Ms. Valerie A. Josephs is one of four children born to Frederick and Ellen Josephs in Race Course, Clarendon, Jamaica. She is a very proud past student of Race Course Primary School under the leadership of her mentor Benjamin Alfred Gutzmore (now deceased). In the summer of 2010, Valerie founded the Race Course Primary School Alumni NY which she considers her greatest achievement. As the president of the organization, she has spearheaded efforts to provide her primary school alma mater with water tanks, classroom furniture, a commercial stove for the school’s canteen, and to refurbish and furnish the school’s staffroom and bathrooms. Currently, her efforts are directed at raising funds to provide the school with a refrigerator and exhaust fan. Valerie believes there is so much more to be done and is always appreciative of the support she receives from fellow associates and contributors. Valerie is a Christian, loves to write, and enjoys public speaking
Dr. Natalie S. King is a graduate of the University of Florida and an Assistant Professor at Georgia State University in the Department of Middle and Secondary Education. A former high school science teacher, Natalie is passionate about using a community partnership approach to provide high-quality STEM learning experiences to children of color, particularly those who live in high poverty areas. In 2012, she established a community-based informal STEM program, Fostering Opportunities and Cultivating Upstanding Students (FOCUS). FOCUS provides comprehensive curricula for K-12 students that embrace their cultural and lived experiences. Natalie merges her service and scholarship and directly engages in communities to prepare students to become critically conscious and scientifically literate citizens in a global society.
Ms. Shanelle Qianna Benjamin was born in Miami, FL to Caribbean-native parents; Minetta Smith and Beresford Benjamin. She was raised on the island of Antigua by her grandmother who taught her the true meaning of success, character, and courage at a very young age. Shanelle is a recent graduate of the University of Florida. She received her Bachelors of Science in Public Relations. During her time at UF she was actively involved with the Alliance Program, the Educational Access Institute, CaribSA and much more! Shanelle held many titles such as; President of the Alliance Ambassadors, President of Business Oriented and Sports Savvy Women (B.O.S.S.), Director of CaribSA’s Fashion Talent Show, and Communications Intern for the Florida High School Athletic Association. Shanelle currently serves as a Marketing Coordinator while pursuing her Masters of Public Administration at the nationally ranked, Georgia College & State University. In the near future, she plans on starting an event-planning business and opening up an orphanage.
Mr. Barrington Guthrie, Jr. is a Software Developer for SharpSpring, a cloud-based marketing automation provider offering a next-generation marketing automation solution, host of 5 O’ Clock Traffic Jam on Gainesville’s Magic 101.5, and the owner operator of Mr. Magnum Music. Although he has such a busy and eclectic schedule, he consistently finds time to offer support, and volunteer his time and skills to various organizations such as the University of Florida’s Jamaica American Student Association (JAMSA), and Educational Access Institute, Inc. (EAI). Barrington has been an avid, active, and consistent supporter and volunteer for EAI since 2015.