January 1, 2024

The Hummingbird Newsletter

A Word From Our President

Past President - Ms. Hazel Mitchell

Greetings to my fellow Trinbagonians members, families, friends and supporters. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to every one of you.

This past year has been quiet a year for TnTGA and we could not have made it without supporters like you. I am proud of the significant hard work of the Board and how we have been productive and stayed grounded. We remain deeply committed to our organization.

For 2024, we urgently need your help to continue our vital work, so that the community can continue to benefit .see the great works we have and plan to continue to do.

TnTGA members will continue to RISE to even greater heights than we have already experienced.

R - Recruit new members and businesses

I - Inspire each other to share our country’s narrative of independence

S - Spiritually pray for all of our brothers and sisters in Trinidad & Tobago and the world

E - Empower our youth by increasing the number of scholarships that we can provide each year

Now my term as President of TnTGA has ended. I am confident that my successor Ms. Julie

Jones-Hewitt who is no stranger to the community and her Board will continue the good work

that TnTGA has been doing over the past years and that our membership will continue to

increase.

Thank you again for your generosity, support, and look forward to 2024 being the greatest and

best year ever for TnTGA

Peace and Blessing.

President Elect - Ms. Julie Jones Hewitt

The Trinidad and Tobago Association of Georgia is thrilled to announce the appointment of our new President for the 2024-2025 term. With great pleasure, we extend our warmest congratulations to our incoming President for this well-deserved position. We are excited to welcome our new leader and can't wait to see what she has in store for us. In her own words, "I take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year."

We couldn't agree more! Let's celebrate this joyous season and look forward to a bright future under our new President's guidance.

Join us in congratulating her and spreading the holiday cheer!

Board Members 2024-2025 Term

Board elections for the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Georgia was held on November 19th 2023

The new board which will serve the 2024-2025 term

President: Julie Jones Hewitt

Vice President: Hazel Mitchell

Secretary: Patricia Hamilton

Assistant Secretary: Marjorie Foster

Treasurer: Diane Durity-Pickett

PRO: Wendolyn Llanos

Trustee1: Colin Tinto

Trustee 2: Gail Nicholson

Congratulations To All

Featured Trinbagonian

Natalie Joseph-Settle

"Empress Natty"

Fierce and talented, Empress Natty has conquered many challenges to become the bastion and beacon of Trinidad and Tobago culture she is today.

Born and raised in Rose Hill, Laventille, Trinidad, Natalie Joseph-Settle learned early on she would dedicate her life to representing her beloved culture onstage. Her training began with the Northwest Laventille Cultural Performers and continued under Carol La Chappelle's Dance Troupe and then at Ballet Creole Canada, where she earned a scholarship to further her studies in dance. Later on, she taught and toured as a distinguished member of the Malick Folk Performers, where her mesmerizing skills as a Limboist, Actress, Dancer, and of course Singer were fostered. During her time with this world renowned and recognized troupe, Empress Natty, received many accolades, including, Best All-Round Performer.

She was a frequent finalist in the National Limbo Competition, and traveled the world showcasing the culture of her homeland in Italy, Japan, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and Santo Domingo.

A particularly noteworthy highlight occurred when she was the Dance Director of the Malick Folk Performers and choreographed the entire production for the Juniors of the troupe, winning the Children's Cultural Festival in Cuba, with 'My Pickney'.

Natalie lives to bring joy to others and strives every day to be the very best version of herself, no matter the situation. This was clear during her time as the first Limbomama in the Universoul Circus, USA. She learned many life-changing lessons there, including how passionate she was about showing the world the undeniable elegance and beauty of her Tribagonian culture.

The experience also gave her the impetus to remind the world of yet another skill she honed over years on stage, singing. Already, she has released quite a few singles, all highlighting her love affair with her heritage.

Today, she is taking yet another step into her future, vocally, and with her songwriting abilities in order to uplift and encourage those around her.

"Exhaustion" is her latest release, as well as her first ever music video. In it she tells the story of life through the eyes of a mother, and a woman who has committed herself toward being a living vessel, for the truth and power engrained in her DNA. Compelling and thought provoking, it displays Empress Natty's devotion to the culture that has nurtured her into the force of nature she is today.

Without a doubt, Empress Natty has only just begun and will fulfill her immovable destiny as a true icon and proud representative of Trinidad and Tobago.

Article courtesy of: https://mystiethongs.com