Entertainment with a Personal Touch
Lena James
“The heights by great men reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight. But they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night. “
–Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Classiqué International is the brainchild of Lena Rosanna James of Marigot Dominica—and intrepid soul. By the age of seventeen Lena had already traveled to several countries, including Barbados, Germany and Austria, but her heart and soul beat for her small Caribbean Island—Dominica. She traveled great distances and rose far above her meager beginnings but she has ever desired to return to Marigot and see it transformed.
In 1980 Lena migrated to the United States of America to live with the greater part of her immediate family already living in New York City. Once there she pursued a program of betterment that involved a Word Processing Secretary certificate from the American Business Institute of Technology. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology for two years; gained employment with Blue Cross and Blue Shield Insurance Company, Lever Brothers, and The Federal Reserve Bank in New York City.
In 1990 Lena relocated to Virginia where she worked for the Hecht’s Company (now Macy’s) for nearly six years and in 1995, after the death of her younger sister Martha James, Lena was trained as a Licensed Nursing Assistant by the Loudon Hospital in Leesburg, V.A. eventually working in several retirement communities, nursing homes and a doctor’s office. She eventually took on a private nursing job caring for Lt. Col. Hortense M. Boutell who, though originally from Minnesota, had lived in Washington for many years. In Washington, D.C. Lena cared for Col Boutell (Bo) for seven years until she passed away in 2006. If this were not enough Lena has also studied at George Washington University and the Northern Virginia Community College where she is currently pursuing a degree in psychology with an emphasis on behavioral science.
This has all prepared her for the launching of Classiqué International and in 2006, with the lunching of the Marigot Development Corporation (MDC) her desire to return to Dominica became more urgent. The MDC was the key promoter of a Marigot reunion and successfully encouraged hundreds of Marigot Diasporas to return home for a community celebration. As a result of Lena’s interest and involvement in the community, during this period she created Classiqué International. Classiqué International is a place where people of different races, cultural background, ages, and social economic status, come together to socialize. Through Classiqué, these various groups can reacquaint themselves with friends and families, some of whom they might not have seen for many years and develop new and lasting relationships.
Although she left the Island several years ago, Lena has never forgotten Dominica and has visited frequently over the years. Her ultimate goal is to spend more time on the island and to become more actively involved in the educational and cultural progression of the community—in other words—to see a positive change occur.
about 1 year ago
congratulation miss James keep the fire burning we are all behind you god bless you.
about 1 year ago
Hi Lena, Like your blog. You may be interested in http://www.dominican-diaspora.com a networking on-line community for all Dominicans.
about 1 year ago
You must have read my mind. I was actually trying to access the site while in Dominica but could not remember the address so thanks for your help.
about 1 year ago
Real nice pics !
about 1 year ago
Thank you! I will continue to post pictures as they become available. I am currently awaiting some pics from the MayFest celebrations in Marigot which will be great to see.
about 1 year ago
Well done Lena!!!!
about 1 year ago
Thank you, Sylvia.
about 1 year ago
Hello My Name is Dianne Sullivan from Barbados I now live in New York. I am trying to locate Eric James . I met him in Barbados many, many years ago . If anyone knows hime please pass this message and email addess. Desue11@aol.com . Thank you and Godbless.
about 1 year ago
Hi Diane,
If you are referring to Eric James from Marigot, he has an office in Roseau and currently lives in Dominica but frequently visits the US.
about 1 year ago
Hi Lena. Thanks for your well deserved tribute to Michael Jackson. May the heavenly father look kindly upon him. Enjoy your rest Michael.
about 1 year ago
Nice to see that you finally got your comment through. Thanks for sending me pictures of the three beautiful roses and the wooden garden pots. I have printed them out and will take them to Dominica with me.
Michael was truly an influential artist who was dearly loved by many, especially by some of the most respected people in show business. Breaking barriers between the races was not an easy thing to do at the time that he was able to use his music to do so. Only God really knows the extent to which he suffered in spite of him being the kind and loving soul that he was. His legacy will live on for ever while we try hard to understand why he left so soon. Hopefully his son and daughters, like other children of musicians, will become musically inclined and attempt to follow in his footsteps. At least his children will not have traumatizing memories of having suffered abusively as he did, by not having the kind of childhood that most children were expected to have because of the way in which he was raised by his own father. (I don’t know how much they will be affected by the face coverings).
Life is really something else, Michael was so protective of his three children, mainly shielding them from the media, yet he is gone and they must go on with their lives — unbelievable. His sudden death reminds me of one of Evangilist, Dr. James Dobson’s book which is entitled “when God doesn’t make sense,” where he relates several examples of true stories of people unexpectedly loosing their loved ones and wondering how and why God allowed them to die.
Michael’s children will become children similar to Elvis Presley’s daughter, Princess Dianna’s son, and Bob Marley’s sons, as well as children of many other stars who have passed on before him. Michael will be an angel looking down at his children, but ultimately, it will be up to them to choose their own career paths. Apparently he went through drastic measures to protect his children and not thrust them into show business like he was, in spite of the rewarded efforts on the part of his parents.
about 1 month ago
Lena, it is amazing how fast time has passed, my neighbour and friend for a number of years growing up. It is a pleasure to see the transformation that you have done with this place, what a great job. I am hoping to visit sometime soon. Like you and a lot of us our HEART will always be in Dominica, the place of Peace and Tranquility!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL
about 1 month ago
Yes Claudia, you’re absolutely right. I still remember us playing long into the evenings, along with our other neighbors….. those were the best days ever! I am very happy to be able to use Classique as a venue where we can all get together and just have fun. It’s great being in DA. There are lots of people visiting throughout the summer so there’s always someone around. I am striving to make Classique a more comfortable and interesting place to accommodate all my many friends, especially during the Creole Fest, which is just around the corner. I Look forward to seeing you soon.