Growing up in an extended family on the island of Trinidad and Tobago, I was privy to generations of strong women within my family—my grandmother, mother, older cousins, and younger sister all taught me many lessons. Admittedly, my mother was my greatest cheerleader. She taught me to love, to find the good in each person and situation, and to never lose hope. The constant love and encouragement of the women in my life reminded me that greatness exists in us all—sometimes we just need assistance to manifest it.
Along my journey in the youth development space, I’ve worked on projects with young activists across the Caribbean, NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations. I’ve met a variety of girls and young women who lacked support and needed extra help to believe in themselves and their dreams, as well as remarkable experienced women who were always willing to lend support and provide much-needed opportunities to those willing to learn.
The idea for an intergenerational space was born under the theme of “Connecting Women across Generations.” It brought together 40 amazing women from varying backgrounds aged 16 to 56 for an evening of mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and meaningful connections. After the event, the youngest participant messaged to say that she was appreciative of the engagement and that it was truly one of the most impactful, informative, and memorable moments of her life. As a woman, it’s always a beautiful experience to see women willingly engage with each other beyond surface-level conversations when given a safe space. In a segment called Big Talk, we did exactly that and engaged with each other on a wide range of topics that may have otherwise made us feel vulnerable. However, that evening renewed our strength and faith in the fact that when women come together, greatness manifests.
The program’s second edition will connect more women and facilitate mentorship pairing. I would love for it to expand into more communities and eventually evolve into an empowerment fellowship that extends across the Caribbean and meaningfully impacts women’s lives across generations. I am the product of strong women and I dream of a world filled with strong women who engage, educate, and empower each other. When we set aside all that disconnects us and build each other up, our greatness manifests and sets the world ablaze!
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