RED Magazine by The Red Dress Soiree by RED Magazine

2016 Leading Ladies LIFE, LOVE AND SERVICE

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Founder & Editor Tyrina Neely Design Director & Graphic Artist Keisha Oliver Writers Ianthia Smith Noelle Nicolls Tyrina Neely Paige McCartney Photographers Farreno Ferguson Torrell Glinton Special Thanks Albany Resort, Bahama Fantasies, Parris Barnes, Cynthia Burrows, Renea Burrows Commonwealth Fabrics, Lavonne Ferguson, Nykarlio Ferguson, Shauna Ferguson Yeisha Forbes, Fernella Finlayson, Simon Frank, Alexandria Miller, Jerchovia Moxey Alicia Musgrove, Corinna Neely, Tyrone Neely, Ceron Rolle, Rontre Rolle, Crystal Strachan, University of The Bahamas Visual Arts Department, Harry Wallace Travis Miller and Tony Williams Jr.

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Run of Show

The Red Dress Soirée, Powered by Aliv

MERCEDES BENZ COCKTAIL RECEPTION

Music By String City Violinists DJ Ampero House Band: Tingum Dem Band RUNWAY SHOW

Hosts Anastarcia Palacious Chester Robards

LEADING LADIES

Alana Major Charlene McPhee Felicity Humblestone C. Kim Gibson Neulessa Major Andrea Archer Kayleaser Deveaux-Isaacs Kim Aranha Marion Bethel Janet Kemp Christine King Dr. Kim Johnson-Scriven

DINNER

Menu Market Fresh Salad Seared Salmon Filet with Straw Vegetables and Asparagus, Crushed Herb Potatoes with Cilantro Butter Sauce Coconut Cake with Caramel Anglaise DANCING

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Contents 00 07

Run Of Show Planning Committee

Contributors

Letter From The Editor

Message From The Bahamas Aids Foundation

RDS Fashion Designers

Silent Auction Donors Sponsors

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AT HOME WORKOUT ForThe Busy Professional

Kim Aranha Live And Let Live

Andrea Archer Trailblazing And Pacesetting

Marion Bethel A Champion For Women Everywhere

Kayleaser Deveaux-Isaacs The Soft Spoken ‘Iron Lady’

CHIC RED LOOKS For Every Age C. Kim Gibson Reaching Out To Help Others

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Felicity Humblestone A Living Legacy of Love

Dr. Kim Johnson-Scriven Gives The Gift of Hearing

Janet Kemp The Awakening

TIS THE SEASON TO BEAUTIFY Christine King Tragedy, Triumph and Charity

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Charlene Mcphee A Pastor’s Wife, But No One’s First Lady

Alana Major Loving Past Yourself

Neulessa Major Legacy of Learning

Toast To The Holidays

FERNELLA FINLAYSON

JERCHOVIA MOXEY

KEISHA OLIVER

PAIGE HANNA

My Friends Call Me Corinna

My Friends Call Me Fernella

My Friends Call Me Chovvs

My Friends Call Me Keish

My Friends Call Me Poofy

I am the RDS Concierge Coordinator

I am the RDS Silent Auction Chair

I am the RDS Leading Lady Concierge

I am the RDS RED Magazine Designer

I am the RDS Volunteer Coordinator

My Fav Red Thing My signature red nails

My Fav Red Thing Red convertible

My Fav Red Thing Red Wine

My Fav Red Thing Scarlet, my car

My Fav Red Thing Hibiscus

MICHELA PARRIS BARNETT-ELLIS BARNES

SCIESKA ADDERLEY

TYRINA NEELY

My Friends Call Me Mike

My Friends Call Me Parris

My Friends Call Me Ci Ci

My Friends Call Me Ty

I am the RDS Silent Auction Member

I am the RDS Leady Lady Concierge

I am the RDS PR Assistant

I am the RDS Founder, Event Director

My Fav Red Thing Red briefcase I take to court

My Fav Red Thing Red Lipstick

My Fav Red Thing Red hair, so edgy!

My Fav Red Thing MAC Ruby Woo

FARRENO FERGUSON

IANTHIA SMITH

NOELLE NICOLLS

TORRELL GLINTON

For the past 15 years Farreno has been working as a professional photographer based in The Bahamas, but with a global reach. He’s developed a style he describes as a unique blend of sexy, urban and island glamour.

Ianthia is a Bahamian freelance journalist, TV host and producer, travel and lifestyle writer with a thing for stilettos and red lipstick. She’s the owner of the MiniSkirts and Microphones blog www.ianthia-smith.com.

Noelle Nicolls is an award-winning journalist, entrepreneur and political activist. She writes The Domestic Tourist travel blog www.domestictourist. com, which shares insider tips and stories from her explorations of the Bahamian archipelago.

Torrell Glinton is a photojournalist who also shares a love for beauty and fashion photography. He believes in finding beauty in life as it happens. You may see more of his work at tglintonfocus.wordpress.com.

