and feeling very indifferent toward studying it. Now, he holds a doctoral degree in music performance and is employed with the Department of Education in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the University of the Virgin Islands. Here, Dr. Robertson tells us how indifference changed to passion and why he chose to become a musical arts educator:
-
My parents exposed me to various types of music from a very young age. When I was seven years old, I began playing close attention to various styles, especially classical and local music. But, throughout my childhood and early teens, I still went through moments of disinterest and indifference. My teachers, however, kept reminding me that I had “great talent and potential” so I made music a serious part of my life. I completed the practical examinations with the Associated Boards of Royal Schools of Music, while being a part of what was then the St. Augustine Chamber Orchestra (later the Trinidad and Tobago Youth Philharmonic). I played Double Bass. The director of this orchestra, Kenneth Listhrop, taught me in primary school. He figured I would be a good fit for what he was trying to build. I started playing with this orchestra late in secondary school and into my years at The UWI, St. Augustine. But for years, I did not have formal music training. A lot of what I learned, I did through trial and error. I also spent a lot of the time learning from method books and DVDs.
The vision for how I saw myself in this field became clearer
Every July and August, I was able to receive some tutoring thanks to a collaboration between the youth orchestra and El Sistema musicians from Venezuela. When the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) was formed, I received consistent and very thorough guidance from my teacher at the Academy for Performing Arts. I was also fortunate to have played with the Aragua Youth Orchestra in Venezuela. With the tutelage, encouragement and renewed love for the study of music, I decided to pursue a Master’s Degree from Florida International University followed by a doctoral degree at the University of Miami.
During my years as a doctoral student, I received a fellowship to play with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, the resident and very progressive orchestra of the University of Miami. At that time, I was performing with the Miami Symphony Orchestra and Sunrise Pops Orchestra. I also taught young people who came from various walks of life. While I have always enjoyed learning and playing my instrument, I always felt it would be better to merge my experience as an educator and a musician to make more valuable contributions and not to limit myself to just one area.
“Being able to make a difference in the lives of young people”
After receiving my doctoral degree, I got a job with the Department of Education in the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as the University of the Virgin Islands. I continued playing, merging my love for music with my desire to impart knowledge and teach others. Most recently, I was part of a collaboration with musicians from the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Being able to make a difference in the lives of young people, as well as continuing to play in various settings, have kept me on this path.
"Despite some trepidation, the support that I had, aided in my navigation of this musical arena"
As I look back on my professional and personal journey, I experienced many moments of nervousness as I was entering a field not often explored in Trinidad and Tobago. There were few classical double bass players in the Caribbean and even fewer resources. I also had little experience performing in any orchestra setting. This is why, I will never forget the many interactions that I had with various teachers and mentors along this journey. I am indebted to people like Kenneth Listhrop, Javier Viloria, Caitlyn Kamminga, Luis Gomez-Imbert and Brian Powell for the role they played. These are just a handful of the people whom I encountered and recognized my talent at various points of this journey. They did a lot to guide and nurture my skills and maximize my potential. Despite some trepidation, the support that I had, helped me to navigate this arena. My family has also been extremely supportive throughout this journey and their foresight and individual passion, helped lay the foundation for my musical performance and education career.
“The Caribbean has a lot of upstanding leaders in various arenas”
We need more role models for black men but what must also be implemented are additional initiatives to nurture and encourage those in the creative sector, especially in the orchestral world. In general, the Caribbean is filled with individuals who have proven to be upstanding leaders in various arenas, including music. These individuals, though imperfect, have done quite a lot of good. Black men especially could learn from all aspects of their experiences.
Globally, people are encouraging more black people to join musical arts. Initiatives such as the Sphinx Organization in the USA and Chineke! Orchestra in the UK have surely highlighted the need to have more people of colour in orchestras. Many universities also recognize the importance of exposing people from diverse backgrounds to orchestral music making. As a result, they have created after school programmes which give students the opportunity to learn music with which they may not be as familiar. While there is still a lot more work that needs to be done, I am hopeful that the work that has been geared specifically toward the empowerment of black men, will continue to bear positive results. The onus is on those who have done the work in earlier years, to continue to carve viable paths for the younger ones to follow. I hope that I can continue to play my part.
