President’s Message

Greetings and commendations to everyone!

Four years ago, I was elected as your president. I came in at a time when the world around us was changing rapidly. Many were concerned as to whether the organization would continue in the manner that they had come to expect. Today I look back with pride at our achievements. The organization did not shut down. The organization did not lose membership – in fact, it gained several new member organizations. Our achievements are many and I will not dwell on them.  Instead, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been a part of the journey. Thank you for keeping me grounded.  Thank you for helping me to adapt and to lead the organization in a more targeted manner as we move forward.

Next month we will have another election of officers. There will be another opportunity to shape our UJAA Board.

Yes, I will run for re-election.

Yes, that will be my final term. Yes, we are building a Board that must go on, that is mandated to go on, that will ensure that UJAA keeps going. We are intentional and deliberate in what we do.

Let us look at what is at stake. The last twelve months have been filled with many triumphs, and with many challenges. We have seen historic moments good and bad – and we have learned to give thanks in all things.  There are some moments that we will never forget. When I was growing up I kept hearing about the “51 storm”, as I am sure many of you who grew up in Jamaica did.  Then came Hurricane Gilbert, in 1988. And now Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday October 28, 2025. If you are a long-time resident of these United States, or pay careful attention to history,  you have your own memories – the 1968 Civil Rights Act, the assassination of President John F Kennedy, the election of the first Black President in Barack Obama, the World Trade Center bombing, among others.

Our beloved UJAA, launched in 1990, has continued to deliver on our promise to our children, for 36 years this year. We are thankful. We are proud. We are grateful for our many blessings. We are UJAA and we have responded in many ways to many situations, seeing opportunities in every dire situation. 

We are UJAA, we must keep going, and we will do it together

Donovan Wilson

President
Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations USA Inc
917-972-5502
www.ujaausa.org