It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and friend, Jack Bishop. Jack passed away peacefully in his sleep at AdventHealth Orlando on Monday, June 13, at 11:04am, a little under a month before his 61st birthday. We were by his side as it happened.

Jack was diagnosed with aggressive and rare stage-four cancer in August 2021. While he did not survive his cancer, he certainly did not lose to it — from his first day to his last, Jack was a fighter.

Despite doctor’s guesses, despite medical statistics, despite many close calls, Jack continuously fought back death. Through love, hope, and endless jokes, Jack embodied the words, “darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”

Our family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to every single person who visited, contacted us, donated to his fundraiser, sent care packages, prayed for him, and so much more. All of you have truly been the light of Jack’s life.

Everything he was and everything he is, centered on uplifting those around him. In honor of his life, we ask you to focus on something you are grateful for, help someone in need, or even crack a few jokes and bring a smile to someone’s face.

We will be holding a Celebration of Life on St. Croix at a forthcoming date, once appropriate arrangements have been made. We ask for all to please allow us patience and privacy as we continue to grieve our loss.

We encourage friends and loved ones to send photos, memories, quotes, and stories of Jack. We will add these to a virtual archive and later share in a digital and/or printed format.

May Jack Rest in Everlasting Peace.

We love you so much, Dad. You will always be with us.

With love to you all,
Jean, Katherine and Julian

Even before the new year, I have been struggling to find the words needed to accurately reflect on 2020... in fact, I still don’t fully have them as I am writing this. 

This year has been unexpected and chaotic, to say the very least. 
Just as with every year, I started 2020 with many resolutions, goals, and plans. And while it is not uncommon to go a bit off-track in our new year agendas- because we’ve all been there before- COVID-19 brought about an unprecedented change to every single person’s life. Even if the pandemic itself may be a “temporary” occurrence, it’s impact will continue to be felt for generations to come.

I am grateful and give blessings for the continued safety and health of my family, friends, and everyone else around me. 
However, I cannot reflect on the past year without taking a moment to acknowledge the more than 1,700,000 individuals worldwide who lost their lives to this virus- many of which were preventable deaths, largely as a result of negligent world leaders. While everyone was not directly impacted by this virus, many others suffered the losses of parents, children, siblings, extended family, lovers, friends, neighbors, coworkers, mentors, and so many more innocent souls. 
My heart, support, and blessings go to all of these individuals who have lost loved ones during this pandemic. 

This year has been one shrouded in darkness. There has been a great deal of suffering and loss, trials and obstacles- but every cloud has a silver lining. 
2020 has also been- in many ways- a year of wisdom, guidance, and enlightenment. For most everyone, this year brought significant change to our individual and collective lives, even if we might not have been ready for it. 

One positive change, for example, would be how we view our everyday superheroes of society- the doctors and nurses, the teachers and assistants, the food handlers, the mail carriers, and countless other frontline workers. These superheroes kept society moving forward with little pay or recognition- but often at a great personal risk. It is because of these brave and committed souls that we have gotten through much of this pandemic- and because of them that we may soon overcome it. 

It is often during periods of great turmoil and loss that we are able to grow and learn the most. 
While the pandemic made 2020 the worst year ever for many, it is still not over yet, and we are bound to face more obstacles and trials in our lives. I don’t say that to be a pessimist, but rather to remind you: 
Life doesn’t simply getting better for you, YOU get better for life. 

In looking forward to 2021, instead of asking ourselves, “What will the new year bring me?”, ask instead, “What will I bring to the new year?”

Election Day 2020! 🗳 

This post is a bit late- between classes, the presidential election/transition fiasco, and more, things have been very hectic...

But nonetheless, Election Day 2020 was certainly one to remember in many ways!

First, a big congratulations to all of the candidates who ran a hard fought and passionate campaign this year. Even if you came short, you have taken a major step in serving our community- and that first step is always the hardest. Keep pushing on! 

Second, I am VERY excited for many of our new local candidates who have been elected on a promise of change and commitment... 
Specifically, I’d like to single out my girls Shawna Richards and Emmanuella Perez-Cassius- two brilliant, hardworking, and passionate Virgin Islanders who will serve as St. Croix’s new members of the Board of Education. Every area of our government and society could use improvement... but the Board of Education has long been deprived of the type of devotion and focus that Shawna and Emmanuella are bringing to the table. 

Third, people of color- but especially BLACK WOMEN- came through this election!!! From the local and nation candidates who broke various glass ceilings, to the organizers like Stacey Abrams who mobilized minority communities, to those who voted- especially for the first time- these victories could have never happened without all of you turning out, raising your voices, and bringing your own seats to the table. 

