FOR British actor, comedian, writer and musician Ben Bailey Smith, Jamaica is more than the land of his mother’s birth, it is a place that has been helping him better understand his identity, reconnect with his family’s story, and inspire the next generation.

Smith, known internationally for his work in television, film and comedy, including his role as Detective Sergeant Joe Hawkins in Law & Order: UK, was in Jamaica to participate in the just concluded 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference.

Ahead of the conference, Smith joined community outreach activities in St Elizabeth, where he partnered with the JN Foundation to donate books and school supplies to two basic schools impacted by Hurricane Melissa.