United Nations Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals
I am one of seventeen 2018 United Nations Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals. Since my appointment, I’ve continued the work Talk Up Radio has already done in championing the youth voice but my primary objective as a UN SDG Young Leader has been to build young people’s awareness of the goals, demonstrate the ways young people are already at the forefront of championing and acting on the goals, and also to inspire young people to incorporate the goals into their work, art, advocacy and conversations.
I’ve also had opportunities to connect with young people from all around the world on issues such as culture and creativity, climate action, decent jobs for youth, human rights, education and sexual and reproductive health and rights at UN organized forums, high-level meetings and conferences in different almost a dozen countries on 5 continents. These forums are also an opportunity to increase awareness of the challenges being faced by young Jamaicans/Caribbean people/small island developing states, the impact on the region of decisions being made in developed countries and the need for dismantling global systems of oppression and reparative justice, while highlighting innovative solutions being developed in the country while advocating for the SDG’s.
I’m aiming to continue to use these opportunities to advocate for the necessity of global community-based action on the goals, including working with youth to organize through grassroots movements, organizations, social enterprises etc. I also regard building partnerships, and increasing coordination across borders to share solutions, information and organize regional movements as my personal mission regarding the Sustainable Development Goals and I recognize the power of media in making these connections happen and sustaining them.