Contributors

RED WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

RDS PLANNING COMMITEE

Glam Squad

CORINNA NEELY

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Letter from The Editor If you’re reading this, it means I survived! The Red Dress Soiree, powered by Aliv is truly a labour of love. The 365 days leading up to this glamourous night have been filled with a dichotomy of emotions. There have been highs and lows, cheerleaders and naysayers, triumphs and disappointments. It’s an experience that has stretched me as a creative and a woman and connected me with some of the most talented Bahamians in our country. All in all, it has been a blessing. I stand in awe of the twelve inspiring Leading Lady honourees. I applaud them for their candor, tenacity and resilience. I hope that as you read their stories, written beautifully by Noelle Nicolls, Ianthia Smith and Paige McCartney, they too inspire you. I would like to thank our selection committee, who diligently and tirelessly pored over dozens and dozens of nominations to select this year’s honourees. The Bahamas is filled with amazing women and it was a challenge to select just twelve. JoAnn Callender, Karen Carey, Tonique Williams, and Michela Barnett, thank you for your dedication to the selection process. When we launched in 2012, I could not imagine that we would be here in 2016. Sitting around the kitchen table with my aunt Fernella and mummy Corinna one Sunday afternoon, I planted the seed for this magical event. Mummy and Nella, you have been the sunshine and water that ensured that this dream took root and grew. I am forever grateful to you both for continuing this journey with me. It is a connection that has strengthened our already unbreakable bond and I can never truly express how blessed and honoured I am to host this event with you.

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Tyrina Neely Founder, Red Dress Soirée

To our sponsors, Aliv, The Island Game, Mercedes-Benz and Zamar Productions, thank you for partnering with us. We could not achieve what we did tonight without you and I look forward to partnering with you all for many years to come. To the more than 50 corporate citizens who have donated to the event, whether as a sponsor or silent auction donor, thank you. A special thanks to Atlantis, Commonwealth Fabrics, our fabric sponsor, Albany Bahamas, where we shot the Leading Lady portraits, and Bahama Fantasies for creating this absolutely beautiful atmosphere once again. Victorine, you are amazing! With the support of the community, we set out on a journey to help bring awareness to a very important cause. Our ultimate goal has always been to help provide children access to the resources they need to become the best version of themselves. We look forward to supporting many more deserving organizations in the years to come. This year’s event is in honour of my late grandmother Mildred Gordon. Thank you for being the ultimate example of a Leading Lady and for sharing the values of hard work and altruism with so many.

Love, Tyrina

MESSAGE FROM

The Bahamas AIDS Foundation

Camille, Lady Barnett President, The Bahamas AIDS Foundation

It’s time again to celebrate twelve phenomenal women in our community. Women who personify excellence. Women whose altruistic spirit assists in creating a better society for us all.

These adolescents are provided a safe space and academic, emotional and psychological support to enable them to become healthy, productive and self-sufficient adults.

The Bahamas AIDS Foundation is pleased to participate in the Red Dress Soiree. The Red Dress Soiree is truly a creative and successful event.

Our Outreach Programme for Adolescents Infected and Affected by HIV/AIDS has several components: Academic, Psychosocial and Medical.

I encourage all the patrons to participate in the Silent Auction as all proceeds from the Auction will go directly to The Bahamas AIDS Foundation. Don’t get left out on some great deals and know that you will be supporting a worthy cause and thereby helping in the creation of a better society. How does support for the AIDS Foundation help create a better society? OUR MISSION IS:

To facilitate HIV prevention and intervention strategies including: elimination of mother-to-child transmission HIV/AIDS education, training, research, support, and advocacy reduction of HIV transmission To accomplish our mission we are crafting Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) to air at movie theatres, television and on social media, purchasing Third Line Medicines for some patients, hosting educational and awareness events, facilitating HIV Testing, operating a food and clothing bank, partnering with other organisations (government and non-government) to advance research and treatment, and providing support to adolescents infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

The Academic Component operates Monday to Friday after school and provides access to trained educators, computers, a hot meal and preparation for BJC’s and BGCSE’s. In addition the Programme facilitates career development, job placement and job training. The Psychosocial Component instills life skills and coping skills, makes available counselling, referral services and peer support. The Medical Component encourages adherence to medicines and general wellbeing, and offers clinic and hospital support. Healthy, productive and self-sufficient young adults make for a better society…that is our goal. I hope that you will support The Bahamas AIDS Foundation as we endeavour to create healthy, productive and selfsufficient young people. Enjoy the evening! Celebrate the twelve amazing women selected by the community. Support the Silent Auction.

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RDS Fashion Designers

I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y U N I V E R S I T Y O F T H E B A H A M A S V I S U A L A R T S D E PA R T M E N T

Gillian Curry-Williams

Kenria Smith

Anthea Bullard

Gillian Curry Williams is the creator of Remilda Rose Designs. Remilda Rose Designs embodies an air of elegance and sophisticated glamour.

