Women inspiring action and transforming lives

The Kingston Club of Soroptimist International Jamaica recently honoured several outstanding women during its Charter Anniversary and Stella Gregory Awards Ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

Chief among them was Andrea Dempster Chung, co-founder and executive director of Kingston Creative, who received the 2023 Stella Gregory Award for Excellence. She was recognised for her outstanding and pioneering leadership of Kingston Creative, an NGO that utilises art to achieve social and economic transformation in downtown Kingston.

Dedicating the award to her team at Kingston Creative, she said, "I would like to thank my Kingston Creative family, my co-founder Allan Daisley, longstanding board member Doris Gross, and all of our board, staff members and volunteers who have worked so hard to build new possibilities for downtown Kingston’s regeneration, for Artists’ livelihoods and for Jamaica’s sustainable development."

Dempster Chung pointed out that much of what had been achieved was a result of their dedication and commitment to developing the potential of Kingston and the many creatives who lived and worked in the area.

The 2023 Grace Allen Young Professional Award, presented annually to a female health professional who epitomises the core value of integrity, was awarded to Dr Rosalee Brown, a registered dietitian at the Western Regional Health Authority. Brown played a key role in establishing the Jamaica Association of Professionals in Nutrition and Dietetics and the Ministry of Health and Wellness Supervised Practice Programme. Additionally, she initiated the 2016 Western Regional Health Authority Diabetes Support Group for Children and Adolescents, ensuring continuous critical support from a multidisciplinary health team to young patients and their families.

In accepting the award, Brown expressed her admiration for the trailblazing efforts of Dr Allen Young which played a crucial role in advancing the professional qualifications of pharmacists in public service. These values resonated strongly with her, especially in relation to the mentoring of women and girls, and advocating for her predominantly female profession.

Five members of the different Soroptimist clubs in Jamaica were recognised as ‘Soroptimist of the Year’ for their respective clubs in 2023. They are Dr Eugenie Brown Myrie (Kingston), Barbara Owen (Mandeville), Gaynor Downer (Mid-Eastern), Janet Taylor (Northern) and Iris Wilson (Western).

Marcia Valentine received a special award for sterling service provided during her 28-year tenure as principal of the Soroptimist Wee Care Basic School in Montego Bay. When she entered the doors of the school in 1994, there were 86 students and two teachers. However, with advancement and growth as her hallmark, by her retirement in 2022, the numbers had increased to 242 enrolled students and 21 teachers.

Another special award was presented to Soroptimist member Laurice Barnaby and her sisters, Lorraine, Leonie, and Lilieth for their exceptional contribution to the staging of the annual Classics in June concert, which the Club has hosted for some 18 years.