“Music and performing arts have evolved tremendously over the years”
Young men therefore should be encouraged to explore as many areas as possible. Young men have talents that they may not be aware of. Providing them with as many reasonable options as possible, may allow young men to consider less traditional career paths. Music and the performing arts have evolved tremendously over the years and it is much easier to find specific areas that may be of interest to men. These areas could include performance, education, research, music production, technology, and much more. Regardless of the area, the arts provide opportunities where people can communicate a wide range of ideas, technical approaches and emotional ranges. All involved, stand to greatly benefit.
-
In addition to his master’s and doctoral degrees in music, Harley also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Literatures in English, Linguistics and Communication Studies from
University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad
and an Artist Diploma in Music Performance from
UTT - The University of Trinidad and Tobago
St. George's College, Barataria, Trinidad and Tobago.
University of the Virgin Islands

Anselm Gibbs is “the little boy from Laventille with a big forehead who always had big dreams.” After putting plans in motion to study aeronautical engineering, he took a break and formed Lizard Blizzard Sound System before heading to the US to pursue a degree in journalism and master’s degree in sports management. From being told that he will never be an anchor on American TV and having his career downplayed by some relatives, he proved many people wrong. His “big dreams” took him from the dasheen patch yard of his home to ABC News to anchoring T&T's number one newscast, the TV6 News. This is Anselm’s MENtions story:
-
Granny always said "how you carry yourself" is important”.
I grew up in Success Village, Laventille in a house with my mother, grandmother, two aunts, my elder sister and younger brother. We didn't have much money but the adults in our home, did all they possibly could to make sure we always had something to eat every day, books in our school bags, shoes on our feet and clothes on our backs. I remember eating the same meal, dasheen and bhaji, for days. I wouldn’t trade those adults for anything: they provided the best childhood that my siblings and I could hope for. I thank God for putting me with the family I'm with. I'm so grateful for them.
God/church, discipline, education, love, honesty, kindness, helping others, education and CLASS... were strong values and watchwords in our home. I put "class" in capital letters, because my granny always stressed that "how you carry yourself" is important.
As child, granny didn’t like me nor my brother “liming” on the street. I didn't understand until later, what she was saving us from.
I always say there's a "missing generation" in the neighbourhood where I grew up. Most of the original residents who would be 35-45 years old now, are either dead, in prison or would have moved out of the area. This is a direct result of crime and violence in the area.
Growing up, I always had plenty "chat". I was (and I still am) always the person who "ain't fraid nobody." Part of it came from people teasing me about my big forehead. I was teased so much about it. That wasn't a nice feeling. As a result, I felt insecure about my looks for such a significant chunk of my life.
“My career found me: from aeronautical engineering to DJing to broadcast journalism”
I first wanted to become a scientist, until I realised that I was terrible at science subjects at school. I then made up my mind that I wanted to become a pilot/aeronautical engineer. I got accepted to a number of aeronautical schools in New York. In 2000, I accepted a partial scholarship and while signing up to begin classes, a school official told me if I got 40 more points on the SAT exam, I would get a full scholarship. So, I moved back to Trinidad to try to improve my SAT score.
While back home I started playing around with two portable CD players and a PC monitor speaker and began experimenting with DJ-ing. That led to me forming Lizzard Blizzard Sound System (DJ group). We were ruthless back then. We racked up a heap of dub plates (singers remaking their songs calling your DJ group's name in it) and were spinning in all the big clubs/parties and taking part in sound clash competitions, locally and abroad.
That love for DJ-ing, which I still have and always will, drove me to want formal training in media. I decided broadcast journalism was the way. With the writing ability I believe I possessed, my career path basically found me.
“You will never make it on the air in America with that accent."
Being a journalist has been a wonderful ride so far. I've written for newspapers and worked in radio and TV.
I distinctly remember a professor at the University of the District of Columbia (I attended UDC for my first year of tertiary education, then transferred) telling me, in front of the entire class, "you will never make it on the air in America with that accent." Also, some people (even some relatives) said I was studying "some chupidness" and that I wouldn't even finish university and would have to return to Trinidad, without a degree.