Ria Georgina is a fashion brand created in 2012 by Kenria Smith. The brand itself aims to be a reflection of the feminine spirit, ever evolving and a source of strength.

The Hardour Collection is an array of high-end fashion for both men and women that was founded in 2007 by designer Anthea Bullard. The collection consists of one-of-a-kind, ready-to-wear and haute couture garments inspired by fashionistas, celebrities, politicians, royalty and socialites..

Theodore Sealy

Apryl Burrows

Multiple award-winning Creative Director & Clothing Engineer Theodore Sealy is the creative force behind Theodore Elyett, a brand heavily influenced by print, pattern, color, texture and world culture.

Apryl Jasmine, established in Nassau, Bahamas in 2002 remains a sought after label for the fashion forward woman and are worn by the most elite at red carpet events, balls, weddings and many other special occasions.

Phylicia Ellis Phylicia Ellis continues to experiment with vibrant colors, textures, and unusual fabrics in an effort to create designs that challenge the status quo. Inspired by the natural curves of island women, concentration is placed on creating pieces that are stylishly flattering yet easy to wear. 10

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Javotte Bethel

Patrice Lockhart

Kathy Pinder

Javotte’s House of Couture is synonymous with truly opulent couture bridal and evening wear, cocktail and prom gowns. In her designs, she uses luxurious fabrics, rich embellishments, intricate hand embroideries and grace.

Patrice Lockhart has a clientele that extends throughout the Bahamas and the United States. From beauty queen hopefuls to soon to be brides, she is much sought after for her expertise. Fashion Designer of the Year 1995 and a costume designer for the Bahamas National Youth Choir, her works of art have graced many international arenas, from Miss Universe stages to the Red Carpet at the Emmy’s.

Kathy of Nassau, designed by Kathy Pinder, specializes in haute couture fashion with impeccable attention to detail and showstopping design.

Rudolph Brown

Brynda Knowles

Myrlande Julien

Rudolph Patrick Brown Jr., is a well known Bahamian fashion designer whose passion for fashion started at the age of 6, sketching fashion illustrations for his sisters. He is known for his energetic spirit as well as his love for fashion.

Veteran fashion designer Brynda Knowles continues to deliver expertly designed fashion for the Caribbean woman. Her knowledge of construction and knack for encapsulating the island spirit keeps her a leader in the regional fashion scene.

Myrlande Julien creates custom and readyto-wear clothing for men and women. Each design is inspired by God’s creations for the stylish and bold.

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Silent Auction Donors A Stone's Throw Away Albany Bahamas Allan Pachino Wallace Aquafire Art Uncorked (Sip & Paint) Atlantis, Paradise Island Baha Retreat Bahama Divers Bahama Handprints Bahamas Ferries Bahamas Paintball Bahamasair Bahari Bristol Wines & Spirits British Colonial Hilton Café Matisse Cheesecake Heaven Chef Jamal Petty Chef Simeon Hall Club One Fitness Centre Comfort Suites Compass Point Custom Computers DC Technology Debby Deal Dermalogica Skin Centre Dolphin Encounters Ellery Deveaux February Point Graycliff Happy Trails Stables his Fashion Hoffer Sport Jamaal Rolle Jemi Health And Wellness Jetblue

Jetlink Adventures Bahamas John Watling's Distillery Jordanna Kelly Kamalame Cay Kishan Munroe Luciano's Mac Fit 360 Mandara Spa NPCC Oasis - Exuma Excursions Ocean Tally Bar & Grill Olives Meze Grill Restaurant One & Only Ocean Club Partymart Perfect Ten Day Spa Pineapple Fields Powerboat Adventures Relish Sandals Royal Bahamian Sandytoes - Rose Island Sapodilla Restaurant Scharad Lightbourne Seahorse Sailing Adventures Sky Bahamas Airlines Ltd. Steffan Davis Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas Sun Oil Bahamas Sunnyside Restaurant Tennis Pro - Ceron Rolle The Abaco Club On Winding Bay The Nail Lounge The Sports Center Tippy's Restaurant Tru Bahamian Food Tours Windermere Young's Fine Wine

Sponsors

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At Home Workout For The Busy Professional It’s 7:00pm. You schlep your laptop and work files from the car, into the house and collapse on the couch. It’s been a long day, and the to-do list lives on. There’s work to finish, dinner to prepare and if you’re lucky you’ll actually muster the strength to shower before crashing for the night. Let’s admit it, after a taxing day at work, exercise is often the lowest ranking task on the totem pole. You’re mentally

drained and the motivation you need to break a sweat is often elusive. “Apart from a healthy diet, exercising consistently is the key to attaining your fitness goals,” advises Crystal Strachan, personal trainer and fitness blogger. “Working out after a long day is hard, but dedicating just a few minutes goes a long way, plus an evening workout can help you

BY TYRINA NEELY

relieve stress so you get a great night’s rest.” No weights? No problem. Developed by Crystal, this quick routine is designed to work the full body in just 30 minutes, no equipment necessary. Perform the following exercises as a circuit, doing one set of each with 45-60 seconds of rest between each exercise. After each circuit, rest 2 minutes. Repeat the circuit 5 times.

