Afrika’s Struggle Meets the Jamaican Minister of Tourism and other Notables at NYU

April 9, 2025 - Events

The Jamaican Consulate in New York invited me to an Exclusive Fireside Chat with Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett.

The Jamaica Tourist Board sponsored the fireside chat with Jamaica’s Minister in partnership with NYU’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality.

Moderated by NYU Professor Dr. Donna Kelly, the conversation spotlighted tourism resilience and the future of global travel, drawing on insights from Minister Bartlett’s latest book, Decoding the Future of Tourism Resilience.

The Minister convincingly illustrated the positive direction Jamaican tourism is taking despite the current interesting times and challenges on the horizon.

The Hon. Edmund Bartlett even deftly and gingerly navigated challenging questions (e.g., the living wages of the tourism sector’s rank-and-file workers, public access [i.e., monetized or not] to Jamaican beaches, and others).

As a self-proclaimed Jamaica-firster, I argued that Jamaican tourism will be fantastic in the short and long run.

Alas, when do we bring back our beloved Air Jamaica? I kid!

Please see the pictures below:

Karl A. Mitchell is with the Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett.

Karl A. Mitchell is with the illustrious Starkist Tuna Heir and Reggae Mogul American-born Joseph Bogdanovich. He is currently the manager/partner of arguably the King of Dancehall, Vybz Kartel, who is currently touring in NYC. Mr. Bogdanovich plans to write a review of my book.

Karl A. Mitchell is with the legendary, multi-talented Jamaican artist, Althea Stephanie Hewitt.

 

 

 

Afrika’s Struggle at Alumni Event in Long Island

April 6, 2025 - Events

Today, I attended an alum event in Long Island. It was a great experience.

Senior Director Laura Abrams did a marvelous job, as usual, hosting the event.

VP Laurie Dorf’s Midas touch was evident throughout.

I cannot communicate enough about President Frank Wu’s inspirational presentations.

He pulls the audience right into his mindset. President Wu has the skill of speaking not only to the mind but also to the heart. Maya Angelou’s quote, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” captures the President’s speaking style.

I want to thank Director Zavi Gunn for initially inviting me to the event.

The highly hardworking Dean Kate Pechenkina was also present at the event.

Jimmy McMillian (St. Francis Prep, BA from Queens College, MA from Teacher’s College, Columbia University) and his wife, Ashley McMillian, were present and spoke. They both own two tutoring and mentoring companies – employing several employees and paid interns, including from Queens College.

A note on Ashley McMillian! Ms. McMillian was a Macauly Honors student who graduated in three and a half years with a 4.0 GPA.

Recently, she spoke at the Queens College Business Breakfast. Not only is she the youngest to speak at the Business Breakfast, but she is also one of the best presenters/speakers to grace the stage. Please see her in action here! Being a professional singer makes her a natural, too.

Currently, Ms. McMillian is working on applying to the joint JD/MBA program at Harvard University.

Some of my other former mentees were absent for good reasons.

Pavel Tchingirinski (Bloomberg), an up-and-coming donor to Queens College, wanted to attend but has been under the weather since yesterday. He will attend the QC Gala.

Sujen Wu Wu (HQ Capital) did not make it since a family member is visiting from her home country for the weekend.

Last but not least, Reginald Wills (Goldman Sachs) would have been present if he had not been slated for military reserves duty out of state this weekend.

The above three alumni would have added more flavor to a great gathering.

It was a beautiful turnout.

A VIP alumnus (a national celebrity) was in attendance today.

Please see a few pictures below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afrika’s Struggle at a Funeral in Central Park West

March 31, 2025 - Events

“The quintessential ‘gentleman and scholar,’ erudite, kind, engaging and to so many a valued friend, colleague, teacher and mentor. An honor and a privilege to have known him.”

– Dr. Gary J. Roeburt

“Dr. James Nicholas Jordan is the only person I think could have pulled off being the consummate Southern gentleman despite living in NYC for almost 60 years.”

– Dr. Stephen Grover

The above quotes capture Dr. James Nicholas Jordan’s essence.

Dr. Jordan was a former dean, department chair, and program director.

He is the author of Western Philosophy: From Antiquity to the Middle Ages.

Most importantly, Dr. Jordan was my former professor.

A former professor with whom I picked his brain on many crossroads’ decisions.

RIP, Dr. Jordan!

Dr. Jordan’s funeral was at 11 am on Monday, March 31, 2025, at

Christ & St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

120 West 69th Street, New York, NY 10023

The repast was at Penny Shaw’s (Hunter College—CUNY) apartment close to the church.

Today, I learned that Dr. Jordan was a talented sketch artist. He was a renaissance man, indeed. Please see some of his sketches in the pictures below:

 

 

 

Afrika’s Struggle in Jamaica for a Funeral

March 27, 2025 - Events

Meeting a Schoolmate

The Head of the Economics Department at UWI, with a print copy of the book, Afrika’s Struggle: His Experiential Journey.

The above picture shows the Hon. Dr. Una Clarke, OD, and her husband, Leslie Clarke. Mr. Clarke is a retired architect and planner, and the Hon. Dr. Clarke is a retired NYC politician on the CUNY Board of Trustees. They are the parents of US Congresswoman Dr. Yvette Clarke, OD, who holds a senior leadership position in Congress. They welcomed me into their palatial home after the funeral. I received excellent hospitality with pomp and circumstance. Believe it or not, this upstanding couple is in their nineties. The Hon. Dr. Clarke is a distant relative of Jamaican Heroine Nanny of the Maroons. I am a Maroon via my father’s father.

It’s a small world: I ran into a retired colleague and close friend who divides his time between Jamaica and New York.

Even if you visit Jamaica for only two days, you must make time for the beach on the north coast.

Outside my hotel sits a VW van that Bob Marley and his band owned. The Bond car featured in the first James Bond film, which was written and filmed in Jamaica.

In my hotel room lies an album by the legendary Bob Marley.