I absolutely love it when people say those things because it gives me an additional drive and desire to prove them wrong. I graduated from St. John's University (magna cum laude) with a Bachelor's degree in journalism and a Master's degree in Sport Management. Since then, I've worked for and have been on the air for ABC News, CBS Radio's WFAN in NYC (the #1 media market in America) and WPLJ 95.5FM, also in NYC.
“I am grateful. I am thankful. I enjoy what I do”
I've interviewed and met so many people: from celebrities to the regular man. I've been to places, locally and internationally, that most people may not visit in their lifetime. I am truly grateful. I am thankful. Don't get me wrong, the job may frustrate me at times and make me use words that I can't say on TV, but I still enjoy what I do.
Many people have helped me become the journalist and person I am today. Locally, Dominic Kalipersad took a chance on me and to this day, he still sends me texts whenever I mispronounce a word on the air. In the US, radio DJ, Rocky Allen, and NY1 (NY cable TV channel) anchor/reporter, Jeanine Ramirez, taught me so much.
In addition to those mentioned above, I also look up to Keith Morrison, TJ Holmes, Sade Baderinwa, Ancil "Blaze" Isaac and Lori Stokes.
“Journalism is often a thankless job and requires thick skin”
If you want to get into journalism, my advice is to do it because you are genuinely interested in becoming a journalist. If you want to do it because "ah want to be on TV and be ah news anchor and be popular and ting”, the industry will instantly sense you're there for the wrong reasons.
Journalism is a lot of hard work, long hours, working on holidays, getting cursed and chased by police, officials, over-zealous security guards and a long list of other people. The entire nation gets to judge and criticise your work. The job is often a thankless one and requires thick skin. But, it's that genuine passion for the job (and the bills you have to pay) that help you overcome those challenges and enjoy the good times.
“My heart hurts for our black boys. They are our boys.”
These are our boys and I wish they realise that they can be and do better. The issue with some of our young, black boys is that the "wrong crowd" is too often the most accessible and these become the role models they look to. But I believe that it's just a cycle because the present leaders of that "wrong crowd" were once young too, and they looked to similar role models to end up in the "wrong crowd." There are sufficient role models for black men in Trinidad and Tobago. People like Gervase Warner, Kieron Pollard, Machel Montano, Levi Garcia and so many others. They simply need to look at their journeys and be inspired.
“You will find your way”
To the young man out there, who may be a bit confused and still searching for a career path, I want you to know that there's a difference between pushing yourself to accomplish something and forcing yourself to do something. You will find your way, just be prepared for your opportunity, when it comes because it will come.
Continue to dream big. I am a little boy from Laventille with a big forehead who always had big dreams. Those dreams took me from the dasheen patch yard of my home to ABC News to doing amazing things in media. If I can do it….
Comedian Conan O'Brien said this years ago and I live by it: if you work hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen.
-
Anselm is a past student of Richmond Street Boys Anglican School and St. Anthony's College
Source: MENtions-Stories About Us, Nov 1, 2020

Trinidadian-born entomologist Dr Michelle Samuel-Foo never had all her school books and had to study by the light of a candle whenever there was a power outage at her home in Baker Trace, Guaico. Still, she had a fire inside that would not go out.
At 44, and after just two years of being an assistant professor at Alabama State University (ASU), Samuel-Foo has been elected president of the Southeastern Entomological Society of America; becoming the first black woman to do so. On November 11, she will become the first black female feature speaker of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) at its Founders’ Memorial Lecture. There, she will be awarded the ESA Founders’ Memorial Award for her outstanding contribution to the study of insects and how they affect crops and humans.
Her winning formula for success is consistent hard work, making good first impressions and being unafraid to connect with others, she told Guardian Media via telephone from her Montgomery, Alabama, home recently.
“My dad really believed that I could do anything. He saw how hard I worked and encouraged me. Sometimes I would study by candlelight when the electricity went. I’d be doing homework without the text. My dad just really believed that I could be something. And I guess I always carried his belief in me,” she added.