Russian Twists 20 Reps Abdominals Sit with your knees bent. Incline your back at a 45 degree angle. Bring both hands over your stomach to touch the ground on your right side near your hips.Repeat action on your left side.

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Press Ups 20 Reps Abdominals, Shoulders, Triceps, Biceps Starting on your knees and hands, slowly bring your torso down to the floor. Use your arms to push yourself back up off the floor into the first position.

Single Leg Glute Bridge 20 Reps Glutes Lay on the floor with your feet flat and knees bent. Raise one leg off of the ground, pulling the knee to your chest. This will be your starting position. Execute the movement by driving through the heel, extending your hip upward and raising your glutes off of the ground. Extend as far as possible, pause and then return to the starting position.

Donkey Kicks 20 Reps Glutes, Hip Flexors, Hamstrings Starting on your hands and knees, Using your glutes, raise your left knee up, keeping your leg at a 90 degree angle until your knee is parallel with your glute. Repeat action with your right leg.

Knee Ups 20 Reps

Glutes, Abdominals, Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Shoulders Start with your body upright, knees bent, with your hands out in front of you at shoulder length.Bring your right leg up with your knee bent, placing your right foot flat on the floor. Then bring your left leg up with your knee bent, placing your left foot flat on the floor. Stay low in a squat position, continue to hold your arms straight out in front of you at shoulder length.

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N O E L L E

N I CO L L S

Kim Aranha L I V E

Kim Aranha’s middle name might as well be Defiance, because she has lived her life in defiance of norms. She was the fourth child in a nuclear family, and the only girl. And yet, her father never treated her like “the little woman”. He instilled in her a sense of equality that was backed by two life codes: “Be yourself and there is no shortcut.” Kim grew up in a life of privilege. She went to boarding school in Switzerland, after being home schooled. She spent much of her youth in the Berry Islands, where her parents owned on a private island. They had a house in Nassau and another outside of Geneva. But her marriage is a classic example of how she lived her life different to that which her parents wanted. She got married in the 80s to a man she lived with prior to their nuptials. He was a much older man, and she was his fourth wife. They met on an airplane during one of Kim’s Christmas visits. She fell for the “very handsome” pilot. Thirty years later they remain married with two children. “You don’t have to conform to any norm. You can do anything and you don’t necessarily need to do it the traditional way. You have to be who you want to be. You cannot be somebody that you don’t want to be but other people want you to be. You have to have the courage to stand up for what you believe in and to say what you believe in. You do not have to be offensive; you just have to be firm. And you really don’t have to put up or tolerate anything you don’t want to.”

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A N D

L E T

L I V E

If only it was easy. In reality, the pressure to conform to norms is all around. “Every woman is expected to want to have children.” Kim was one of those who “desperately” did, but she respects the choice many women make not to have children. University, she says, is for some people. And then there are others for whom, perhaps, university is not essential. Some people, she says, might be happy with a small house on the beach while others want a mansion in the city. People should exercise freedom to choose their own paths and not feel pressured into conforming to society’s prefabricated life tracks. “Live and let live.” With Kim, you can be certain at the very least, she will exercise freedom over her opinions. She has many of them and no inhibition about using her voice. She uses it to be an advocate for environmental rights and animal rights. But she also has strong political views on equality, particularly when it comes to gender equality and LGBT rights. She is co-chairman of the Bahamas Sea Turtle Conservation Group that successfully obtained the total ban on the harvesting of sea turtles in The Bahamas. She is also president of the Bahamas Humane Society, a nonprofit dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty. In 2013 she was responsible for spearheading Operation Potcake, which helped to spay and neuter thousands of uncared for dogs and cats in New Providence.

“I have very strong beliefs and I am very passionate in what I believe in. I never do anything halfway. When I get involved in something, I just can’t let go of it.” For this, Kim finds some people are threatened and feel she is “overpowering”. This is undoubtedly exacerbated by the fact that she is a woman, said Kim, “because I am not supposed to have a brain”. Even in the Humane Society, Kim says she feels the impact of identity politics. “I will often say to our general manager, you go on TV, they are not going to listen to this crazy white woman. If I want to get the message across and I don’t think I am the right messenger, I will take the back seat.” Kim is outspoken, but also strategic. Her civic consciousness is very acute and through her community activism she hopes to spread the wisdom captured in an ancient proverb: “Society grows great when old men plant trees under whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” “We need more of that. I think that we all owe it to our country to be involved and we need to try to improve our country for our country’s sake, not for our own sake, and for our grandchildren’s sake.” One way to do that is to care for the animals, in keeping with Gandhi’s famous quote: “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Kim emphasizes, it’s not just about the animals and their sacredness as one of God’s creations. There is consensus in law

