Two Dominican entrepreneurs will travel to the United States in October to participate in the First ever Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program.
Lynworth Mitchell of Portsmouth and Valarie Honoré of Woodford Hill will participate in a five-week YLAI (pronounced why lie) Professional Fellows Program, sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
President Barak Obama launched YLAI last year to expand opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs and civil society innovators in Latin America and the Caribbean. The inaugural YLAI class brings 250 promising young business and social entrepreneurs to invest in and accelerate the work of young leaders who are making their communities and countries more prosperous and secure.
Through the YLAI Entrepreneurship Institute and the individualized Fellowships, YLAI Professional Fellows will build networks, linkages and lasting partnerships to attract investments and support for their entrepreneurial ventures.
Fellows will participate in:
• Four-week Fellowship: With U.S. fellowship hosts in their field of expertise, Fellows will gain valuable professional development skills at entrepreneurial organizations or companies across the U.S. and work jointly on a venture Action Plan to be implemented upon Fellows’ return to their home countries.
They will also have the opportunity to learn from their U.S. counterparts by job-shadowing and participating in day-to-day operations at American organizations.
• Washington, D.C., Summit: YLAI Professional Fellows will participate in a three-day conference and networking event with top U.S. government officials as well as global public, private and nonprofit leaders.
• YLAI Entrepreneurship Institute: YLAI Professional Fellows expand their leadership, entrepreneurial and management skills and knowledge through online and in-person trainings that complement their U.S. Fellowship.
• Sustained Engagement Post Fellowship: After successful completion of the U.S. Fellowship and YLAI Entrepreneurship Institute, YLAI Professional Fellows will continue their collaboration with U.S. partners and have access to ongoing professional development opportunities, mentorships, networking and alumni activities. YLAI Professional Fellows will be eligible for Innovation Small Grants to fund startup or scaling activities, Travel Grants to conferences, and a chance to welcome a Fellowship Host to their country to share expertise and expand the hosts’ understanding of the entrepreneurship climate in YLAI Professional Fellows’ home countries.
More about the DOMINICAN Fellows
Valarie Sherry Honoré (Woodford Hill, DOMINICA)
Valarie-Sherry Honoré is a Social Entrepreneur and Program Officer for the East Dominica Children’s Federation; a non-profit organization which focuses on improving the well-being of Children and Youth in Dominica.
Through the Federation, Valarie develops and implements programs and activities focused on areas such as Child Rights, Child Assault Prevention, Education Enhancement and Youth Empowerment
Valarie will represent the establishment of a National Youth Volunteers Network; seeking to create a platform to facilitate the holistic development, inclusion and empowerment of Youth through Volunteerism.
Valarie is a Community Youth Leader and works to empower Youth to reach their full potential and become leaders of enduring change.
Valarie has a background in Business Administration and has Co-Founded a Business Support Service Organization and a Youth Cooperative focused on socioeconomic empowerment of Youth through Agriculture.
Lynworth Mitchell (Portsmouth, DOMINICA)
Lynworth Mitchell is the CEO and Founder of the Caribbean-based videography media company known as Myst.Productionz (BrBpTV), which started in 2010.
Lynworth turned his passion towards showcasing events and talented individuals who make a positive impact in their environment through the use of videography via MystProductionz and media via BrBpTV. BrBpTV stands for Be Real Be Positive Television and showcases real individuals doing positive things through Entertainment, Nature, Culture, and Individualism.
MystProductionz utilizes the art-form of videography to produce videos in the public eye, such as music videos and live performances, as well as for private events, such as weddings.
Lynworth has a Bachelor’s Degree in Small Business and Entrepreneurship and won the Most Outstanding Youth in Media by the National Youth Council of Dominica for 2015-2016.
The 2016 YLAI Professional Fellows participated in a competitive application process. The selection team received nearly 4,000 applications for this Presidential program. The selected entrepreneurs represent 35 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean and focus on topics including, but not limited to, agriculture, clean energy, consulting, e-commerce, education, entrepreneurship development and support, food and beverage, food security, health care, hospitality, LGBTQ, marketing and branding, mobile applications, and women and youth empowerment.
Since Obama is involve LGBTQ must be there. This is his pet project.
I’m feeling such an enormous sense of pride reading this (and I don’t even know them). You are young, gifted and beautiful people. Keep up the good work!!
Oops, accidentally clicked the dislike button but meant to click like.
Congrats youngsters! It warms my heart to learn of your community engagements. Keep shining!
Congratulation’s Mystelics!!!! May God bless you always in your endeavours..
Congrats “Mr. Worth”! Remain humble….God will continue to lift you up.
Congratulations to both of you. Remain focused!