Saint Lucia is set to host the groundbreaking Creativity and Innovation Youth Forum on January 31, organized by the Caribbean Film & Media Academy under Imagine Media International Limited. This initiative, strategically aligned with the Nobel Laureate Festival, targets young Caribbean citizens aged 13-21 with an ambitious agenda to develop essential life skills beyond conventional content creation.
According to academy founder Lisa Wickham, the forum represents a significant evolution from last year’s Teen Creators Academy in Trinidad and Tobago. “While young people naturally gravitate toward content creation, our mission focuses on building foundational capabilities including team collaboration, resilience, and critical analysis,” Wickham explained. “We’re integrating these vital competencies within creative frameworks to elevate regional thinking capacity.”
The forum consciously honors Caribbean intellectual heritage, drawing inspiration from Nobel laureates Derek Walcott and Sir Arthur Lewis. Wickham revealed the event’s conception emerged through collaboration with late colleague Lisa Joseph and veteran broadcaster Don Evelyn, who recognized the natural synergy with Saint Lucia’s Nobel Laureate Festival.
Participants from diverse schools and youth organizations will experience interactive workshops featuring notable facilitators. Tatiana Ali, former star of ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ turned accomplished producer and philanthropist, will lead storytelling sessions. Dr. Vaughn Raspberry, Associate Vice Provost for Education at Stanford University, will explore connections between narrative arts and academic scholarship.
“We’re examining how storytelling and scholarship intersect and influence each other,” Wickham articulated. “This addresses crucial questions about how Caribbean youth shape regional identity narratives and assert our presence on the global stage.”
The initiative aims to spark a transformative wave of critical thinking reminiscent of the region’s foundational leaders in the 1950s-60s. Looking toward the future, Wickham envisions bringing young Caribbean filmmakers to the 2027 Pan-African Film Festival as part of ongoing development programs encompassing creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
Addressing technological challenges, Wickham advocates for engaging young minds with stimulating alternatives to passive screen time. Based on previous successful experiments with device-free learning environments, she emphasizes: “When we provide exciting creative opportunities, young people naturally transcend digital distractions. Our approach embraces technology as an enhancement tool rather than a babysitting substitute.”
As evidence of this balanced perspective, Wickham recently produced an AI-generated music video for Trinidadian soca artist Shurwayne Winchester, demonstrating her commitment to harnessing emerging technologies for creative advancement.
The hands-on forum will commence at 8:30 AM on January 31 at the Pastoral Centre in Marisule, representing a significant investment in the Caribbean’s future creative leadership.