Kim Aranha L EA D I N G LADY F EAT URE

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“You don’t have to conform to any norm. You can do anything and you don’t necessarily need to do it the traditional way.” enforcement and peer reviewed research in the United States that animal abuse is a psychological predictor of domestic violence. And more generally, offenders charged with crimes against animals demonstrate a “startling propensity” to commit violent offences against human victims. According to the Chicago Police Department, 65% of offenders arrested for battery had also been arrested for animal crimes. “Every time you go into a family home in this country for animal cruelty you will see a wife with a bruise who tells you she fell down stairs even though she lives in a single story house or she walked into the door and there will be a child cowering behind a curtain because they are terrified of a man who abused a dog. It is a precursor to other forms of violence.”

Today Kim owns dogs, cats and a colony of 15 tiny turtles (terrapins). It is the turtle pond that serves as Kim’s place of Zen. She sits by the pond watching the turtles and sheds the stresses of her life “I don’t believe in taking Xanax and Valium. I just go outside and spend time with my animals. Sometimes I sit on my patio, and yes I do have a glass of wine, and I watch the sunset. Just yesterday I sat and watched the sunset and watched their heads bob up and down.”

Her first pet was a golden potcake she rescued at nine years old. She’s owned a potcake every year since. The dog had been abused. Someone had tied him up with a barbed wire collar, and the spokes were lodged in the dog’s neck. Kim speculated it was a strategy to teach the dog not to run away. Her love of animals predated this rescue mission, however. Kim says it was “If you cannot be kind to a puppy or a kitten inborn. She was brought up to love and or a duckling, how in the name of goodness respect people and to treat them equally, can you be kind to each other? There has and to love and respect animals. never ever been a serial killer who owned a family pet. They all started with small There were transgressions though. Kim and animals onto bigger animals onto people.” her brother as children once caught a pup shark while living in the Berry Islands. They Kim’s efforts with the Humane Society and “bashed it over the head” only to realize it other initiatives is aimed at transforming was a baby. the “terrible, terrible approach to living creatures” seemingly ingrained into “We felt so bad we spent three hours Bahamian culture. “Children will see a dog moving him backwards and forwards to walking by 20 feet away, not paying any have the water flow through his gills until attention to them. What will be their first he swam away. I have always hoped he is reaction? You know their first reaction: they one of those 12ft or 16ft sharks who swim bend down pick up a rock and throw it at the sea so magnificently today.” them. Why? The dog didn’t do anything to them, but it was there, therefore it needs to Kim is confident, her efforts over the past 10 have something thrown at it.” years at the Humane Society, and over the lifetime of the organization, have made a “That particular way of think does not difference and continue to do so. remain with liking your cat or dog or hamster, it broadens. Those people who are Her life has taken her to many counties, kind and like their animals or other people’s where her work has been varied. In Italy animals tend to be the same people who Kim worked as an actress. She did theatre love the environment, the same people in Rome, a passion she maintains as a love who care about how clean our water is, for Bahamian theatre. She taught French the same people who love each other, the in secondary school in Nassau. She wrote a same people who will stop on the street children’s book called “The Adventures of to help someone who has dropped a bag Maya Moon”, a Bahamian pony. Despite her of groceries. It all goes together. So it is a life of adventure and privilege, Kim remains much bigger picture than people tend to a civically engaged tree hugger with a love want to make it.” for animals and a commitment to use her voice to speak her truth.

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Kim Aranha L EA D I N G L ADY F EAT URE

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I A N T H I A

S M I T H

Andrea Archer T R A I L B L A Z I N G A N D PA C E S E T T I N G

A celebrated social worker, a nurse, a public health pioneer, a college lecturer, ordained minister, a florist and card designer, Andrea Archer is a woman of many talents and owns a resume that keeps on growing. But perhaps her work in championing many of the social, educational and public health institutions and programmes so many Bahamians enjoy today is what makes her a household name. She trained in her early years as a nurse, working in the health department where she re-introduced a parent craft programme and started a programme for teen mothers, but Mrs. Archer soon found herself being transferred to the Ministry of Education to pursue a career in school social work. “I am the pioneer of school social work in the country,” she says proudly. “So my team and I had to introduce all the schools as to what school social work was all about. I remember it well; it was myself, Jessica Minnis and Anette Chambers. “At that time the department was called School Welfare and it consisted of attendance officers or just truancy officers and they changed it to school welfare to incorporate social work. I was the first senior school social worker which dealt specifically with the problems school kids had.” And dealing with the problems school kids had included feeding those whose family couldn’t do it. Mrs. Archer was a part of the team that was instrumental in launching

