Jamila Hammad, St. Croix, V.I. and Colombia

Jamila Hammad was born in Colombia from a Colombian mother and a Palestinian father.  At age 12, her family migrated to the US, and Jamila set out to learn English, get a college degree and pursue a corporate career in Marketing Communications.  She accomplished all of those goals…and then walked away from it all to become an artist. Today she lives on St. Croix, in the Caribbean Virgin Islands, and creates art quilts and mixed media works that celebrate the spirit of the sea.

In this episode, Jamila discusses how, as a 12-year-old, she acclimated to a new country, culture, and language… her view that “not belonging” offers an opportunity to find common ground… the courageous choice to leave a successful corporate career to pursue her passion for art… forging her own path through acts of independence… searching for ways to connect with her soul… discovering quilting as a path to artistic expression… discovering a lifetime of inspiration in the majesty of the sea… the importance of overcoming the distractions of the world to go within and connect with our truth.  IG: @jamilahammadart (St. Croix, V.I. and Colombia)