CONGRESSWOMAN YVETTE CLARKE, CD SAYS SHE IS ROOTED IN THE VALUES, MORALS AND ETHICS ALL COMING FROM THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF JAMAICA
Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke is the recipient of the Order of Distinction, Commander Class by the Government of Jamaica given to her on Heroes’ Day, October 15, 2018 at King’s House in Jamaica by Governor General of Jamaica His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen.
Yvette Clarke, CD, a Brooklyn native proud of her Jamaican heritage, attended the New York City public schools, graduated from Oberlin College and was a recipient of the prestigious APPAM/Sloan Fellowship Public Policy and Policy Analysis. Prior to being elected to the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Clarke, CD served on the New York City Council, representing the Fortieth District in Brooklyn. She succeeded her pioneering mother, former City Council Member Dr Una S.T. Clarke, making them the first mother-daughter succession in the history of the City Council.
Speaking with journalists at the function, Congresswoman Clarke. CD said she is deeply rooted in her Jamaican heritage and has been travelling to Jamaica since she was 10 years old. She said that “my service extends to the people of New York, many of them being from the Caribbean and Jamaica“. She informed that “my personal story and experience being a Jamaican-American has prepared me to represent such a constituency and it also builds my passion for the work I do in comprehensive immigration reform in protecting nationals from around the World when there is an anti-immigrant issues in the United States“. Speaking of the rich heritage of her formative years, she said “that the work I do is to make sure human dignity is upheld, all of which is rooted in the values, the morals, the ethics all of that coming from the beautiful island of Jamaica“
As an activist, a community organizer and now as a legislator, Congresswoman Clarke’s boldness, compassion and love for the people has allowed her to become an effective leader and an outspoken advocate on numerous issues of great importance to her constituents. In the 115th Congress, Congresswoman Clarke serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Committee on Small Business and the Ethics Committee.
She has demonstrated her capacity for leadership as Chair of the Multicultural Media Caucus, dedicated to eliminating stereotypes in the media and expanding ownership to include communities of colour, as Co-Chair of the Smart Cities Caucus which serves as in information group of Members dedicated to issues related to the transformation of communities to smart cities, how it will bring about innovation and technological change and the role that Congress can play in this transformation.
She is also the Co-Chair of the Black Women and Girls Caucus, which develops programmes to support the aspirations of African American women of all ages, and an At-large member of the congressional Black Caucus Executive Committee. Additionally, Congresswoman Clarke, CD, serves as Co-Chairman of the Caribbean Caucus, where she has worked to build the relationship between the United States and the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, on matters of trade, immigration reform and direct investment through development programmes.
US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke currently resides in the neighbourhood where she grew up, in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.
Contributed by Professor Colin O Jarrett
