FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida—A transformative leadership platform named WHISTLE made its debut on December 9 in South Florida, assembling over sixty distinguished Caribbean diaspora leaders. This groundbreaking initiative seeks to forge stronger connections among Caribbean-rooted professionals, focusing on collective purpose, economic empowerment, and sustainable regional impact.
The launch occurs amid ongoing challenges faced by Jamaica and neighboring islands, including climate change vulnerabilities and economic instability. These pressing issues highlight the critical need for coordinated diaspora engagement and strategic regional cooperation.
Co-founded by Trinidadian-born visionaries Denise Williams and Stacey Luces, WHISTLE establishes structured frameworks for leadership development, collaborative influence, and purposeful action across the Caribbean diaspora network.
Dr. Keith Levy, Chairman of JN Bank and Managing Partner at Visionario Venture Capital, emphasized the importance of trust in economic rebuilding: “Capital moves at the speed of trust. We must cultivate mutual confidence and act courageously to advance shared Caribbean priorities.”
Philip Rose, Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas, highlighted tourism’s vital role in regional recovery, noting that visiting Caribbean nations remains one of the most significant contributions to communities rebuilding after natural disasters.
The launch event incorporated philanthropic efforts through the Breaking Healthcare Barriers initiative, collecting donations to provide accessible healthcare for Jamaican communities affected by Hurricane Melissa. This charitable component operates under WHISTLE’s humanitarian arm, “We WHISTLE With Love.”
Stacey Luces, WHISTLE’s Chief Purpose Officer, stated: “Our leaders arrived not merely to network, but to construct meaningful change. WHISTLE emerges from our collective refusal to progress in isolation.” Luces brings decades of experience in public systems, executive leadership, and philanthropy across Caribbean and American contexts.
WHISTLE’s founders announced plans to activate membership models, expand leadership programs, and strengthen partnerships ahead of its global launch in January 2026. The organization will also introduce WHISTLE Next Gen, dedicated to nurturing emerging Caribbean-descended leaders through mentorship and networking opportunities.
Denise Williams, WHISTLE’s Chief Impact Officer, remarked: “Our community deserves a platform that harmonizes influence, generates prosperity, and accelerates collective impact.” Williams brings extensive expertise in growth strategy from major corporations across banking, telecommunications, and finance sectors throughout the Caribbean diaspora.