Jamaica-born Kalisha Dixon makes waves in Maryland politics

Born and raised in the gritty inner-city community of Grants Pen, St Andrew, Kalisha Dixon is spreading her Jamaican roots in Maryland, where she has been elected council member for the town of Bladensburg.

Dixon ran on a Democratic ticket, defeating three other candidates on her way to office in local elections held in October, weeks before the United States’ national polls.

“I never had any doubts. The Lord told me I was going to win the election,” she told The Sunday Gleaner of her victory.

A philanthropist and youth pastor at Faith Full Gospel Deliverance Church of God in Washington, DC, where she actively supports her community, Dixon said she had the backing of her church and surrounding communities that campaigned vigorously on her behalf, doing door-to-door canvassing.

“Some people were not happy with the results that they lost, and so they had to call an emergency meeting to recount the ballots, and I came up with six extra votes,” she said.

This secured her position as the elected representative for Ward 1 of Bladensburg.

The town is divided into two wards. Combined, they account for approximately 10,000 residents.

But the Jamaica-born Dixon never had a desire for politics or any ambitions of a political future, let alone in the US, she told The Sunday Gleaner.

Dixon, 46, was delivered at home at Grants Pen Avenue by a midwife.

She attended New Day All-Age School, now New Day Primary, before moving on to Norman Manley High School in St Andrew and Dunoon Technical High School in east Kingston.

During those years, she spent a considerable amount of time on the corner – a practice that is commonplace for many Jamaican youth living in garrisons.

“You would pass me sitting on the corner or sitting at my gate. You hear the gunshots, you run, but then you do it all over again. I mean, it’s Grants Pen,” she said of her childhood.

“I would hear a barrage of gunshots. I’ve even experienced someone putting a gun to my neck. They called it playing,” she recalled.

But for her, the moment was sobering.

Dixon said it was after that encounter that the path she wanted to take in life became clearer.

“I would encourage people to get a mentor. A mentor is very important in your life. Sometimes you really need someone to steer you and to keep you on track. As I said, I used to always be on the streets in Grants Pen. You need someone to keep you focused,” she said.

Her mother had migrated to the US, and having completed high school, Dixon relocated to Bull Bay on the border of St Andrew and St Thomas to live with her pastor and family.

Their mentorship ushered in a positive journey, setting her up for a job as a receptionist at what was then known as the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation.

Dixon later moved on to work at Knight, Junor & Samuels law firm, harbouring thoughts all the while that she would one day become an attorney-at-law.

But a petition put in by her mother to have her join her in the US was successful, and in 2007, she migrated to North American country.

There, Dixon pursued higher education, earning both an Associate of Science degree and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Sustainability from the University of the District of Columbia. She graduated with honours and was selected as the valedictorian of her class.

She then pursued a Master of Public Health at Howard University before transferring to Walden University, where she is currently in the final phase of completing her degree.

Still, Dixon said she actively supports her community through several ministries and initiatives aimed at empowering youth and providing care for the elderly.

It was through public service that she met and worked with Maryland State Senator Malcolm Augustine, assisting with his campaigns and building connections with other local leaders.

While assisting with his second-term campaign, Dixon said she was encouraged to run for office.

At first, she excused away the idea, considering that she had a lot on her plate and that the task would be a bit too much.

But the encouragements persisted, she said, and she leaned on her passion for service and threw her hat into the ring.

“I decided I’d run because of my deep-rooted passion for serving the community and youth advocacy. Youth voices are often overlooked, and, of course, as one who has overcome challenges as an immigrant, I understand the importance of having representation in local government that truly reflects the diversities of communities of the town that I live in,” Dixon said.

She said that although Bladensburg is diverse, she intends to give significant attention to young people.

She wants a trade school in the town and a youth club.

“That’s one of my major goals – to bring a trade school to the town of Bladensburg. That will provide residents, and especially young adults, with access to vocational training in different fields. It’s a way to empower young people and set them up for lucrative jobs,” Dixon said, adding that US$1 million is on the table to initiate this.

At the same time, she said she is paying it forward, contributing heavily to students in Jamaica who are pursuing degrees at The University of the West Indies.

But those are students outside of Grants Pen, she said, lamenting her fear to return to the community and contribute.

She said a threatening experience with a wayward figure in the community years ago has caused her to stay away despite a deep desire to give back.

“When someone says something threatening to you and makes you feel very unsafe, and you know them and their character, you will stay away. I have not been able to give back in my community like I want to. But I want people to know it doesn’t matter where you come from or how you start. Just finish strong,” she said.

“I cannot give anyone the credit for my life but God. I have had people who have encouraged me, and, of course, I have a mentor, but the first person I would give credit to is God. [Looking at] where I came from, if I can do it, anyone else can,” Dixon said.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com