caribbean – The Family Line

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What happens when Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day collide? You get to learn from ‘Herstory’! That’s some of what you can expect in this month’s edition as we also welcome the extra sunlight hours of having Daylight Savings Time. With the Lent season in full stride and Easter around the corner, is America ready to see the light?

While we ponder that thought, this month’s Lead Story puts the spotlight on Yasmine from the Salami family and her ‘Dream Africa: Cultural Exchange’ program. In the ‘Life & Times Flava’ column we revisit the question, “are leaders born or made?” and pose a new one, “are you a follower or influencer?” Visit the About page to learn more on how this portal of ‘Family Line Influencers’ came to be.

Last month we shared the legacy of the late Dr. Gladys West, a key player in developing GPS Technology. This month you might reflect on Rosa Parks or Harriet Tubman, two women from bygone eras whose life’s work remind us that it’s not simply about your sex, but about how you flex your influence. Women can be known for sexual appeal in music/movies or their appeal to the sexes in life.

If you’d like to be among the families covered each month, then link-up by dropping your email below. Hope you’ll enjoy the stories and feel free to leave your comments. Thank You!

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The Family Line Mission/Purpose Statement

“Joining hands and hearts across old-timers and next gens to make family connections feel more real, with courage to change and humility to heal.”

Celebrity Row: Here for the Culture – “An NBA All-star and Emerging Powerhouse in Basketball Recruiting”

The stars were out in full effect at the recent NBA all-star weekend in LA, as some fans still feel like the game is going through changes. With the 3-point shot taking over offensive plays/strategy, some say the NBA has work to do. One area that’s been a sore spot is how the all-star game has lost its appeal. So, NBA HQ came up with a new format of ‘USA vs the World’. But are die-hard fans loving it?

They say it’s two different worlds and styles of play. Well, while things play out on that front, others are getting in the game. Just ask first-time NBA all-star Norman Powell of the Miami Heat. He was on the ‘World’ team repping Jamaica, which for some was a surprise. What was later learned is that he’s been working with the Jamaican national basketball squad on qualifying for international competition.

It’s as if Jamaica is positioning itself to enter the chat around basketball, as they did with the winter sport bobsled. What’s the next movie gonna be called? Even Usain Bolt seems to have his eyes on the game. He was recently spotted at an ‘Unrivaled’ game in Texas. During a sideline interview, he mentioned being a fan and potential investor. Maybe track & field has fresh competition outside the lanes.

We know track & field college recruiters have had their eyes on Jamaican athletes for a long time. The thinking now is it won’t be long before basketball recruiters gonna be landing in Kingston or Montego Bay to checkout the rising stars on the island. Powell will bring even more clout now that he’s an all-star. Plus, he’ll have a signed jersey as a souvenir to prove.

For now, here’s more background on Powell and basketball as an emerging powerhouse in the Caribbean. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUZGU_ZkW2B/

Lead Story: “Hey ‘Diaspora’, Meet ‘Dream Africa’ Cultural Exchange!”

Here’s one of those moments that makes The Family Line Portal proud. A few years ago, on a cruise vacation, my wife met someone from Togo Africa. They struck up a warm connection, which later blossomed into regular chats. Now, it’s like being part of the Salami family from Togo, Africa, who invited us to their family reunion three years ago.

Well, it’s that time again, but it also comes with the third anniversary of the ‘Dream Africa’ Cultural Exchange. What we experienced when our family visited Yasmine and the Salami family was just a snapshot of what the cultural exchange hopes to realize this summer. It’s gonna be more immersive, more interactive, more impressive. Don’t take our word for it, checkout preview link below.

This time it seems like another Family Line Portal member, the Mitchell family from Delaware, is looking to tag-team in having the ‘Diaspora’ meet the ‘Dream Africa’ Cultural Exchange. That means two of our Portal’s founding families are looking to link-up for a rewarding experience. It’s also a case of a group on the west coast looking to collaborate with Dream Africa HQ on the east coast.

