Social Impact with Emma » volunteerism : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

National Bakery’s Gary “Butch” Hendrickson: Emboldening the Manufacturing Sector

March 23rd, 2016

Gary “Butch” Hendrickson is the kind of Jamaican businessman it’s hard not to like. He is clearly not one for grand speeches that highlight his struggles, his achievements and his philanthropic acts – although these are many. Others must highlight these things, because he does not talk about himself. It’s all about the bigger picture […]

“Not a Poppy Show”: Activism and the Politics of Personal Conviction

October 15th, 2015

National Heroes Day is coming up. Perhaps it’s time to reflect on the inspiration that our heroes can infuse into our lives. At a recent Induction Ceremony and training session organized by the anti-corruption group National Integrity Action (NIA), members had a special treat: a personal insight into a period of youth activism at the […]

Down With Slacktivism! UWI Leads Seeks an Activist Voice

August 18th, 2015

A few days ago, I spoke to a group of University of the West Indies students about “Finding My Activist Voice Through Social Media: Activism vs. Slacktivism.” That last word was a new one for me, but I was honored to be invited to talk to such a bright group of young people, and it was […]

Christine Staple-Ebanks Brings a Message of Inclusion

April 29th, 2015

As I sat down at Christine Staple-Ebanks’ table, she was taking a big sip from a large cup of coffee. I ordered a drink of similar proportions. There was much to talk about, I realized, concerning the development and education of our children with disabilities. Christine is the mother of four (although she truly does […]

Reshaping Our Corner of the World: Love and Sandwiches

April 21st, 2015

It’s easy to dismiss something that you know little or nothing about as irrelevant. Now, I am guilty of this myself (and probably not for the first time). I am about to make amends. While talking to young (frighteningly young) entrepreneur and founder of EduFocal Gordon Swaby online not long ago, I poured cold water […]

Social Enterprise: A Solution to the Inequality Dilemma?

January 27th, 2015

There were plenty of questions – and some answers – at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel today (January 26), the first day of the very first Social Enterprise Summit. The Summit is a collaboration of the JN Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) stemming from its three-year Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI), […]

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