Lastly, to everyone- throughout the continental U.S. who voted, within the U.S. territories who advocated, and all over the world who raised their voice- this historic election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and this end to an era of POTUS-sponsored hate and bigotry, is because of YOU!
2020 saw the most voters EVER in an election- locally and nationally! 
When we get involved and we show up, WE WIN! 

The 2020 election locally and throughout the U.S. saw many significant first... 

• The nation elected an unprecedented number of women to Congress and other elected offices.
• A record-breaking number of LGBTQ+ individuals were elected to office, including the first two black LGBTQ+ men elected to Congress and the first LGBTQ+ man elected Mayor of San Francisco.
• A historic number of young people voted and ran for office nationwide, including many young POC.
• ... And so many more minorities of all backgrounds that were elected, making the make-up of U.S. elected offices the most diverse EVER! 

While we still face continued struggles, such as battling this pandemic or stabilizing our local and national economy, this election has put a new ray of hope on us all-  locally, nationally, and internationally. 

“The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” 

We are (finally) rising up! 
#RiseUpVI ☀️

​Meet Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith- the Virgin Islander leading the nation’s new Coronavirus response. 

This weekend, President-Elect Biden alongside Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris appointed numerous experts to their new COVID-19 task force. Among the three co-chairs announced was Virgin Islands native, Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith.

Nunez-Smith grew up on the island of St. Thomas, where she attended All Saints Cathedral School. The child of a well-known nursing professor at UVI and the godchild of a surgeon, Nunez-Smith would soon go on to become a doctor herself. 

Upon leaving the US Virgin Islands, Dr. Nunez-Smith attended Jefferson Medical College, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, and she earned a BA in Biological Anthropology and Psychology at Swarthmore College. She later completed her Masters in Health Sciences at Harvard University. 

Dr. Nunez-Smith is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Public Health, and Management; Founding Director of the Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC); Director of the Center for Research Engagement (CRE); Deputy Director of the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation; and so much more!
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In a statement Monday, Nunez-Smith said she was “honored” to serve on Biden’s task force, emphasizing the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on people of color.

“Everyone is affected by this pandemic, yet the burden is disproportionate,” Nunez-Smith said. "We know communities of color are grieving at high rates and are facing substantial economic impact. The transition advisory board is setting a course for everyone in our country to experience recovery.”

Family, friends, and fellow Virgin Islanders- it is with gratitude and honor that I announce I have officially been elected to the Democratic Territorial Committee At-Large! 

Furthermore, I am excited and humbled to share that out of over 400 write-ins, I received the most votes of any write-in candidate in the entire Virgin Islands! 
As the youngest candidate in this primary, I could not have achieved any of this with out the help and support I have received from ALL of you. To the strangers who took a business card, to the friends who told a friend, to the family that cheered me on- THANK YOU! 

Looking ahead, I will work to faithfully serve ALL of the people of our great islands. 
​
Together, we will bring about a better, more progressive Virgin Islands. 
Together, we will #RiseUpVI!

“The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have.” - John Lewis

To everyone in St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas and Water Island who wrote me in, shared my posts, sent me prayers and well wishes, and supported my candidacy in countless ways- THANK YOU!
While write-in candidates (like myself) will not get our results until the official results posting, I just wanted to express my gratitude to everyone who made this a great election and an amazing first campaign for me.
Regardless of the outcome, I will continue to faithfully serve these great Virgin Islands! 

I would like to extend a big congratulations  to ALL other candidates- aspirants and incumbents- for their participation in this year’s election. 
Whether you run to be a state or district party chair, a district or at-large committee member, a Board of Education or Elections member, a Senator, the Delegate to Congress, or the Governor- being a candidate and running a campaign is no easy feat. 
Even if you weren’t successful this time around, you have already taken a great step in serving our community. Plus, 2022 is just around the corner- don’t give up hope! 

While I had expected to see more of a turnout on primary day, I am optimistic about the general and other elections moving forward. 
As a party, as a government, and as a territory, we can only be successful by listening to our people. Therefore, it is crucial for “all ah we”- every eligible Virgin Islander- to register to vote and make our voices heard in each election. 

Though many of us often feel uninspired or uninterested with the current political climate, I again echo sentiments from the great Congressman and champion for civil rights, John Lewis:
“Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society."

Thank you again to everyone for your support. Now, let’s get to work!

TOGETHER, we will #RiseUpVI! ☀️

Today I am 20 years old- no longer a teenager.

It’s funny because only just a few days ago, it was hard for me to grasp that I was about to not be a teen anymore- yet also hard to grasp that I was still only 19. 
I have faced so many different trials and tribulations, from Irmaria to COVID-19 that were devastating and challenging- but they also helped me to grow and mature. 
Years ago, I remember worrying that I wouldn’t be ready to handle the “real world” once graduating high school... but then I graduated with my Associate’s degree- in half the expected time, will soon complete an accelerated Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, started my own firm and became a Licensed Political Consultant, and now- at 20 years old- am a candidate for public office- and soon to be a Territorial Committeeman! 
While I have grown much in these last few years, I still have much more to learn and experience. At 20 years old, the path before me may be arduous, but I will continue to rise up to whatever challenge I may face! 