Research in integrated pest management, pesticide regulations and legally cultivated hemp form part of Samuel-Foo’s expertise. The gifted entomologist has started a teaching garden at her campus where her undergrad students learn how to develop sustainable crops in an urban setting. She has also given expert testimony before the US House of Representatives on means of combating Asian giant hornets, a dangerous threat to honeybees which are vital to the pollination of crops. In collaboration with two other universities in Alabama, Samuel-Foo said she has also applied to tech giant, Apple Inc, for a US$ 20 million grant regarding the use of hemp to make plastic products.
Hailing the American mentors and professors who lined her road to achievement, Samuel-Foo credited her formative years in Trinidad with shaping her path.
The fourth of seven children, the Sangre Grande native reflected on her parents’ struggle to provide for their family. Her father, Winston Samuel, who dropped out of school in Standard 3, balanced working barefooted at a sawmill in Grande with cultivating crops on their small piece of land, she recalled. Her mother, Radica Samuel, who had a secondary school education, helped her husband and children grow produce which they sold at the Arima market on Saturdays.
“Our summers weren’t about going abroad. This was the time for us to make some extra money, working the land. There was this one summer when my dad said: we’re going to have a special treat today; a truck is coming by. And in my mind I’m thinking there’s going to be some kind of ride involved. That was not the case; the van actually had a big load of cow manure that wasn’t fully cured, so you could imagine the smell. It was our responsibility to take the manure in bags or buckets and put it on the base of citrus trees we were growing.”
Describing the experience as her first real introduction to agriculture and entomology, Samuel-Foo said while the others found it to be off-putting, she was fascinated by the process and the various insects inhabiting the soil and crops.
At her alma mater, North Eastern College, she never had all her textbooks and would have to walk to her friend’s house to do homework.
“It forced me to work really hard and persevere, and though I didn’t know at the time, that was a skill set that proved very fruitful for me throughout my university career,” she said.
With sheer grit, Samuel-Foo completed A’ Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Maths, aided by the late Ms Brenda Chaumette, her former English teacher, and Mrs Annette Brizan, her former principal, who both took a keen interest in her academic development.
It was while working as a bank teller at Republic Bank in Tunapuna two years later, that co-worker, Jacynth Blandin, encouraged her to take the SATs as a means of furthering her education in the United States. Again, prompted by Blandin, she attended a US College Fair in Port-of-Spain and made sure to introduce herself to admissions counsellors. Her solid SAT scores and amiable personality would win her a scholarship at Brewton-Parker College, Mount Vernon, Georgia.
Although the small town of Mount Vernon turned out to be a far cry from the big, bright lights of New York she had imagined, Samuel-Foo appreciated the quiet, 2,500-student university, taking every extra course and class available. She ended up completing her Bachelor of Arts in Biology degree in two-and-a-half years rather than in the usual four, summa cum laude, no less.
Unsure of her next move, the department chair at Brewton-Parker, who had recognised her academic prowess, encouraged her to do post-graduate work, a concept alien to her at the time.
“Looking back, I realise that many people were just looking out for me. I didn’t come from money, I didn’t come from means. It was just pure hard work and having the right attitude,” Samuel-Foo said.
This credo proved true again as she landed a graduate assistantship (tuition, room and board as payment for graduate work) to pursue her Masters and PhD at one of the US’ foremost research institutions, the University of Georgia (UGA). There, the daughter of an East Indian mother and an Afro-Trinidadian father was undaunted by being one of only two females of colour in the university’s entomology department.
“I was able to make friends regardless of race. To me, everybody is a potential friend. My humble beginnings helped me realise that everyone matters and you treat everyone with respect,” she explained.
Drawing on memories of her mother’s tactics for controlling pests on their crops back home, she nurtured a passion for taxonomy; agronomy; entomology and pest management.
Her belief in being optimistic, diligent and memorable is one she has tried to instil in not only her students but in her sons, Yohan, 17, Oliver, 14 and Noah, ten. At home, the boys readily capitalise on their mother’s skills in their vertical garden consisting of buckets on trellises (structure for climbing plants) where they grow tomatoes and cucumbers.
She makes sure to educate her sons about their Trinbagonian heritage, as well and often lets them read her childhood journal on her struggles to success. Trinidadians have a reputation for achieving academic excellence, she told Guardian Media. She hopes to inspire many to keep it that way.