In the same way that my wife meeting Yasmine at first seemed like a ‘chance encounter’ a few years ago, watching a similar serendipity moment emerge is priceless. It’s a shared benefit we’ve considered, not really being sure how it would come together. Well, here we are with another Salami family reunion on the horizon, and Dream Africa having a chance to spread its wings across the coasts and Atlantic Ocean.

Cultural Exchange 2026 – Dream Africa Trailer: “More than a trip, an experience to be lived!”: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ibWpZDK2V8c

Island Vibes: With Scoops of Roots & Culture from the Diaspora

Ever wondered where the Jamaican accent came from? https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVMDMRqgYRl/?igsh=MXhqYjhiaXJxZ3JkZw==

The evolution of Jamaica in AI storytelling. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT_9XWsGJzw/?igsh=MTkwcHNua3MxeHpwZQ==

NY Knicks players with Caribbean roots. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUmDIbMEakh/?igsh=MTd0aWEwOTF1cG03cA==

Family Feature: “When Retirement Fits the Moment!”

This winter has given us the ‘1-2-3 punch’ in snowstorms on the east coast. We should have listened to the groundhog, but who wants to take that hype seriously. For those who remember the storms from the 90’s, this winter might be giving that period some competition. But for cuz Andrew, he’s not complaining, considering he now gets a chance to kickback from his days working for NYC Transit, Bus Division.

Back then, he remembered buses being stuck in the streets for 24 hours after those big storms. Sometimes buses would run for hours, trying to stay warm for the driver and any passengers onboard. Then the bus would run out of fuel with nowhere to turn. Only thing left was to leave it empty and head back to the base. Imagine the bosses had the nerve to write-up the drivers for bus abandonment?

We see him in this throwback pic (above left, with brother Donovan and cousin Paul). But maybe it was on his day off when we ran into him and wife Millie attending a Charlie Wilson Concert at Barclays Arena. He was looking like homeboy turned ‘Dapper Drew’ and her looking like homegirl turned ‘Maven Millie’. Good thing wifey and I were dressed too, otherwise they might have given us the wave and kept moving.

These days Andrew spends time traveling south on long weekends. As he recovers from shoulder surgery, he’s grateful for having his son near and a kind neighbor who helped with clearing the driveway. He often reminds other fam that retirement has its place, and for him it fits the moment. He keeps taking cruise trips here, Caribbean vacations there and doing lots of teasing of those still clocking in for 9 to 5.

Turn Up Tips: Notes on Trusting the Process

“What you tell yourself about others might put you in the know, but what you tell yourself about yourself helps create flow and boost how you grow.

“Excellence is the best deterrent to racism. Therefore, be excellent. Excellence is the best deterrent to sexism. Therefore, be excellent. In all your doing and being, strive for excellence.” – Rev. Jesse Jackson

“The seven deadly sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth, seems to need an upgrade in the modern political world…to add hypocrisy.”

Good Stuff: “Heroes Don’t Have to Wear Capes!”

You’ve seen the stories on the news where someone jumps into action in an emergency. Oftentimes the story has a good ending and features first responders who see it as just another day on the job. They prefer not to be seen as heroes. For them, it’s what they’re trained to do, and how they’re proud to serve. It’s as if they never know when life might call on them in unexpected ways.

That might be the way Tiana Joy will look back at a recent moment while out having dinner. In a fast-moving situation, she calmly and courageously without hesitation, reservation or discrimination performed the Heimlich maneuver on a woman over 80 years old who was choking. In that moment where others may have panicked, she chose freedom over fear, love over delay, action over social media distraction. She literally saved the woman’s life!

Words won’t fully express what she did in that moment and the proud response she’s gotten from friends and family. She showed quiet strength, inner calm and dogged spirit. A willingness to act reflected her heart and was a blessing in this crazy world. Her courage was a reminder that heroes don’t have to wear capes. Sometimes they just stand up and step forward.

Other Mentions: Added Touch Like Gravy

Hats off to our next-gen leader Jillian Ryan Ed.D., nominated for a 2026 Employee Excellence Award at Stevens Institute of Technology. This recognizes the impact of collaborative work by creating meaningful experiences for graduate students.