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the National Lunch Programme where school kids received hot, nutritional meals daily. “This was all in the ‘80s when social work was still new and still interesting in the country,” she adds. “It just blossomed and we just kept coming up with these programmes for the kids like the juvenile delinquency prevention programme and I took on the teen mother programme and tied it in with The Ministry of Education.” Mrs. Archer probably didn’t know it at the time, but the teen mother programme that she took under her wing, carefully developed and re-launched, would soon become one of the bedrocks in Bahamian society, giving young mothers a second chance, when it seemed like one didn’t exist. “We called it the Student Mother Programme at first and then it became the Student Mother Continuing Education Programme and then it finally became PACE,” Mrs. Archer explains. “My daughter, who was just about 11 or 12-years-old at the time, asked me why were we calling it the Student Mother Continued Education Programme, she said you’re giving them a chance, so why not call it Providing Access to Continued Education so she gave the programme the name PACE. I am the founder of PACE and we had various coordinators who helped to get it up and running, but boy, it wasn’t easy trying to get the girls back in school, it

was a fight.” But it was a fight that Mrs. Archer said she refused to back down from as she was committed to ensuring that Bahamian teen mothers could have a second chance at life and an education. “There was taboo on teen mothers but we forgot that the young girl didn’t get pregnant by herself somebody had to impregnate her, so there were men and there were older men involved, but the girl was the only one looked down upon. It was a struggle and a fight but it was worth it because what we did was we helped them and gave them all second chances, God gives us all second chances, so why not? “If we didn’t help teen mothers they would’ve just been on welfare,” she adds. “But many of the teen moms we’ve helped have done exceptionally well. They went back to school, completed their education and were able to look after their child. They are teachers, attorneys, engineers, bankers they are in all spheres of society, they have gotten married and we have helped to cut down the recidivism rate so they learned and they changed, they got their second chance. There’s a woman who was a teen mom and she went to PACE, but today she’s a principal there. She went to school and got her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and she’s now a principal. That speaks volumes.” The seasoned and highly decorated social work pioneer says for as long as she can remember she’s had a zest for ensuring

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that Bahamian children had full access to everything they needed to succeed. “My love for God and my love for people spurred my love for social work,” Mrs. Archer says smiling. “You have to love people to do it. We’ve helped so many people and raised funds to help children in need. “We got food, clothing, shoes, scholarships we even had a program for kids who weren’t registered in school and we just picked them up off the streets and eventually were able to get them in school. “I was instrumental in introducing a social work program to The College Of The Bahamas and taught social work there. I teach anything they ask me to teach, anything. I make jewelry, I do floral design, I make cards; I just believe every 10 years you look at yourself and if you need to change your profession, change it. You have to give God all the glory, it’s not about you." ‘”In the end it’s really about loving people and wanting them to succeed and helping young people. Be honest with them; tell them the truth when they come to you for help. Help them today, don’t tell them come back tomorrow, if you can help them now, do it right then and there.” The proud mother of three says she’s devoted so much of her life to helping people that she’s often showered with “thank yous” from familiar strangers. “Once you help somebody you don’t keep record. I don’t even remember some people, sometimes they come and tell me how I’ve helped them and I can’t remember it. What I do know and will always remember from my social work though, is that people are hurting. Once they walked through those doors I didn’t care what they looked like, what they smelled like, they were priority number one and we treated them that way.” With a heart this big and a track record for launching programmes that literally save lives, it’s no wonder she’s been awarded and rewarded for her work. In 2006, Mrs. Archer received the Lady Sassoon Golden Heart Award from the Sir Victor Sassoon (Bahamas) Heart Foundation

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“There was taboo on teen mothers but we forgot that the young girl didn’t get pregnant by herself somebody had to impregnate her, so there were men and there were older men involved, but the girl was the only one looked down upon.”

for her selfless service. In 2014, she was the recipient of the U.S. Embassy’s International Woman of Courage Award. “I realized that it’s a privilege to serve,” she adds. “When you serve you’re not subservient, you serve because Jesus served and it’s a privilege. Just to have work it’s a privilege and when you do it you should do it to the best of your ability." “I love people and it’s a joy to be able to help someone and see them succeed, it’s a great joy. And then you have to give God thanks because he placed you in that person’s life to help. For me, children are God’s gift. They are special, they are precious and it doesn’t matter which vehicle they came in, they are not responsible for what you did. They have a life and you have to nurture them and help them to they can be all they can be, so they can fulfill their purpose. “Just like teen pregnancy. If a teen gets pregnant they just missed a mark, but they still have destiny and purpose and they need someone who is empathetic and will help them move beyond their mistakes. In PACE we even congratulate our teen mothers because they didn’t have an abortion, they made the decision to become mothers and that is worthy of praise not condemnation. We encourage them to just love their baby and move on in life. I am proud of all of my girls.” Although retired, Mrs. Archer is not done working. “For as long I can remember I was always in pursuit of Jehovah, he has always been good to me, in my work, life and career,” she continues. Mrs. Archer says she’s still a part-time lecturer at the University of The Bahamas teaching subjects from administration, public health, local government advanced legal argument. “I just love continuing education, I think people should always continue their education. You can’t just languish on a job, you must learn to do something new.” And that, is your next assignment.

