3/3 Salene, we had a great time on Heartbeat Radio 104.1 FM! Thank you for helping get the word out about the value in investing in proven ways to support Caribbean writers and readers. See you soon, at The Writers Centre.
#bocas2025 #CaribbeanWriters #ReadCaribbean #CaribbeanVoices

2/3 ...(told by Caribbean voices) to nation-building, and Bocas Lit Fest’s role in successfully developing and supporting Caribbean writers over the past sixteen years, Marina Salandy-Brown, Founder and President, had a wonderful and engaging conversation with Salene Camille Griffith. .../3

5/5 The Tween Tales masterclasses were run under the Bocas Academy umbrella and sponsored by the Wainwright Foundation.
#bocas2025 #bocasacademy #TweenTales

4/5 "I was truly impressed by the inventive ideas the participants shared in the session. Caribbean children will benefit when this work is out in the world some day soon." - Carol Mitchell .../5

3/5 "I thoroughly enjoyed leading this masterclass. Participation was outstanding throughout and the writing samples that attendees crafted during our exercises left me craving more of their storytelling. I can't wait to see their careers flourish!" Danielle Y.C. McClean. .../4

2/5 ...“were a much needed intervention to provide critical creative development resources for aspiring writers and build on a catalogue of books for tweens and young adults from and for a Caribbean perspective.” Melvina Hazard, Children’s Programme Manager, Bocas Lit Fest. .../3

5/5 “Creativity can open doors to courage. When young people are given safe spaces to express and imagine, they begin to reclaim their voices and recognise their own power.” - Anika Plowden-Corentin.
We continue to build spaces where young voices can rise, shine, and be heard.

4/5 Bocas Lit Fest's Marielle Forbes, Melvina Hazard, and Joy Luk Pat supported the creative activities and youth engagement, while mindfulness guidance was offered by Dionysia Browne of Calm for Kids Kollective, helping the girls connect with stillness and self-awareness. .../5

3/5 The Bocas Lit Fest team brought the magic of literature and spoken word to the day, with spoken word artist Deneka Thomas, who led the girls in crafting a collective poem that captured their strength and hope. .../4

2/5 Drawing upon the annual 16 Days of Activism against GBV, Chosen Hands used storytelling, poetry, art, and mindfulness to help the girls explore self-protection, resilience, and emotional awareness — while creating a safe space for them to express themselves openly and bravely. .../3

4/ The 2025 We Lit School Tour was sponsored by The JB Fernandes Memorial Trust and supported by the Ministry of Education.
#bocas2024 #welit2025 #welitschooltour2025

3/ ...massive thanks to the students📷who showed up with passion, creativity, and confidence last month to shape their words into powerful spoken word pieces. 🎤We can’t wait to see you take the stage in the future! .../4

2/ 🙌A huge shoutout to our facilitators, the talented spoken word artists: Alexandra C Stewart, Shakira Burton, Deneka Thomas, Javaughn Forde, Derron Sandy, and Camryn L. Bruno, our dutiful production team, the teachers, principals and support staff and most importantly.../3

4/4 Her influence continues to live on in the students she guided and the stories they now have the confidence to tell.

The Bocas Lit Fest team sends condolences to Danielle's family, friends, colleagues, and everyone moved by her life and art.

📷 Michele Jorsling, via T&T Newsday

3/4 A friend of Bocas, Danielle made a profound impact through her work with our youth programmes. She approached every workshop with patience, care, and a passion for nurturing young creative voices by giving them the tools to express themselves boldly and creatively. .../4

2/4 …and producing dramatic, educational, environmental, political, and business projects for local, regional, and international audiences, Danielle was an advocate, not only for the Caribbean film industry but also for Caribbean voices. .../3