On March 29, the recipients of the newly launched 2026 Legacy of Care Awards were officially announced, with the recognition program held in partnership with the High Commission of Canada — a long-term strategic partner and supporter of the HerFlow Foundation’s mission-driven work across Jamaica.
The Legacy of Care Award is a central addition to the HerFlow Foundation’s annual Celebrate Her 2026 awards initiative, which was created to shine a long-overdue spotlight on women whose extraordinary community service often flies under the public radar. The event brought together a cross-section of civil society leaders, gender equity advocates, and local community members to celebrate the awardees, whose cumulative efforts have been instrumental in building more connected, stronger and resilient communities across the island nation.
Unlike many awards that highlight recent achievements, the Legacy of Care Award fills a critical gap in community recognition by specifically honoring decades of sustained service and long-term, transformative impact that has changed local trajectories for the better.
At the award ceremony, Senator Allan Bernard accepted the honor on behalf of Dr. Janice Johnson-Dias, president of the GrassROOTS Community Foundation, who was selected as one of this year’s recipients. Joining Johnson-Dias as awardees were Michelle “D’Angel” Downer of the Angels Foundation and Joy Crawford from Eve for Life. Also in attendance marking the occasion were Shelly-Ann Weeks, founder of the HerFlow Foundation, and Tanesha Dixon-Gayle, senior political and economic officer at the Canadian High Commission.