My roots run deep in Ballards Valley, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. It’s where my mother is from, my family still lives and it will always be a part of who I am.

When Hurricane Melissa struck, I wasn’t watching it on the news—I was in the heart of it. I felt the storm before she arrived: the tension in the air, the silence that didn’t feel like silence, the fear of the unknown. And then it came.

I experienced the full force of Melissa—violent winds that shook entire homes, altered neighborhoods, trees snapping like twigs, and destruction unfolding faster than anyone could prepare for. We watched the sky change, the power disappear, the running water stop, and the world outside turn unrecognizable within hours. It wasn’t just rain and wind—it was chaos, uncertainty, and the painful reality that people were losing everything in real time.

That experience stays with me.

My heart is with the people of Jamaica. Rebuild Jamaica is not just a mission—it’s personal. I saw families huddled together, praying in the dark. I saw neighbors helping neighbors, even as they had nothing themselves. The resilience of Jamaican people is powerful, and they deserve every resource, every ounce of support, and every voice willing to stand with them and for them.

I am here because Jamaica is home—and home deserves to be rebuilt with love, dignity, and strength.