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Embassy Officials Conduct Outreach Program in Los Angeles, California
(T&T nationals who have consistently and tirelessly aided the Embassy team on outreach efforts).
Permanent Mission to The OAS
14/06/2011: TT Embassy Outreach - Los Angeles, California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: His Excellency Dr. Neil Parsan
Telephone: 202-467-6490
Fax: 202-785-3130
Email: nparsan@ttembwash.com
Washington, DC – In May 2011, members of staff of the Immigration Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Washington, DC, conducted an outreach program for Trinidad and Tobago nationals residing in Los Angeles, California. The Immigration team was also joined on this trip by His Excellency Dr. Neil Parsan, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to the United States of America.
The Immigration team, composed of Immigration Attachés Mr. Stanley Hunte and Mr. Lennox DeLeon and Immigration Officer Ms. Roxanne McNeil, processed a total of 62 applications for the machine readable passport, 4 lost passport applications and 5 passport extensions. The team was assisted by T&T nationals Mrs. Joan Chanman Forbes and her husband, Mr. Lloyd Forbes who have both consistently and tirelessly aided the Embassy team on outreach efforts.
The Ambassador took advantage of the outreach program to meet with T&T nationals at a special Town Hall meeting held at City Hall in Inglewood, CA. In his address, the Ambassador spoke about the many initiatives that the Embassy has been undertaking to encourage trade and investment in Trinidad and Tobago and to reconnect with the T&T Diaspora. Honorary Consul General of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Cadrin Gill also assisted Ambassador Parsan by serving as a link between the Los Angeles business community and the community of Caribbean nationals in the area.
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Los Angeles Trinis Bring Christmas Cheer to LMPA
(Visit Page (7) Article: LA Trinis Bring Christmas Cheer to LMPA
(Laventille Morvant Pastorial Area - Trinidad)) LA Trinis bring Christmas cheer to LMPA
Since 2003, Los Angeles, USA-based Lloyd and Joan Forbes have been coming back to their homeland to bring some cheer to children and make a difference in their lives
The couple would usually save their work vacation time just for the pre-holiday distribution of gifts to children in the Laventille/Morvant Pastoral Area (LMPA) which includes the communities of Our Lady of Laventille (Shrine), St Jude’s (Trou Macaque), St Dominic’s (Morvant) and Corpus Christi (Success Village) as well as numerous other areas throughout Trinidad and even Tobago.
Mrs. Forbes serves as Executive director/President of the California-based, Our Children The Future Inc. which shares in the generous outreach programme founded with her husband. The organization comprises Trinidad and Tobago nationals and US partners working for less fortunate children of Trinidad and Tobago and the US.
According to their website, www.ourchildrenthefuture.com, their mission is “to work collaboratively with local communities in Los Angeles and Trinidad and Tobago, providing for less fortunate children in these communities, through education, finance and health care”.
Donations of toys, stationery, clothing, even wheelchairs and walkers for the differently-abled are accepted and a shipment is sent to Trinidad prior to the couples’ arrival.
Matriarch, Eileen Forbes and the entire family in Trinidad assist when the shipment arrives.
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Business Communication Article by Breanna Edwards
Many people today rely on non-profit or not-for-profit organizations for the opportunities/help they give to different communities. Currently, I am an Executive Member of a non-profit organization, OUR CHILDREN THE FUTURE INC.; our purpose is to give back to less fortunate children and families locally and internationally. By having this role I can give my honest response to our discussion. Since being involved in this organization I personally have grown a fond attachment for giving back to the community in any way, shape, or form. We are currently hosting a plethora of events that are driven towards our education and health programs for families that can't afford the extensive fees, and a prom prep providing young ladies with dresses, shoes, accessories and a glamour bag, which were donated by members and people who support our mission and see the work being done.
Being active and proposing some of the events that we are having, I would consider a career in a not-for-profit organization. NOT because of the recognition, but for seeing the faces of those who receive the benefit of our hard work dedicated to them. Our Executive Director/President, Mrs. Joan Chanman-Forbes, and Vice President Mrs. Deborah Osborne, have dedicated their time solemnly to this purpose and I commend them, their board, executive members and program coordinators whole heartedly for all of the energy and hard work they have put towards this organization; which has only been active for over one year! The way I look at the entire picture, there is always work to be done! Non-profit organizations, whether small or gargantuan, when doing the right thing, they all fulfill the need to give back to their cause. Just as a heads up, you can take some time to roam our website www.ourchildrenthefuture.com to see if there is something you would consider lending a helping hand to, by donation, volunteer and or supporting our events.
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Where one meets a complete stranger and that person turns out to be a Good Samaritan.
Greetings,
My name is Christopher Ramroop and I live in the lovely twin island of sun, sea and sand, Trinidad & Tobago. I am 46 years of age, have been disable for 20 years due to a motor vehicle accident, I am also a quadriplegic and an acrylic artist.
It was a beautiful Saturday morning and there I was in Port of Spain on the promenade, at a Government Disable Unemployed Relief Program, where I was displaying my art work for the reason of raising funds for purchasing a motorized wheel chair for myself. The media guy who was hosting the program introduced me to the lovely lady Joan.
I told Ms. Joan of my ongoing challenge of trying to raise funds for purchasing a motorized wheel chair. I have met scores of beautiful people who said they will assist me but there was none who followed up. There promises I realized was only a comfort to a fool “me”, from those who do not keep to their word. My request to Ms. Joan was answered, as she told me, “I will try my best to get you some wheels”, with a sympathetic voice.
