A Barbadian educational organization has earned regional acclaim for its spotlight on how accessible learning drives inclusive advocacy, taking home a Special Mention at the 37th Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) Media Awards. The National Transformation Initiative (NTI) received the honorable recognition in the SDG Champion – Digital category for its profile interview with Janelle “STARR Bajan” Skinner, marking the organization’s first ever entry into the cross-regional media competition. NTI stands as one of just two first-time Barbadian entrants to win a Special Mention in this year’s awards cycle.
The SDG Champion Award, sponsored by the United Nations Sub-Regional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, celebrates media work that advances the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For its debut submission, NTI centered Skinner’s personal journey, a narrative that brings SDG 4 – the global commitment to inclusive, quality education for all – to vivid, tangible life through the experience of a local learner. NTI’s core mission centers on expanding access to free learning and professional development opportunities for all Barbadians, through a combination of its own programming and long-standing partnerships with global platforms like Coursera.
In the award-nominated interview, Skinner, a lifelong wheelchair user, opened up about her decision to pursue formal courses on disability, diversity, equity and inclusion after repeatedly finding herself in conversations about disability rights where she felt underprepared to contribute meaningfully. “Before those courses, I stayed quiet because I didn’t want to say the wrong thing. I was stuck in my own head overthinking every word,” she explained. “But once I was able to take the academic theory I learned and put it into practice, I became far more vocal in these spaces.”
Skinner also emphasized that ongoing learning has helped her grow as a disability advocate, pushing her to center intersectionality and recognize that the experiences of disabled people are not monolithic. Continued education, she said, has given her the tools to advocate more thoughtfully for the entire disability community.
Racquel Griffith, NTI’s Communications Lead, shared that the regional recognition holds particular weight for the organization’s small team, coming on their first attempt at the CBU Awards. “For our first entry, we knew we wanted to submit work that was authentic to our mission and the stories we care about lifting up,” Griffith said. “Janelle’s experience stood out immediately: you can see exactly what learning made possible for her. She didn’t just gain new knowledge – she gained the confidence to speak up in spaces where she’d previously held back.”
Griffith added that the story also reflects NTI’s core commitment to ensuring disabled people are fully included both in the learning opportunities the organization creates and the narratives it shares with the public. “To have Janelle’s story and our work recognized across the Caribbean is something we’re truly proud of,” she said.
The award-winning interview was hosted by Alex Jordan and filmed by Selwyne Browne, bringing a deeply personal Barbadian story of learning, disability advocacy and resilience to a broader regional audience. In total, the 37th CBU Media Awards honored 92 recipients across the Caribbean region, with Barbados leading all participating countries this year with 15 full awards and eight Special Mention honors.