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” ♌️

Family, friends, Virgin Islanders home and abroad, I am happy to share a very exciting announcement with you today:
I am running a write-in campaign for an at-large seat on the Territorial Committee of the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands!

Passionate, driven, and committed, I am ready not only to carry out the necessary tasks of this position, but to ensure that we leave a strong and stable territory for generations of Virgin Islanders to come. While I would have ideally chosen to appear on the ballot, once seeing only five candidates filed out of a total of 15 seats, I knew it was my time to serve the community and our great Virgin Islands.

To the countless family members and friends, coworkers and employers, colleagues and mentors, who helped prepare me for this new chapter in my life: Thank You! 
I will use the lessons you’ve taught me to better serve and improve our community. 

I am humbly asking any and all registered democrats on the August 1st, 2020 Democratic Primary, to write-in “Julian Bishop” for the Territorial Committee of the Democratic Party (at-large). 
Thank you for your support and God bless our Virgin Islands!🇻🇮

Progressively Yours,
Julian☀️Bishop 

​I would first like to note that this entry is merely a collection of my thoughts that I jotted down in my planner before typing up here. The language or grammar may not be *perfect*, but this highlights some of my thoughts on the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic. Take a read:
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I am only about a week or so into the whole post-spring break, now-quarantine period of 2020. To be frank, it’s just weird. The Coronavirus came seemingly out of nowhere and just like that, so much has changed. As weird and foreign as this all is for everyone, oddly, it’s almost recent memory for me. In 2017, my parents and I- along with the people of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, etc.-  suffered through the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. As such, many fears that individuals now have of possible consequences of the Coronavirus are realities I- and many others- already faced. We were forced under mandatory curfews, being separated from family and friends, along with most of the outside world. We went through food, water, and supply shortages. Even when we had rations and emergency resources brought in, many were not able to travel to obtain them. Hospitals in both districts were condemned and medical staff were overwhelmed. Schools were shutdown for weeks, others for months, and some remain shuttered as I type these words. I could go on, but I think the point is made- much of our current fears surrounding the Coronavirus may stem from fairly recent experiences and trauma from “IrMaria”.
I would additionally note, however, that college- for me at least- played an interesting role during both then and now. In 2017, the hurricanes swept through our territory, knocking out power, WiFi, phone service- we were completely cut-off. This happened in mid-September, but as early as November (if not sooner) we would begin to apply to our colleges and universities. Though eventually, through the help of local figures and businesses, we were able to get our applications in, the hurricanes totally changed the college application process. In fact, I would bet good money that at least half of us wrote at least one essay about the hurricanes. Fast forward to today, and many students find themselves in a situation they may have never been in: all of their on-campus classes have (likely) been cancelled indefinitely, and they must now finish most or all of their semester online. Furthermore, most all are or will be confined to their homes, as to avoid the spread of the virus. The immediate effects are already evident, with hashtags such as #QuarantineLife being a consistent top trend on Twitter. However, this experience is likely to differ with each individual. 
Just as is life, this period may be considered a positive, transformative experience(s) by some, while others are posting about the #CoronApocalypse. It should also be noted that this virus is affecting every area and individual differently. For instance, California just issues a mandatory, state-wide stay-at-home order to its some-44 million residents. Whereas, there are continually memes and jokes about individuals in Florida- where I go to college- not taking this virus seriously. However, despite what uncertainties remain, these facts remain clear: this virus is a threat to our society and should be taken seriously; we do not yet know everything about COVID-19 and thus, we should continually educate ourselves and follow the news; and lastly, things will get better with time. For individuals like myself, who were “changed” after experiencing Hurricanes Irma and Maria, these moments can be so important. They can be healing moments, or learning moments, or creative moments, and so on... For me right now, each day reminds me of the uncertainty of the future and the unpredictability of life. That is not to say that we cannot forge our own paths, but rather that life will occasionally move us through a certain current and it is sometimes best to just “go with the flow”. To each person, this metaphor represents something different. For me, I am reevaluating some of my post-graduation future plans and trying to use the extra time I now have to work on hobbies and learn new things. To another, this period may be a time to grow closer and bond with their family. To another, the odd peace of a quarantine may help them finish a work of art they have been stuck on. However you conceive it, the point is that each of us can find our silver lining, to try and turn a seemingly-chaotic experience into one of growth, learning, and even new beginnings. 
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- Julian Don Bishop