At that time, it had been four years since my original chair was broken and could not be repaired due to the memory chip on the control arm switch. All that time, I stayed isolated in my room at the Gentle Heart Home where I reside not being able to associate with the public, it was indeed a doom and gloom experience but I remained humble.
Ms. Joan and I kept in contact after we first meet and one day I received a phone call and an email from her saying she had found me a motorized chair. It’s been years now since I received the chair but I can definitely say that Ms. Joan is a blessing! this is definitely an act where one meets a complete stranger and that person turns out to be a Good Samaritan. Today I can say that our introduction became a bonding friendship and Ms. Joan and Mr. Lloyd are my new family/friends for life.
I was extremely happy when I first saw the pictures via email but Wahwoow when I could touch it. I loved it! It was more than I expected. The Chair looked brand new! And I was looking forward to get on my new ride. I have also received various other types of personal care supplies which have and continue to assist me in my daily care.
When I first saw my new set of wheels, I was stunned, speechless and thinking that this was unbelievable, I said to myself, there are still people in the world who still care and perform humanitarian work which serve mankind such as me. My sister came to visit me just in time to witness the whole scene, when she took pictures of Mr. Lloyd, the crew and myself.
I can truthfully say, with the circle of few fine lovable brothers and sisters who are reaching out to wounded soldiers like me and putting great efforts and time for our comfort. I salute you Ms. Joan; you are indeed one of a kind.
Thanks again. Have a splendid day Lady Joan. Stay blessed my friend.
Love always. Chris
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We sincerely appreciate your generosity and love for the little ones.
Dear Mrs.Chanman-Forbes,
The members of the Eternal Light Community - Agape House, wish to thank you and the members of your Association for your generosity and goodwill to the people of Trinidad & Tobago.
Annually, you and your husband, Mr. Lloyd Forbes, have tirelessly, undertaken to visit Trinidad and Tobago to distribute and present gifts to our less fortunate children in various Communities throughout the nation, an occasion that they look forward too.
This year, we have been able to present forty (40) of our children with toys, which they all appreciated. This was possible, only because you have sacrificed, (in spite of your own challenges) and donated these gifts.
We sincerely appreciate your generosity and love for the little ones.
Yours sincerely
Merle
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May the Lord Jesus bless you in all your endeavours and desires.
Dear Joan,
We sincerely thank you for your donation of craft, art supplies and toys for the children at our school. The supplies came in time to assist us in the New Year and are always needed to enrich and flourish the children’s inner talent. The toys a special gift to each of them which brighted their inner glow with smiles and laughter.
May the Lord Jesus bless you in all your endeavours and desires.
Yours Truly, Meena Ratoo, Grace Community Complex,Bring Hope by Quality Care and Education.
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Thank you all for being a part of this experience. Thank you for your generosity.
Dear Friends,
Greetings in the Lord and a very Happy New Year to you all.
On behalf of our community and the many less fortunate that we serve I would like to thank you most sincerely for the many pairs of crutches, pampers and other supplies that we received from you through Joan and her husband. It is very much appreciated.
On a regular basis persons in need come to our community for assistance for someone injured and in need of crutches or an elderly family member who cannot afford nursing care and is bed ridden needing pampers etc. And we always wonder “Lord how we meet the needs of these people?” And then groups like yourselves or individuals arrive with supplies to meet those needs and all we can say is “Lord, thank you. You never let us down”.
Thank you all for being a part of this experience. Thank you for your generosity.
As we look to the year ahead, we trust that God will continue to provide through the kindness of others for those in need. Our day to day ministries include- Halfway House for abandoned children; House for teenage boys who live on the streets; Home for HIV/AIDS patients; Hospice for terminal patients; Our Drug Rehab Center; Old Folks Home for nursing care for the elderly/senior citizens; And much more.
Please do not hesitate to go to our website to find out more about us.
Once again, thank you, thank you, and thank you. All God’s blessings for a wonderful peace filled year.
Yours In His Service.
Rosemary
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Express my gratitude on behalf of the team
Dear President Joan,
Please be good enough to express my gratitude on behalf of the team to the members of the
Organization, for the invaluable assistance in hosting the team during our visit to represent Trinidad & Tobago at the annual World Championship of Performing Arts,
How refreshing it is to deal with that rare breed of one’s countrymen and women who put their money where their mouth is, so to speak. We have represented our country over the past years, but due to your involvement it has been the best ever. We are deeply grateful to all members for your commitment, energy and the time devoted to us over the period spent with you all.
Thank you for the donation and the clothes. The cash was used to offset part of the cost of Polos
purchased for the team. May God continue to bless and guide all of you.
Warmest Regards, P. Lee Keith, President/CEO, Director – WCOPA Trinidad & Tobago
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Children’s Christmas Gifts donated to our Fyzabad Project.
To: Mrs. Forbes
From: Community Pebble Soup
,on behalf of our organization, I wish to extend our sincerest “Thank You” to you and your friends/well-wishers for the Children’s Christmas Gifts donated to our Fyzabad Project.
The Gifts were distributed on December 18th to the children of the Families that we selected to assist this year and the joy expressed by them and the anxiety and gratitude displayed in and of themselves endorse this Thank You.
We did have various photographs taken also filming during the entire distribution and as soon as we receive them from the photographers and the CD we will share with you and your Team.
Again, “Thank You” from the Children and Families and ALL of us at Community Pebble Soup.
And may the Blessings of Our Heavenly Father and The Light of this Blessed Season shower you and yours.
Merry Christmas to All.
Sincerely, David V. Young
President
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