Receiving the CNMI Governor's Humanities Awards
Channel: Jamaican on Saipan!
Date: 2021-10-30

LOCAL AUTHOR RECEIVES CNMI GOVERNOR'S HUMANITIES AWARD

[Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands]- Author Walt F.J. Goodridge has been announced as the 2021 recipient of the Governor's Humanities Award for Research and Publication in the Humanities, Outstanding Humanities Teacher, and Preservation of CNMI History. He and four other awardees in other categories received their plaques of recognition during a ceremony at the Saipan World Resort Hotel Taga Ballroom on October 29, 2021. (Recipients were: Antonio U. Piailug, Dr. Sylvia C. Frain, Catherine R. Perry and Denton-Joe O. Pangelinan.)

 Originally from the island of Jamaica, West Indies, Goodridge holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Columbia University, and relocated from New York City to Saipan in February of 2006. Through numerous independent undertakings, Goodridge has sought to express love for his new home and to promote the lifestyle, history and culture and people of the CNMI and the region both locally and to the world.
 
 "Moving to Saipan was one of the three best life decisions I've ever made! says Goodridge. "From day one, my welcome and experience here has been overwhelmingly positive."  The author and business coach, who describes his life's purpose as 'I share what I know, so that others may grow' adds, "Everything I've done since is simply to share that experience with others, in ways that typically include a teaching component. The books, websites, workshops, blogs and tours  are simply ways to share what I've learned and what I respect about the people, the history, the culture and lifestyle I've found here."

 Among his first projects, Walt launched WELOVESAIPAN.COM to respond to the negative information about Saipan that existed online at the time. To fill the void due to the general dearth of information on the CNMI, he went on to design and launch 20 Saipan-related sites including SAIPANLIVING.COM, SAIPANWRITERS.COM, DISCOVERSAIPAN.COM, BESTOFSAIPAN.COM & MARIANAMONUMENT.COM.

 From 2006 to 2010, he wrote a weekly business/inspirational column in the Saipan Tribune titled "The Saipanpreneur Project" which, in its preamble, states "...a self-sufficient economy has its own products or services of value to export to the world. Similarly, a self-sufficient individual has something of value to exchange in the global marketplace." The column featured information, inspiration and ideas--including profiles of local "saipanpreneurs"--to encourage readers to use their talents, passions, crafts, history and even cultural world view as the basis as a means for economic survival.

 He has authored over 25 books including the following 7 "Saipan-specific" works: Chicken Feathers & Garlic Skin: Diary of a Chinese Garment Factory Worker on Saipan with Chun Yu Wang; Saipan Living: a relocation guide; There's Something About Saipan; Saipan Now! (a photo journal), From Bugle Boy to Battleship with Battle of Saipan veteran Lloyd Glick; Drinking Seawater (a Typhoon Soudelor memoir) with Riza Oledan-Ramos; and Amelia Earhart on Saipan (a tour souvenir booklet)--which have all served to preserve the history and culture of these islands.

 Goodridge's "Passion Profit" seminars, "Saipan Writers" workshops, "Vegan Living" cooking demos and career-focussed school visits expanded his role as "teacher" by challenging and encouraging participants to entertain new belief systems, new ways of thinking, communicating and behaving all while honoring and preserving their individual as well as cultural uniqueness.

 Walt has represented the CNMI in several books by major US as well as foreign publishers, served as the local guide for international documentaries and launched his own blog and video channels to share his experiences in the Marianas (including Tinian, Pagan and Guam).

 He has provided his TripAdvisor highly-rated "WWII Pilgrimage Tour" (as well as his "Tinian to Hiroshima" and "In Search of Amelia" tours) to hundreds of tourists as well as military personnel, researchers, educators, cruise ship visitors, families and even Battle of Saipan veterans, and was recognized by American Memorial Park for his efforts in this capacity.

 He has also participated as volunteer within Beautify CNMI, Friends of the Monument and contributed the Essay Writing and Oral Presentation contest as part of Saipan's African American Cultural Preservation Committee's annual MLK Day activities. Other recent projects include a crowd-funding campaign in the wake of Typhoon Yutu as well as a petition to establish a new crayon color called "Saipan blue."

 In 2007, Goodridge received a Senate Resolution 15-54 in recognition of "his numerous accomplishments with and without the Commonwealth; Expressing gratitude for his efforts for the betterment of the people of the Commonwealth."

 Watch Walt's full Saipan-Specific Video Resumé that includes clips and narration about his workshops, tours and his adventure to Pagan at https://www.jamaicanonsaipan.com

        ###