Jael Joseph’s Digital Platform Embarks on a New Chapter of Empowerment and Creativity

Jael Joseph has officially relaunched BlackIslandGirl.com, transforming her passion project into a dynamic multimedia platform that caters to a wide array of interests and communities. Originally created in 2021 as Joseph’s capstone project at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Black Island Girl has now evolved into a comprehensive digital space that reflects her creative vision and commitment to representation, storytelling, and empowerment.

The newly revamped site features a broad range of content sections, including Beauty, Business, Culture, Entertainment, Health and Wellness, Politics, and “The BIG Feature,” a spotlight segment focusing on in-depth stories and profiles. In addition to articles and features, the site’s new “What’s New” section provides event promoters with the opportunity to list their events, making Black Island Girl a go-to source for cultural and community engagement.

One of the most significant changes in this relaunch is the platform’s shift towards multimedia offerings. Businesses can now request custom commercials and podcasts, giving them new avenues to promote their products and services. This expanded functionality opens the door for Black Island Girl to tap into every corner of modern media, creating a space that engages audiences through multiple forms of content.

Advertisers can now leverage the platform’s growing reach, promoting their brands and services within a diverse and inclusive community. Jael Joseph’s vision for the site goes beyond traditional media, offering opportunities for men and women alike to find inspiration, learn, and connect.

The relaunch of Black Island Girl comes at a time when Joseph is dedicating more time and energy to the project, following the registration of Black Island Girl Multimedia. This business venture further underscores her intent to build a creative and empowering space. Under the same multimedia banner, she also released her debut film Territory, a powerful short documentary that has been recognized internationally. Territory was nominated at several film festivals and took home the award for Best Short Documentary at the 2023 Caribbean Tales International Film Festival, marking another major achievement in Joseph’s creative career.

This relaunch highlights the multifaceted talent of Jael Joseph and her dedication to creating a platform that not only showcases her work but also serves as a source of inspiration for others. With its enhanced offerings, Black Island Girl is now positioned as a go-to multimedia hub for those interested in culture, wellness, business, and more.

As Joseph continues to focus her energy on Black Island Girl, the platform is poised to become an essential digital space that empowers and uplifts. Whether through its rich content, multimedia offerings, or community-focused event listings, Black Island Girl is set to carve out a unique niche in the media landscape, fueled by Jael Joseph’s passion and creativity.

www.blackislandgirl.com

KINGSTON, September 14 (JIS): Milk River Primary and Infant School in Clarendon has reopened after it underwent repairs with funds provided by the Ministry of Education and Youth, to correct damage done by Hurricane Beryl on July 3.

On Monday (September 2), the institution began receiving students for the new school year.

Principal, Gloria Grant, said the damage done by the hurricane was “severe”, with the roof  of the main building compromised and damage done to the grade-one block.

“I am happy; we are still in recovery mode but the school is in session,” she told journalists at an orientation session with students and parents, on Tuesday (September 3).

The Principal lauded the National Education Trust (NET), and the Education Minister, Hon. Faval Williams, for the  timely response after the storm, as well as Jamalco, for providing cash grants to the institution, and  manufacturing company Sherwin Williams, for providing paint to the school.

She also praised community members for helping to clean debris from the compound.

Meanwhile, Ms. Grant noted that the institution performed “fairly well” in this year’s sitting of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination.

“We are going forward, the momentum is upward, and we will be moving to higher ground,” she said.

Student, Kevia Boothe, said she is excited to be back at school, because “I get to see my teachers, and learn more in grade six”.

“I am glad that the school is fixed, so that we can be more focused,” she said.

Another student, Jordane Brown, said he felt “wonderful that the school get fixed”.

Parent, Joan Francis Henry, said “the school looks nice; now the children can sit comfortably in class”.

Another parent, Ava-Kay Simpson, said “I am really excited that the school got some help; the kids are more comfortable”.

For his part, Regional Director of the Education Ministry, Barrington Richards, said approximately $200 million was dedicated to repair schools in the region, and all the 22 schools that were damaged during the storm have been reopened.

“I invite our stakeholders, teachers, students and our parents to be patient with us. We are working assiduously to restore normalcy to all our schools. It will take some time, and we are pleased that we have committed contractors on board, working day and night, to complete the recovery of our schools,” Mr. Richards said.

CONTACT: GARFIELD L. ANGUS

Grenadian hotelier delivers headline address at SOTIC in the Cayman Islands

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands (September 14, 2024) – Grenadian luxury boutique hotel owner, Janelle Hopkin, shared her vision for elevating Caribbean hospitality to deliver unforgettable guest experiences. Her blueprint outlines strategies to create immersive and personalized journeys for the guests of the future.

Her comments were part of her headline address at CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), which took place September 2-6 at the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach in the Cayman Islands. Hopkin, who serves as President & Managing Director of Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada, was invited to speak from an operator’s perspective on navigating the evolving tourism landscape.

Drawing from the conference theme, “Caribbean Tourism: Fueling our Lifeblood”, Hopkin metaphorically compared the guest experience to the blood that carries vital elements for a healthy body. Just as blood transports oxygen, nutrients and waste to and from cells, the guest experience delivers all the essential components of a perfect stay to sustain the life of the Caribbean tourism industry.

Similarly, she likened the role of the heart as the “pump or engine” that facilitates the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to staff. In this instance she posited that “people are the heart of hospitality,” denoting that the human resource is the first pillar of her framework.

“Hospitality and tourism are fast-paced, and if we intend to remain competitive, we must invest more in our people. Staff training and skills development are crucial for long-term success. By equipping team members with the necessary knowledge, tools, and techniques – and keeping them updated with industry trends and best practices – they can boost productivity and consistently deliver high-quality, superior service that can enhance customer experience, improve customer satisfaction, and drive business growth,” she explained.

Referencing her own experiences as a hotelier, she outlined the four-part model (authenticity, individualization, innovation, and excellence) that has worked successfully to establish her resort as one of the premier Caribbean all-inclusive properties. This model has enabled her to deliver stays that are effortlessly bespoke – unique, memorable, highly distinctive, and shaped by local culture.

In her speech, once again referencing this year’s theme, Hopkin made the case for technology as the ‘fuel’. She opined that operators must invest in technology, calling on them to evolve their strategies and take advantage of the impact technological advances can make on their businesses.

Hopkin stated, “The flexibility of new technologies and architectures is enabling operators to rethink how they can harness technology to make it easier for their organizations to innovate and position themselves to provide new offerings and meet the needs of guests. Technology will also be key to better managing operations and maximizing overall performance, enhancing sales and marketing approaches, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.”

She further explained that “to meet the demands of future travelers, and to truly engage and convert what I like to call the ‘now consumer’ – a highly mobile, always-connected individualist – operators would need to embrace the technology these consumers use.” Accordingly, Caribbean hoteliers will need to address mobility holistically to determine ways to effectively integrate both guest and employee demands into their enterprise and property IT architectures and manage them across the guest life cycle.

As a third generation hotelier, and daughter of the late iconic Caribbean hotelier Sir Royston Hopkin, Janelle Hopkin brought a youthful energy to the conference and spoke with optimism about the future for the sector. She closed by stating that if tourism is indeed seen as the ‘lifeblood of the Caribbean’, then it is imperative that more young hoteliers like herself understand that hospitality is now “part art, part science”, to ensure the region remains poised to meet the needs of the ever-evolving, “choice spoilt” voyagers of the future.