Q&A with Samuel-Foo
Gillian Caliste talks further with trailblazer in entomology, Dr Michelle Samuel-Foo about her work and her pastimes.
Tell me about some of your work concerning hemp.
Hemp is very similar to marijuana. The main difference is the delta tetrahydrocannabinol content…The hemp plant is very versatile. You can use hemp to make plastics. We’ve submitted a proposal to Apple Inc for that type of research. A lot of the work that we’re looking at is the insect profile that affects this crop. As it’s a brand new commodity, we don’t know very much in terms of pest management and only a few pesticides are currently available to growers. Some people are brewing this commodity (hemp) as tea, they’re extracting the oils to use as tinctures, even as edibles, so you have to be very careful spraying with conventional materials because of human safety.
Any research or breakthroughs regarding Asian murder hornets?
The Asian murder hornets offer a first-hand view into invasive species and how they can decimate native species and habitats. Back in June of this year, I actually testified before the US House of Representatives as an expert witness on the Asian giant hornet. This is an invasive insect that is trying to get domiciled in Washington State. They just found the first live nest a couple of weeks ago. It presents a very different pest profile; it does not affect industrial hemp, the crop that I’m working on now.
How do you juggle all of your achievements with motherhood?
I actually had Yohan when I was a Masters student, I had Oliver as a PhD student and Noah when I had my first job at the University of Florida as a faculty member. I’ll admit that it’s been challenging, but as a parent you want to ensure that you’re setting the example for your children. When they see that their mum is receiving these accolades, I want them to know that it’s not something that’s being handed to me; I’m being recognised for my ethic of hard work. They see me pulling the long days and nights, but still coming home and cooking too.
What about hobbies, what do you do to unwind?
I absolutely love Carnival! I was in Trinidad for Carnival this year and I was so glad. I’m a late bloomer in terms of Carnival. It wasn’t until I finished my education that I participated with a friend in 2014 and now I just love it. And I’m a fitness enthusiast. I work out five days a week, doing CrossFit and weights. Gym therapy is how I start the day at 4:30 every morning.

Another trini in the world. Avion Harris, a Diego Martin native, sworn in  6th Nov.2020 as a Superior Court Judge in Newark/New Jersey.  

Abby Phillip, the White House correspondent who has featured in CNN’s coverage of the suspenseful ballot count for the US presidential election over the past few days, has been gaining a large fan following for her calm, clear analysis of that developing story.
She has also become a social media sensation locally after her T&T connections were revealed. The popular anchor is the daughter of Trinidadians June and Carlos Phillip. Her father is a psychology programme manager for the District of Columbia Public Schools in Washington and her mother is a realtor and real estate investor with Fairfax Realty.
Her links to this country have been the focus of a widely shared Facebook post which states: “We are proud of our Caribbean girl, Trinidad and Tobago to be specific. She is holding her own on CNN on those political panel shows. A brilliant political analyst! Harvard trained. T&T is proud of you. Way to go, Abby Phillip.”
Phillip, 31, who grew up in Bowie, Maryland, has a degree in government but had initially intended on becoming a heart surgeon until her realisation that she loved talking to people led her into journalism.
In an interview with a US media outlet, she revealed: “My first journalism experience was going to Mississippi for a service trip where I had to write a blog throughout the entire thing, and I just really loved that experience. And I came back, and I knew that was what I had to do.”
She began her career as a White House reporter and blogger for Politico covering campaign finance issues and lobbying. She also appeared occasionally on Washington Week with Robert Costa on PBS.
Phillip worked at The Washington Post doing national political reporting and general assignments. She was also an ABC News Fellow and digital reporter in New York City. Following the fellowship, she joined the network’s Washington, DC bureau to work as a digital reporter covering politics. While there she produced stories for This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Nightline, and ABCNews.com.
On a recent CNN political panel she made the following observation: “Not only would Black women put Joe Biden in the White House, but they would also put a Black woman in the White House as well and that is the sort of historical poetry that I think we will live with for a long time.”
