The head of a Midlands Housing Association, Llewellyn Graham has been recognised as an unsung hero of the last year for his work in the Jamaican Diaspora community in the UK at Jamaica’s recent 2021 Governor-General’s Diaspora Achievement Awards for Excellence.
This year’s awards were a virtual event and featured as part of the main activities of the 9th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Symposium under the theme “Jamaica and the Diaspora: Stronger Together for a Sustainable Future.”
It provides a platform for unsung heroes to be recognised and have their stories pivot a wave of inspiration across Jamaica and the Diaspora. Since 2008, nearly 50 Jamaicans have received these prestigious Awards in the Diaspora regions of the United States of America, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Llewellyn Graham, Chief Executive of Great Barr based Nehemiah Housing Association, which has over 1244 properties across the West Midlands, won the award having impressed the judging panel with his significant contribution in the changing of lives in the community through his work within the housing association and as a Bishop within the Church of God of Prophecy. Importantly, they highlighted that during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Llewellyn led a dedicated team of frontline workers in the delivery of exemplary service to some of the most vulnerable members of the Jamaican-Diaspora Community.
His Excellency The Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, KSt.J, Governor-General of Jamaica, said: "The awards recognise the unsung heroes in the community who are working behind the scenes to make it a success. It is heartwarming to pat them on the back and say thank you and well done for the work they have been doing.
The standard of entries was incredibly high this year, and it was very hard to pick winners from all those who were nominated. With over 35 years of dedicated service to underserved communities and the Jamaican Diaspora, Bishop Llewellyn Graham, has built a strong legacy of quality service above self.”
Llewellyn Graham commented: “I am very pleased and honoured to win this award and would like to thank the team that support me both within Nehemiah Housing Association and the Church without whom the great work we do would not be possible. I would also like to thank those who nominated me and I hope we can continue to maintain the high standards of work in future years."