An Emmy Award Nominated Network Journalist, Author, Life Coach and Speaker in the United States with ties to Anguilla, is on the island and has much praise and pride for her family connections and Anguilla.

Mrs. Jennifer Lewis-Hall

“I am Jennifer Lewis-Hall,” she introduced herself to The Anguillian on Wednesday. “I reside now in Central New Jersey in a small town called Metuchen. I am the descendent of an Anguillian – a very wonderful woman by the name of Bianca Richardson who lived on South Hill. She retired here from New York City and was known all over as ‘Cousin B.’ She grew up here and everyone knew her family and her brother Gabe who had the first phone at South Hill. It is a wonderful legacy. On my mother’s paternal side, the Richardsons, my family, are from West End…Joel Richardson, Cita and Aggie; so what a wonderful and rich legacy.”

The well-spoken and enthusiastic journalist went on: “I just recently wrote a children’s book on Anguilla which is not yet published. It will be the third book I have written. I am a network television journalist and author so you can see me on BETJ. I host a show called My Two Sons. I am a frequent contributor to Today’s Show on NBC. I spent seven years as a business television journalist on CMBC, all the channels that you get here in Anguilla. I have really been entrenched in network television for the past ten years.”

Mrs. Lewis-Hall is also a contributing freelancer with CNN. In addition, she is an on-air expert seen on newscasts including WCBS-TV in New York, offering informative advice on relationships, work and lifestyle issues. She is also a life coach heard on Lifetime Radio providing listeners with savvy yet down to earth tips to enhance their lives.

The well-respected journalist who is married and has two sons, holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from North Western University’s Medhill School of Journalism and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Douglas College at Rutgers University.

“I am really happy to be here because I see that Anguilla is going through such a renaissance,” she continued. “It is so important that we have a chance to retain our legacy. While I love progress and I think that it is a very powerful thing for African-Americans in the United States, Anguillians and anyone else, I am always concerned about our legacy, that we retain what we want to retain and are not driven by other factors only.”

Asked what the purpose of her visit was, she replied: “It is really to get a chance to see Anguilla [again]. I will be restoring my grandmother’s house. I am making sure that the legacy continues. I was able to bring my mother (Avalon Lewis) down (who is obviously Bianca’s daughter) and my father is Arthur Lewis.

Questioned about her forthcoming children’s book, she said it was based on her grandmother’s and grandfather’s life growing up in Anguilla. “It is going to be a tale and it is completely written and edited. All of the characters involved [will tell] exactly who Bianca and Gabe were growing up and what I envisioned they would have looked like, sounded like and how they would have played on the rocks over at West End. It is a wonderful story. I think and I look forward to actually publishing and distributing it. I have two books that I have already published. The first is called Life’s Journey- Not A Sprint and my second book is called Life’s Changes – Using the Power of Change to Transform Your Life. And I have done that on Today’s Show.

Is this the first time that you have been in Anguilla?” she was asked.

“No. I have been coming to Anguilla since I was a child,” she replied. I recalled that back then I was very blinded so to speak and not focussed on all the little joys that the island had to offer. I remember my grandmother telling me: ‘when you come here you can play on the beach and enjoy yourself.’ ‘I said that’s no fun; there is no television, this or that.’ Little did I know that this would be a place that is so magical, as I have grown to appreciate it. I am so thankful that she had the ability to preserve what she had. This is a woman who for many years was known for her philanthropy. Just like her my mother…contributes to the Anguilla community, sending clothes and other things, attending functions at the schools etc. It is amazing how you can keep those Anguillian ties.”

Mrs. Lewis-Hall, who previously visited Anguilla three years ago, had this to say about her current trip to the island:

“When I came off the plane the first thing I saw was the development at the airport…I was glad about the infrastructure changes. Having come to Anguilla as a child, I love to see progress…I love the fact that young individuals have grown up to have their own businesses. We don’t have a chance to see enough of that in the United States for African-Americans. We need more role models where we can see young people of colour having ownership of what they do and that is something here on the island that people in the United States may not always take to heart. Anguilla has always been an enterprising and entrepreneurial place and that is something we can take home to the US and share with our children.”

She added: “I am concerned about the amount of industry that is coming to the island in terms of industry. I am happy to see tourism evolved, but I want to make sure that as you grow here in Anguilla, people will take to heart the ownership of their most precious and valuable commodity: that is Anguilla’s spirit and Anguilla’s land.”

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