Imagine Jamaica 50

Online Innovation Festival

12 years ago

by Dr. Claire Nelson

The Institute of Caribbean Studies is proud to present…

50 fi wi 50:

Online Innovation Festival

The Institute of Caribbean Studies invites you to join us as we celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence! Tell us what you have been doing to foster the development of Jamaica. We want to know what future you, as Jamaicans, see for the country and what innovative ideas you are using to achieve your vision.

The “50 fi wi 50: Online Innovation Festival” is a part of the Jamaica 50 celebrations, and aims to provide an online platform for inspirational Jamaicans to share what they have been doing to strengthen our nation. The Institute is giving 50 individuals or organizations the opportunity to spread their message of hope and prosperity, while connecting with other organizations and businesses and inspiring others to become a part of the country’s progress for the next 50 years.

Criteria for Submittal:

Non-profit organizations or entrepreneurial ventures including, but not limited to: health and wellness, education, youth development, women’s rights, child advocacy, private sector economic development, enrichment of impoverished communities and global promotion of Jamaica’s interests.

Individuals or organizations must be actively engaged in projects with a demonstrable level of success.

Method of Submittal:

Complete the OIF Information Form.

Submit a 2 to 3 minute video detailing your work. All videos should adhere to the following format:

Introduce yourself by name and organization
State the area of business/interest in which you are working
Briefly describe what inspired you to begin your work and when you started
What have you achieved since you began?
Give an example of a headline from the year 2030 that reflects the vision you have for Jamaica. Example: “Jamaica Named Top 5 in World’s Best Healthcare list”
In the spirit of community building please close your video with the sentence: “I am [insert name] and together we can create a better 50”
1. Submittals should be sent to: [email protected] with the subject line “OIF Application – [Name of Organization]”
Deadline for submittal: July 6, 2012.

For further information, contact Shanza Lewis or Danielle Robinson at [email protected]

About the author

Dr. Claire Nelson

CLAIRE ALICIA NELSON, Ph.D.
Dr. Claire Nelson has been actively engaged in the business of international development for more than twenty-five years. She works in the area of project development and management, with a particular focus on private sector development. A renaissance woman, she has been described as a Social Entrepreneur, Futurist, and Change Leader.

The first Jamaican woman to earn a Doctorate degree in an engineering discipline and the only black in her graduating class, Dr. Nelson holds Industrial Engineering Degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Purdue University, and a Doctorate in Engineering Management from George Washington University. She has served on numerous boards and committees including: US Department of Commerce US/Caribbean Business Development Council Advisory Board; Black Leadership Forum; DC Caribbean Carnival Association; International Think Tank Commission on Pan-African Affairs, Office of the Prime Minister of Barbados; African-American Unity Caucus; National Democratic Institute/Carter Center Election Observer Mission to the Dominican Republic; Black Professionals in International Affairs; and the International Committee of the National Society of Black Engineers-Alumni Extension.

Dr. Nelson is sought after as a speaker on issues pertaining to economic development, globalization, and issues concerning the Caribbean and its peoples. She is a frequent guest on the television talk show CARIBNATION seen on cable TV in the Washington D.C. area, as well as CARIBBEAN EXCHANGE on WEAA, Morgan University Radio. Her speaking engagements have included: National Association of Security Professionals; Congressional Black Caucus Conference; Harvard University Black MBA Association Conference; Women & Micro-enterprise Conference, African Development Bank; Florida International University; Cincinnati Women's Chamber of Commerce; US Black Engineer of the Year Annual Conference; Howard University; Sacramento State University; National Council of Negro Women; and National Congress of Black Women.

Dr. Nelson has been a frontrunner in the challenge of placing the topic of social exclusion and diversity on the agenda of the multilateral development assistance institutions. As a result of her pioneering work, she was invited to the Salzburg Seminar as a Fellow in 1997 and 1999 of the Seminars on Race and Ethnicity, in 2000 and 2003 to the Fetzer Institute Advisory Group on Moral, Ethical and Spiritual Leadership; and as Faculty at the Seminar on Leadership Across Geographic Borders and Cultural Boundaries. Dr. Nelson was also a participant in the Bellagio Consultation on the UN World Conference on Racism (WCAR) organized by the International Human Rights Law Group, and was active on the Working Group on Globalization and Transnational Corporations.
Dr. Nelson is Ideation Leader of The Futures Forum which provides strategic foresight and development futures consulting practice. An award-winning writer and performance artiste, Dr. Nelson's OpEd pieces have appeared in media outlets such as Morning Edition, National Public Radio; WEAA FM and WHUR FM; and CaribNation TV.