The Caribbean Film & Media Academy (CFMA) is set to launch its inaugural Creativity & Innovation Youth Forum on January 31st, featuring an exceptional lineup of keynote speakers. Harvard graduate and ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ star Tatyana Ali will join forces with Dr. Vaughn Rasberry, celebrated author and Stanford University associate vice provost, to address young creative minds across the Caribbean region.
This pioneering one-day forum, specifically designed for students, educators, and creative professionals aged 13-21, will place Caribbean storytelling and academic excellence at the forefront of its agenda. As part of Imagine Media International Limited, CFMA has structured the event as the first in a series intended to travel throughout the Caribbean, with the initial edition coinciding with Saint Lucia’s Nobel Laureate Festival.
The forum pays homage to Caribbean intellectual giants Sir Derek Walcott and Sir Arthur Lewis, whose legacies embody the fusion of intellectual rigor and creative courage that the event seeks to promote. Lisa Wickham, CFMA Founder, emphasized the initiative’s mission: “Walcott and Lewis demonstrated that Caribbean excellence is both intellectual and imaginative. This forum translates that legacy into lived experience for young people, helping them understand that their stories, ideas, and scholarship have value, power, and global relevance.”
Ali, a five-time NAACP Image Award winner, producer, business owner, and activist, will engage in a keynote conversation on Storytelling & Scholarship alongside her husband, Dr. Rasberry. Their dialogue will explore the interconnected realms of narrative artistry, education, and the profound influence of self-definition in community building.
Beyond the keynote addresses, participants will experience CFMA-led interactive MicroLabs covering acting, writing, digital content creation, spoken word, and creative entrepreneurship. The event will further facilitate connections between young creatives and established leaders through a Leadership Pairing Initiative Luncheon.
Held at the Pastoral Centre with free admission ensured through public and private sector support, the forum represents a significant investment in Caribbean creative youth. The event enjoys support from multiple partners including Minotaur Shipping & Project Management Ltd, Dove Productions, Wavemaker Productions, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences, and Bank of St Lucia Limited.