Each month we feature a member of the Jamaican Women of Florida as a way for us to learn more about each other and share the stories of the powerful women who make up this wonderful organization. November’s featured members are Pauline Foster and Judith Morrison- Cunningham. We’re proud to have them as our members.

Pauline Foster is a CPP Certified Payroll Professional with many years of experience in Payroll Management, working with numerous corporations in New York and Florida. She holds a Six Sigma Green Belt certification and a certification pending in Project Management. Pauline belongs to several organizations throughout Dade and Broward County. She is actively involved with Ghanamaa Inc., and I am a Complete Women, these organizations bring awareness to Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and empower women about self-care and sisterhood, respectively, both focus on black women. In 2017 Pauline visited Melody House in Montego Bay Jamaica with The Jamaican Women of Florida, who sponsors, supports, and encourages abused and abandoned young girls. Pauline is an outgoing and loving mother who is supporting a talented aspiring musician who has performed with Willie Stewart in Rhythm of Africa and also The Jamaican Jerk Festival on the Cultural Stage. When Pauline is not working or attending events, she is walking in the park, doing some meditation and some self-care.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3/5 WORDS?

I'm committed, healthy, loving, caring, and I am learning how to use my faith more to accomplish things I thought could not be done.

WHAT MOTIVATES ME?

Waking up in the mornings and giving thanks to God to see another day.

NAME SOMETHING YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHY?

My work, payroll is very time sensitive, deadline driven and challenging, I love the challenge. Being of service to the employees who are the company's biggest customers and the various agencies as they apply to payroll and management puts you in the frame of mind that you are in control of what you do. I have been asked many times, how do you stay so calm? When you love what you do, you ask God for guidance and the strength to allow you to do your very best. This is why my work is so passionate.

WHO HAS IMPRESSED YOU MOST WITH WHAT THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED?

My grandmother Auntie Ritty as she was called by many, was a strong woman. She was very religious and a pillar of strength to her children. Growing up with her in Jamaica, I saw perseverance and how loving she was towards people in her community. That was the benchmark of my achievements and accomplishment.

WHAT AGE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD PERMANENTLY BE, AND WHY?

There is no specific age that I could permanently be or stay. If there were things I could have done differently, I would have. Each day is a learning experience, and we have to live each day as if it was our last. Once that day or moment is gone, we cannot go back and change it. Our life is a journey, and we have to learn how to balance it with age and time.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU LIKE TO DO THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY?

Preparing some of my traditional Jamaican meals alongside some of the vegetarian meals and playing my Reggae music or records on my turn-table.

WHAT WAS THE BEST BOOK OR SERIES THAT YOU’VE EVER READ?

I am a spiritual person, and I am always working on my inner self and ways to empower me. My reading list is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, Acts of Faith, Forgiveness, In The Meantime (all by Iyanla Vanzant), and simple Abundance a day Book of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

WHY JWOF?

I went to the first JWOF Empowerment Conference downtown Ft. Lauderdale. That day I left the conference feeling very impressed and empowered. The women of this group all share a common goal; they are smart, strong, and the skill sets can be shared among ourselves as a group and with others. JWOF has a powerhouse of women, and I consider myself blessed to be a part of this organization.

Featured Member November, 2019 - Pauline Foster