Phillip, who has been covering the Trump White House has featured prominently in much of the coverage of the US election campaign. She co-moderated the seventh Democratic debate of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries at Drake University in January alongside CNN colleague Wolf Blitzer and Des Moines Register political correspondent Brianne Pfannenstiel.
Before joining CNN in 2017, Phillip was a national political reporter covering the 2016 election, focusing on the Democrats and Hillary Clinton’s presidential run.
She currently lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, Marcus Richardson, a managing consultant at nVisium, a cybersecurity company.
Source: Stabroek News, Nov 7, 2020

Born in Trinidad -Judaline Cassidy is changing the construction industry.  Watch her explain the program below

 New Chief of Staff and Assistant Dean for Diversity at University of California, Berkeley.
In June, we featured Dr. Denzil Streete who, at that time was the Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Development and Diversity at Yale University, Connecticut, United States. As a young boy, growing up in Morvant, Trinidad and oftentimes not having the necessary schoolbooks, he still persevered and pursued a sound education as his way out of poverty. He is also an avid reader who believes in the power of reading to transform lives. Over the last few years, he and a group of friends have donated over 1000 books to various school libraries across the country. Dr Streete also dedicates his time to motivating students to overcome their current circumstances. He tells us “an obstacle is a terrible thing to waste”.
In July, Dr. Streete became the new Chief of Staff and Assistant Dean for Diversity at University of California, Berkeley. With a Ph.D. in Comparative and International Education with a specialization in Economics of Education, Dr. Streete’s research interest include access and equity in higher education, the “Free College Movement’ and minoritised males in higher education.
In a statement on the university’s website, Dr Streete said “I can think of no better time to engage campus partners on the issues of diversity and belonging, while taking an equity-minded approach to this work.” (https://grad.berkeley.edu)
Best wishes, Denzil! Source:  MENtions-Stories About Us Sept 3, 2020

While becoming President was not something she planned, the mother of two said she wanted to make a difference.
“I have been a member for about six years and I was reading an interview I did the other day when I first got onto the council and they asked what are my political ambitions? They liken it to a parliament and I said, and it still stands, that I never aspired to any political greatness I just wanted to make a difference and I wanted my time to matter.
“You are on it for four years and you have to get re-elected when I got re-elected it became clear that if I wanted to do anything more I had to try to move up the ranks. I wanted to make a difference and penetrate it on a different level,” she told Loop via phone.
The RCVS is a statutory regulator responsible under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 for keeping the register of veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK, setting standards for veterinary education and regulating the professional conduct of veterinary surgeons, among other things.
As president for the next year, Greene is the face of the organisation and her duties include admitting graduates into the profession, awarding Fellowships, Diplomas and Certificates to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and others, chairing committee meetings and meetings with stakeholders.
“We have a number of concerns,” she said when asked about the issues she plans to address in her new role.
“One of the biggest is what happens when the transition from Europe ends and what that will look like. Vets have reported an increase in hostility, what would the environment be and would they want to stay here? We are heavily reliant on Europeans, 50 percent of vets in the UK come from Europe. One of my goals is not only to make sure they could stay and work if they want to but that they do want to stay,” she said.
In the opening speech at her investiture, Greene said that she wants to use her platform and her passion for veterinary medicine and animal welfare to inspire others who think the field is not for them. She gave a recent example of where she encouraged Reanne, a young woman from an Afro-Caribbean background who always wanted to be a vet, to conquer her doubts about joining the profession and successfully apply to study at Liverpool Vet School.
“I am trying to address the role modelling factor…the aim is to try to be as visible as possible and share my story so little children who were like me and have that spark could see there is someone who looks like them so they could do it too,” she said, noting that as West Indians, there is an advantage to growing up in a society where everyone looks like you and there is no limitation to what you can do.
Growing up in Trinidad since the age of two, Greene knew she wanted to be a vet from small.
“I didn’t know what it was called but I knew I wanted to help animals. I give 100 percent credit to my parents. I was identified as the vet in the family so they gave me responsibilities for anything that was wrong with the pets. They would include me in any discussion with the animals and when it came to looking after their health they gave me the responsibility,” she recalled.
After secondary school where she focused on sciences, Greene followed her siblings to England where she was born.
