A new collaborative initiative aimed at addressing deep-seated social harm and pressing community challenges across Antigua and Barbuda is set to launch in 2026, as the Jane E. Toussaint (JET) Foundation and The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus (UWI-FIC) announced their joint partnership to host the Wadadli Healing Symposium. Scheduled as a two-day gathering to be held October 6–7, 2026, the event will take place on the UWI-FIC campus in Antigua, with free public admission guaranteed for all attendees.
Conceived as a coordinated national and regional response to intergenerational historic injury and modern-day social struggles, the symposium will gather a diverse lineup of local and global experts, led by renowned researcher Dr. Joy DeGruy, to share evidence-based, culturally rooted healing strategies. The partnership aligns with the shared mission of both organizations to uplift community well-being, expand equitable public access to specialized knowledge, and foster open, meaningful dialogue across Antigua and Barbuda. By hosting the symposium at its campus, UWI-FIC is positioning itself as a central regional hub for connecting cutting-edge research, public education, and actionable solutions to the ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma and contemporary social challenges.
Pre-symposium community engagement and preliminary research identified four core priority areas that will anchor the event’s discussions and programming: mental health and healing, parent engagement, youth development, and male engagement. These domains were selected to reflect the most urgent, widespread concerns currently facing Antigua and Barbuda’s families, local communities, and future generations. Unlike many conventional academic or community gatherings, the Wadadli Healing Symposium is designed to deliver tangible outcomes: all strategies shared will be actionable and data-backed, designed for immediate implementation by practitioners, family members, educators, civil society groups, faith-based organizations, and everyday community members.
Dr. DeGruy’s participation brings globally recognized expertise to the symposium’s exploration of multigenerational trauma, healing processes, and community social recovery. Her insights will complement contributions from a wide range of local and international professionals, creating a dynamic, high-value forum for collective learning, critical reflection, and hands-on engagement. The combination of global research and local experience is intended to advance a more relevant, effective regional conversation around healing frameworks tailored to the unique social and cultural realities of the Caribbean.
Inclusive, broad-based participation stands as a core guiding goal of the initiative. By waiving all attendance fees, the JET Foundation is actively removing financial barriers that would otherwise limit access, ensuring that high-quality programming is open to parents, young people, students, educators, mental health professionals, non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, and the general public across the region.
Dr. Camille Samuel, Campus Registrar at UWI-FIC, emphasized that the institution’s role extends far beyond traditional academic instruction. “The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus exists to be more than a place of academic study in our region; it is a space where knowledge meets the needs of our community,” she explained. “Hosting the Wadadli Healing Symposium is a natural expression of that mission. We are proud to partner with the JET Foundation to bring these critical conversations to Antigua and Barbuda and working together to build healthier, more resilient communities.”
Founded by the Underwood family to honor their maternal grandmother, the JET Foundation centers its work on advancing healing, equity, and community well-being through culturally grounded, research-backed initiatives. The organization’s core focus is addressing the persistent impacts of both historic and contemporary harm, while building practical pathways to stronger families, healthier communities, and long-term equitable social development.
UWI-FIC, established in 2019 as the fifth campus of the University of the West Indies system, brings world-class Caribbean-focused higher education to Antigua and Barbuda and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Ranked among the world’s top global universities by Times Higher Education, the campus offers more than 45 degree programs across four academic divisions: the School of Humanities and Education, the School of Business and Management, the School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, and the School of Science, Computing and Artificial Intelligence. It is also home to the Centre of Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy (COBE), which leads innovative research in marine science and sustainable blue economy development. More information about the campus is available at its official website, www.fiveislands.uwi.edu.