Our own Shaun Sr is celebrating with Raysean McKoy Marin one of his newest colleagues, to join the ranks of pilot at United Airlines. It’s a dream that first took root at age 14, and now Raysean can say he’s an Airbus pilot. So next time you’re flying the friendly skies, watch for his badge or hear his name.

Shoutout to cuz Junior for the heads-up on a recent award given to iHeartRadio’s Real 92.3 in LA. On hand accepting the Rose L. Schiff Commitment to Justice Award was his brother, our own cuz Dave, the station’s Program Director, along with the station’s morning guy, ‘Big Boy’. In attendance was LA Mayor Karen Bass and other dignitaries. Checkout more backstory and Dave’s speech here: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16SitfJEEQ/.

With March Madness in the air, guess who’s a cheerleader at her school? Yes Talia (on the right) is working on doing the kicks before trying the flips.

Tired of all the snow? Well, for those thinking about getting a snowblower or moving somewhere warmer, here’s the latest gadget to add to your birthday or Christmas wish list. It might help you make the decision on relocating or staying to clear the driveway next time. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DT_OsCvksuU/

Others tired of the snow might not be so lucky. But there’s always the old-fashioned shovel and ice melt. Here’re family members Camille, Michelle and Sheldon doing their part to help-out their parents.

Even with all those storms, Valentine’s was still filled with spreading love. In this case it was Donnice and her girls meeting up with their Auntie Nay for “Galentine’s” brunch.

Anyone knows what this is? Well, it’s part of the Caribbean Easter tradition to chow on bun & cheese. Some folks do other combos like bun and patty. What’s your taste buds crying for?

Ready to get your World Cup Soccer gear? Here’s a sneak peek of how the players will be styling in black, gold and green. It also celebrates Jamaica’s undeniable global legacy and impact in music https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUtCqyckRgN/.

Lastly, if the winter blues has you thinking about warmer weather, checkout Serge with a few fam out boating in Florida. We also caught Terri and Norman doing some fishing in Louisiana.

Smile Emoji

Ever wondered how some nurses pick the operating room they wanna work in each day? https://www.facebook.com/reel/2122048988202070

Here’re workers at Laguardia Airport in between shifts, doing the Winter Olympic sport, Curling! https://www.threads.com/@robevac/post/DU07DGsAFSc?xmt=AQF0qIkms3h2xHklf3oBnTG3UuPcfl9NrqW-N_9R7-_5eC96IwvKM-VEJ3HsTayGZgcnCJ4&slof=1

Life & Times Flava (Chill Sauce for the Grind): “Are You a Follower or an Influencer?”

In a previous generation, one of the questions that would often get asked is, “are leaders born or made?” One side of the debate would say ‘born’ because of certain natural traits that some leaders seem to hold. Folks on the other side would say ‘made’ because of those we’d see rise before our eyes, maybe not initially, but later unexpectedly. That question might even have been asked of Rosa Parks.

She gained notoriety for deciding not to give up her seat to move to the back of the bus in Montogomery Alabama. That brave act “turned out and turned up” folks in the civil rights movement. Interestingly, she wasn’t the first to take such action as six months earlier Claudette Colvin did the same thing in another part of the country. It just didn’t go viral, as we’ve come to understand that concept nowadays.

A ‘follower’ in the old-school sense is knowing how to be part of an organization, group or crew. A leader is often known for setting the pace or driving the vision. However, the question from back in the day has evolved into a new one of, “are you a follower or influencer?” With social media a big part of our chat, many are ‘followers’ across different platforms, others are ‘influencers’ of a product, service or vision.

Maybe Rosa Parks’ example might remind us of another old-time leader who said to his crew, “follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.” From those words and actions we know He was focused on ‘feeding’ followers, and pulling on the ‘it-factor’ of influencers. If family, community or country are going to advance towards a better day or more perfect union, it’ll take an influencer’s mindset to get America to see the light.

(For a deeper dive into the issues, checkout https://SeeAmericaInColor.com).