Harness the Diaspora- Forging connection advances community development
August 3, 2022 – Justin Moorhead
My mind runs to Virgin Islanders who distinguish themselves in extremely talent-competitive employment markets. Some are in global enterprises. Others are in industry, whether self-employed or in corporate institutions, and some pursue philanthropic endeavors. Virgin Islanders are distinguishing themselves in government at both the federal and state levels and in social, cultural, academic and research institutions. They register accomplishments in the fields of medicine, law, science, engineering, technology, finance, security and the arts. In short their involvements and accomplishments run the gamut of human endeavor.
Many retain ties to the Virgin Islands through family. They return for holidays, family gatherings or simply to touch base with a community to which they feel inherently connected.
In reflecting on this diaspora, I wonder whether somewhere within our local institution there exists a database of these individuals. Compiling a relatively accurate and comprehensive data base would not be a difficult undertaking. Many are active on one or more social and professional networking platforms. The few degrees of separation that exist among Virgin Islanders would allow access to others less searchable online.
In 1995 Lieutenant Governor Derek Hodge convened a meeting in Philadelphia that attracted hundreds of individuals from across the east coast and midwest wanting to assist in the rebuilding effort following the devastation of hurricane Marilyn. That assembly was an impressive gathering of personal and institutional capabilities and resources. It is unlikely that event left behind a contact database.
Reflecting on that coming together of individuals having a deep personal connection to the Virgin Islands reinforces the potential value such a database might represent. Whoever is tasked with putting this together should similarly be tasked with its updating and exploring ways to nurture and engage with those on that database.
Consider the possible benefits to our institutions and community if we are proactive in maintaining a connection to these individuals. When the situation warrants, we could draw on their expertise directly or be referred to others with expertise more targeted to our specific needs. Developing and maintaining this information resource would expand the human resource network available to our institutions. It could better inform where we turn to for assistance when needed as it would provide access to individuals who have a substantive connection to these islands.
Some believe we can solve our societal and economic challenges using only on-island talent. Others choose to write off those who have left the islands on the premise that those individuals have forfeited the right to be part of solving our social and economic challenges. Far too often we seek assistance from those who have neither connection nor commitment to us and who simply view the Virgin Islands as just another marketplace for selling professional services.
In 1959 Elzy Wright an employee of the California Motor Vehicles Department coined the caustic comment that the consultant is the individual “…with a briefcase who is more that 50 miles from home.”
Our community is less than ninety thousand persons on four separate islands. We lack the breadth of professional competencies that larger population centers have more readily available. The sea which separates our island communities places individual communities at a further disadvantage as it frustrates the formation of synergies that might otherwise leverage available talent resource in small population centers.
Developing a database of off-island local talent should not be for the purpose of finding a way to attract these individuals to return home. Their accomplishments speak positively of both individuals achievement as well as the nurturing received from their island heritage.
Finally, we need not limit this network to those connected only by birth or family to the Territory. The web of contacts could extend to those with an affinity for these islands developed over many years of repeat visits. Many individuals and families regularly return regardless of the impact of hurricanes, economic downturns or global instability. Whatever it is that ties these individuals to us offers us an opportunity to leverage their interest and capabilities to help in our development.
Colleges and universities institutionalize and manage their alumni networks to achieve financial support and identify their alumni accomplishments with the institution of which they were once apart.
We can learn from this model. It illustrates a path way for leveraging the Virgin Islands diaspora to advance our institutions and community.
Social and economic development requires harnessing a variety of resources. Ensuring ready access to professional competency is an important component to that effort.
