toronto, Canada, and St Paul, Minnesota. At each stop he made it his mission to encourage Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora to adopt a borderless Jamaican identity one that is built upon strong community values of unity, equality and excellence above all. As a member and leader of many student organizations in high school, college, and law school and community organizations in each city that he has lived in, he has always tried to foster a sense of teamwork and inclusion; to act upon the strong and concise vision of that group. His experiences through this endeavor have allowed to him gather a wealth of knowledge on organizations and how they operate.
Vocationally, Andre is a licensed attorney who was called to the Minnesota Bar in October, 2011 and currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada where he is pursuing a legal license through the law society of Upper Canada. He also works with 4wd, the youth group of the Jamaica 50th anniversary planning committee in Toronto and the Jamaica Diaspora Canada Foundation-Future Leaders group. Invariably, wherever a Jamaican community organization is active in promoting solutions to problems facing Jamaica, Andre will be there “doing”, not talking, and giving back the way he was taught all those years ago in Grange Hill, Westmoreland.
As a global citizen who holds official dual citizenship status in Jamaica and Canada, Andre has lived in Kingston, Jamaica, Toronto, Canada, and St Paul, Minnesota. At each stop he made it his mission to encourage Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora to adopt a borderless Jamaican identity one that is built upon strong community values of unity, equality and excellence above all. As a member and leader of many student organizations in high school, college, and law school and community organizations in each city that he has lived in, he has always tried to foster a sense of teamwork and inclusion; to act upon the strong and concise vision of that group. His experiences through this endeavor have allowed to him gather a wealth of knowledge on organizations and how they operate.
Vocationally, Andre is a licensed attorney who was called to the Minnesota Bar in October, 2011 and currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada where he is pursuing a legal license through the law society of Upper Canada. He also works with 4wd, the youth group of the Jamaica 50th anniversary planning committee in Toronto and the Jamaica Diaspora Canada Foundation-Future Leaders group. Invariably, wherever a Jamaican community organization is active in promoting solutions to problems facing Jamaica, Andre will be there “doing”, not talking, and giving back the way he was taught all those years ago in Grange Hill, Westmoreland.
