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Jacintha P. Griffith

Goodreads Author

Born

St.Georges, Grenada

Website

http://www.jacinthagriffith.com

Genre

Literature & Fiction

Member Since

November 2011

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I left my homeland Grenada, in the West Indies, in February 1979 on a vacation to visit family in Toronto, Winnipeg and Brooklyn, New York. While in Winnipeg, I watched the television broadcast of a political revolution erupting in Grenada. The aftermath of that revolution would later be one of President Reagan’s foreign policies, as he sent in U.S. troops for an invasion in October of 1983. At the time of the revolution, my husband, who was a police officer loyal to the ousted government, was seeking a way out of the country. I continued my trip to my final planned vacation stop in Brooklyn, New York, and while there I made the decision not to return to my homeland where political instability was prevalent. While awaiting my husband’s arri I left my homeland Grenada, in the West Indies, in February 1979 on a vacation to visit family in Toronto, Winnipeg and Brooklyn, New York. While in Winnipeg, I watched the television broadcast of a political revolution erupting in Grenada. The aftermath of that revolution would later be one of President Reagan’s foreign policies, as he sent in U.S. troops for an invasion in October of 1983. At the time of the revolution, my husband, who was a police officer loyal to the ousted government, was seeking a way out of the country. I continued my trip to my final planned vacation stop in Brooklyn, New York, and while there I made the decision not to return to my homeland where political instability was prevalent. While awaiting my husband’s arrival, I found myself faced with the uncertainties of obtaining legal residency. As I navigated the many legal avenues to remain in the United States, I heard many interesting stories of how people dealt with the barriers to citizenship. Years later, while sitting near a window on the 67th floor of 1 World Trade Center where I worked as a staff financial analyst, I peered across the Hudson River at Brooklyn with its culturally diverse immigrant population, and this story began percolating in my mind.
I left my position with the Port Authority of NY and NJ’s Treasury department in July 1996 to attend New York University’s Masters of Occupational Therapy program. I had decided on a career change where I would be in a position of service to others. I have been working as an Occupational Therapist since January 1999, and have lived and worked as a therapist in New Jersey, Florida, and Texas, where I currently work as a pediatric occupational therapist in the Dallas area. I have developed a passion for social and educational issues since working with young children with physical disabilities, and with the issue of immigration, after working with children of migrant families in Florida. I received a humanitarian award in January 2009 from the Ocala Florida Elks/Florida Elks Association for my service to children in Marion County.
I was married for 26 years, but is now divorced with two grown daughters. This is my first novel. If there is a single sentence that describes my life, it would be this one from a song written by Bill and Gloria Gaither:
“I walk into the unknown, trusting, all the while.”
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Jacintha P. Griffith's Blog

Coveting the Dream

This novel is receiving very favorable reviews on amazon. It is shedding light on a very important social issue that will be debated in this election, and is raising some awareness of the struggles of immigrants and the barriers to U.S. residency status.

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