Having declared her intention to be a vet throughout her life she expected to sail into university but was rejected from every single one she applied to.
Unknown to her, universities at the time required work experience that proved a candidate’s commitment to veterinary science.
“I was advised to do courses that would help me so I did a degree at the University of Exeter for three years. I did a degree in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry and I found a vet I could work with and every opportunity I had I went and along the way I met other people. I was told I shouldn’t just go to vets, I should go see animals being slaughtered and do research in a lab. People pointed me to experiences I could have so by the time I applied, three years after my first application, I got accepted to every university I applied to,” she said.
She chose the veterinary school at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and though Greene struggled with some courses she was determined to achieve her dream.
“I didn’t ever seriously consider giving up but I got to a stage of surrendering when I was the lowest in my journey. I was sitting my final exam and it was my final chance to pass. When you face failure once or twice, life starts almost telling you I know you think you are going to be a vet but I have other plans. I was so invested in this journey. I thought when I got to vet school I would sail through everything because it was my destiny. Everyone in my family was so wrapped up in this, they were emotionally and financially invested. There was just so much pressure,” she recalled.
Luckily, she passed that final exam and after graduation in 2008, immediately started working part time with a vet in Scotland before moving to another practice in England.
Greene also worked in a dedicated emergency clinic covering North Birmingham for a couple of years before she worked as a locum in a variety of practices across the West Midlands.
She also added published author to her list of achievements, having been the researcher on a paper about genomic variations in Mycobacterium published in BMC Microbiology.
Asked what it felt like to achieve the dream she harboured from childhood, Greene said the beauty of the journey is that she didn’t know what it would feel like.
She said: “I just wanted to be a vet. Being able to do my job, help animals and help the people who own the animals, to see the happiness on their faces; that is the joy. Making sure animals stay healthy makes me happy, I love my clients, building relationships with people and I love getting to know their pets.”
For the first time in the 176-year history of the United Kingdom’s Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, there is a black President and she is a Trinidadian.
Dr Mandisa Greene was invested as the President at the RCVS’ first virtual Annual General Meeting on July 10.
Her appointment in the height of a global Black Lives Matter movement is certainly significant but the Holy Faith Convent alum does not feel pressured.
“No I don’t feel any pressure. It feels like an honour and privilege to be that person. I often liken it to where the first of anybody does anything because they know they can do it.  There will be people looking on to see what that looks like but I intend to have integrity and be authentic with anything I do,” she told Loop via phone.
Greene became a member of the Council in 2014, the first black person to join.
Source: The Loop, August 28, 2020

His names, Nicholas Marcus, together mean victorious warrior of the people. This is probably why as a child, he was always an advocate. Two decades (and some years) later, after service to people, he is an award-winning social justice advocate and union leader in Canada. According to Nicholas Marcus Thompson, advocacy is his life’s purpose. He believes that “God took him from a tiny village and placed him across the world, in a position of authority where he can impact change in a meaningful way.” Here is what this poor boy from Piparo, Trinidad told MENtions:
_
I was born in the tiny village of Piparo, south Trinidad to an East Indian father and Afro-Trinidadian mother. Surrounded by forest, with no electricity and no running water, my early years were very humble. Despite growing up in poverty and surrounded by not so subtle racism, I fondly remember climbing trees, swimming in the river, catching conch, eating mangoes off the tree and eating some good bake and baigan choka. I also remember ‘getting licks’ (spanked) for stuff my little sister did. She would always get away with everything!
Even with these happy memories and experiences, my childhood was very challenging. The predominantly East Indian village of Piparo, used to treat us as sub-humans (less than’s) and my grandfather would often call me an "ole n**ga". “That is how he does talk”, other relatives would dismissively say. My father, who had serious addiction issues and battled them for all of my childhood, did his best. He really tried. He loved us but had his own battles. Notwithstanding those unpleasant moments, I also remember him carrying me on his back as we walked home through the bumpy, unpaved, unlit road and cooking for us.
My siblings and I walked at least five miles to school every day. We were grateful for the school feeding programme (“box lunch”) because we relied heavily on it to provide our daily nutritional needs. I remember some days carrying my box lunch to the fence to give to my grandmother so that she won’t go hungry. That memory still brings tears to my eyes every time I remember it.