Andrea Archer L E A D I N G L A DY F EAT UR E

Kim Aranha LEA D I N G LA DY FE AT U R E

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PA I G E

M CC A R T N E Y

Marion Bethel A

C HAMPION FOR WOME N EV ERYWHE RE

Of all her accomplishments Marion Bethel – an attorney by profession, lecturer, filmmaker and published author and poet counts parenting her two daughters, Ife and Nia, her greatest achievement. And raising a new generation of Bahamian women is an important contribution, considering the road Bethel helped pave for her daughters and thousands more Bahamian women as an integral part of the women’s movement in The Bahamas and the Caribbean.

community is to continue to advocate for human rights for all in The Bahamas and the world; to deepen the conversation and advocacy for human rights in regard to students and the general public in The Bahamas,” she said when asked about her duty to the community in which she lives.

In fact her mother and grandmother were a part of the women’s suffrage movement that took place between 1945 and 1962.

Bethel said it’s community mindfulness and education that remain the cornerstone of who she is as a professional, activist, writer and mother.

“I am particularly engaged with human rights for women and girls as an issue that cuts across all aspects of human rights.”

That was more than a half century ago, and now Bethel continues her foremothers’ fight for human rights and equality for all.

“Community service has and continues to be a major plank in my life. I came of age as a young adult through In fact she was recently elected to serve community service. I had meaningful early along with 11 other experts on the United experiences in community service with Nations Committee on the Elimination of All the Interdenominational Christian Youth Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Association and in being a part of literacy work with women in prison,” she said. She begins her four year tenure on CEDAW on January 1, 2017 during which time she In fact her commitment to community is along with 23 independent experts serving what drove her to encourage Bahamians to in their personal capacity will monitor the vote in the gender equality referendum last implementation of the Convention on the June, in favor of amendments to eliminate Elimination of all forms of discrimination discrimination from the constitution based against women. on sex. Indeed Bethel’s keen sense for justice and involvement in political activism, especially for women’s rights, is a significant component of her day to day life. “My greatest commitment to the

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There’s still progress to be made, and Bethel believes that can be achieved through women empowering other women. “In order for women to empower and support one another, we first need to be

aware of the process of socialization that has taught us to devalue ourselves, our autonomy and our capacity in deference to male entitlement, privilege & domination,” she said. “Once this understanding is underway, we can then begin to honour and value the immense capacity of women in the areas of leadership, decision and policy making and our capacity to direct our own lives.” Empowerment, activism, womanism and feminism were the underlying message of the 2012 documentary Womanish Ways: Freedom, Human Rights and Democracy produced, co-directed and written by Bethel. It examines women suffragists who changed the course of Bahamian politics and opened the gates to a modern Bahamas where women not only exercised their leadership and achieved civil rights but balanced all of this with traditional responsibilities and with grace. Perhaps Bethel’s fervor to champion fairness is rooted in her childhood, where growing up on Nassau Street, she said her parents instilled in her the value of family, church, community service and education. “All of these values hugely influence who I am today. My family, immediate & extended, is the most important aspect of my emotional life,” she said. “In addition to my Anglican Christian

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“I am particularly engaged with human rights for women and girls as an issue that cuts across all aspects of human rights.”

upbringing and childhood experience in the Baptist and Pentecostal traditions, I have found immense space to be personally engaged with the meditative aspects of spirituality and to embrace the universality of religions and beliefs.” Books were in abundance in her childhood home and are what nurtured her love for literature and language, a love that she would carry all the way to McGill University in Canada where she studied modern languages. She obtained a Master’s in Education from Columbia University and a Law degree from Cambridge University. Bethel said it is because of the value her parents placed on education that she was able to achieve such heights. “Educational achievements have opened doors and afforded me access to positions of leadership and influence in The Bahamas and exposure and engagement beyond The Bahamas,” she said.

the company of such fantastic, committed and gifted women,” she said. And though she has stood on the frontline in the fight for women’s rights, a girlish charm beamed from her as she spoke about preparing for what promises to be a glamorous event. “I am enjoying the fun and extraordinary aspects of the lead up to the December 10 event - the photo shoots on the beach and in fabulous clothing; having my own personal fashion designer, Theodore Elyett, who is so talented, [and] getting ready for the runway strut in a beautiful red dress,” she said. “I feel like the winner in a beauty pageant without the nerve-racking contest.” Nerves aside, Bethel said she looks forward to participating in a world-class event that will help so many Bahamians affected by HIV/AIDS. “It feels really great to be helping to raise funds for the Bahamas Aids Foundation for which my older daughter, Ife, did some community service several years ago,” she said.