“God took me from a tiny village and placed me across the world”
When I was eight years old, my mother left Piparo and moved to Morvant. My great-grandfather, whom I grew up with in the latter part of my childhood, was my role model. He was a World War II veteran and former police inspector in Trinidad. He taught me discipline, how to dress neatly and how to be a good family man. My faith has also been a guiding compass on my journey. I landed in Toronto as a teenager, ready to take on the world. God took me from a tiny village and placed me across the world, in a position of authority to incite change in a meaningful way. Those early years helped shape my character. Although there were many enjoyable and carefree moments, these years taught me how not to live: what not to do.
“Children have the right to…”
My birth names Nicholas Marcus mean "victory of the people" and "warrior". I sincerely believe that advocacy is my life's purpose. I remember in primary school my mother tried to search my school bag and I protested, declaring that "children have the right to...." As you can imagine, I did not get to finish that statement. In secondary school, the principal had to call my mother several times because I would organize the students and have them protest outside the office when there were moments of perceived injustice.
When I learned of rampant corruption in the LifeSport programme under the TT Ministry of Sport, I was determined to act. “Where are the protests?”, I asked myself. When there was none, I organized a petition to then President and the Prime minister, calling for the dismissal of the then Minister of Sport. The petition went viral and several prominent figures started calling for the Minister's dismissal as well. Seven days later, the then Prime Minister announced the Minister had tendered his resignation. These are the things that fan my flame and encourage me to continue on my journey.
“Public service is not for self-aggrandizement”
My ethos for wanting to serve in elected office comes from the late Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning, former Prime Minister of T&T. He once said that public office is not for self-aggrandizement. His humility and statesmanship have guided my decorum and the way I conduct my public life.
The labour movement in Canada is predominantly white, and naturally I didn't see anyone that looked like me in senior leadership positions, so challenges were abound. While Canada in my view, is a much better place to live than the United States, there is systemic racism in many institutions. Recent events on anti-Black racism prompted me and so many others to act, leading protests in Toronto, calling on the city, province and federal government to act. Our actions of organizing and demanding systemic change is working, cities across the country are declaring racism a public health issue and defunding the police, allocating those funds into our communities is a closer reality.
“First black person to win a nomination for that seat”
At present, I represent hundreds of workers in the federal public service in Canada, as President and in 2019, I was nominated by a federal party as a Member of Parliament candidate in the federal elections. I was the first Black person to win the nomination for that seat. Electoral politics is where I believe that I can affect the most change, on a national level.
Through my many years of advocacy and public service, my mother continues to be my biggest supporter in all things. She still doesn't tell me she loves me, like a lot of Caribbean parents, but her unwavering support reminds me daily.
“We still don’t know how to look out for each other in a community way”
While I was fortunate to have a great-grand father to look up to and a former Prime Minister, whose ideals guided me, I believe that there needs to be more role models and mentors for black men. That is something the black communities need to work on. I attribute that shortcoming to the rippled effects of slavery. We still do not know how to look out for each other in a community way.
“Be open to everything: push yourself to learn every day”
I found my passion and I aggressively pursue it daily but if you are at that point where you are still searching for a career path, it is important to first find your passion, which is usually your purpose. Read a lot, as it is the key. When I'm reading and I do not know a word, I look up the meaning and apply that word in a sentence later on. This simple but important task helps to ensure that I remain current and articulate. Be open to everything: push yourself to learn every day. If you're afraid of speaking publicly, challenge yourself to do it. Whatever it is that you're afraid of, challenge yourself to overcome it.
___
Nicholas Marcus Thompson is the first Black man to be elected as the President of the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) Toronto North. He is also the Vice President of the Greater Toronto Area Council and the Co-Chair of the Racially Visible Committee at the Public Service Alliance of Canada. In January 2020, Nicholas Marcus was named Activist of the Year by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Greater Toronto Area Council. In addition to his professional pursuits, Nicholas Marcus Thompson is also a dedicated father of three wonderful young children. He attends the University of Toronto where he studies part-time.
Nicholas Marcus Thompson Union of Taxation Employees Public Service Alliance of Canada