Bestowed with many prestigious awards and titles over the span of her career, Bethel remains humble and is awestruck by the other leading ladies for this year’s Red Dress Soiree. Bethel is so very happy to share this occasion “It is lovely to be one of the leading women for with her husband, Alfred Sears, daughters, the Red Dress Soiree. I am honoured to be in siblings & friends.

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Marion Bethel L EA D I N G L A DY F EAT URE

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I A N T H I A

S M I T H

Kayleaser Deveaux-Isaacs THE

SOFT

She says they call her the iron lady. But it’s a title she’s okay with. Being the boss lady, Kayleaser DeveauxIsaacs says she’ll take whatever titles come with the job, as long as it gets done. “Bahamian women, we’re strong, most women who have to take care of households and lead, we are strong and we try to get it done but with that has to come compassion and you have to know how to balance the warm side of being a woman and the masculine side of having to make decisions which sometimes is only equated to a strong man. “But we have to know how to do that dance and how to do that dance gingerly but with the dignity and strength of a woman.” As Deputy General Manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (ZNS), Kayleaser is one of the leaders at the helm of the national broadcaster. Tasked with being the number one provider of media communications, news and information in the country, being a woman in her position, she says, sometimes comes with a lot of sting. “I don’t try to stomp hard and get up in peoples’ faces, that’s not my style and I don’t think it’s necessary, quite frankly. You lead with a strong hand but you are also very compassionate with people.” Kayleaser and I met for lunch one Thursday, but the iron lady never showed up.

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SPOK EN

“IRON

She was bubbly, happy and very engaging. Her voice remained just above a whisper and her eyes were constantly inviting. We ordered twin meals: salmon, mashed potatoes with a side of vegetables and munched away as we chatted about her boss lady role, modeling and the performing arts. You’d never guess it, but behind the quiet and reserved personality is a woman of many talents. With a degree in communications, psychology and performing arts, she’s found a way to effortlessly meld her talents into the leading lady we know today. “I don’t look at it as following different passions, to me they’re all linked,” she adds. “Psychology and communications, broadcasting; it was like one thing fell into place with the other. It’s all intertwined. Wherever you are in your career it sets the foundation for the next thing, you have to find the nugget, you have to find the connection and I think once you do that, you’ll see why these things happened. You just have to be ready and open to the things coming your way from the universe.”

L A DY”

definition) thing for the station. I wasn’t sure I was ready to come home but they were persistent,” Kayleaser explains. “A part of me wanted to give back to my country and wanted to be a part of them. I was already working in the HD environment at Fox News, so I knew what to expect. And then I thought, ‘What do I have to lose?’ Fox News does not belong to me, ZNS does. So I decided that I’d give it a try and we did it. It was a couple of years later though, because I came home in 2007 and we did it in 2012.” To date, Kayleaser says helping to oversee the transition of the national broadcaster from standard definition to high definition was a big feat, because it helped to bring about much needed advancements in technology and communications in The Bahamas. This leading lady was not only a part of the team that made Bahamian history, but she just so happened to lead it.

And for Kayleaser, the universe had it so that she was ready for it all; at home and abroad.

“Edwin Lightbourne was the General Manager at the time, but there was some scheduling conflict so he decided to let me do the launch and so I was the Acting General Manager then and I thought to myself, ‘This is just great,’” she says proudly. “There was a lot of tension but I got to do it and we, the whole team, did it and I feel very proud of that moment. It really is one of my proudest moments.”

“I was at Fox News Channel in New York and when they (ZNS) called and said they were thinking of doing this HD (high

Kayleaser’s other proud moments come when she’s on stage; acting, singing and dancing. She’s an accomplished actress

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“I don’t try to stomp hard and get up in peoples’ faces, that’s not my style and I don’t think it’s necessary, quite frankly.”

with a thing for theater and getting into character. Oh, and she’s also a former Miss Bahamas contestant. “I was in New York for about 20 years so I did a lot of theater and stage work while there,” she says shyly. “I am a professional actress as well and a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild and The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), so it’s a part of me and quite frankly sitting up at ZNS I knew the bug was biting so when I saw the call, I auditioned for Shakespeare in Paradise and they called and said I got the part. So I was like, oh boy, now I have to perform.” It was a performance I witnessed. Kayleaser invited me to a screening of the Bahamian play “You Can Lead a Horse to Water” in which she played one of the main characters. She was the lawyer for a man on trial for murder and through her performance it was clear that she was made for the stage. " It was interesting to see this side of her; in character, loud, bold and intriguing. “Being at ZNS I see it as being on the other side of the fence,” she says laughing after I complimented her on her stellar performance. “I’m always stretching and showing my executive producer and theater side. But I really love the theater and performing and making people laugh and making them think. I’m trying to do the whole package and it was such an honor to be a part of that. I love being on stage and when I’m not on stage I love helping people do their best.”

Kayleaser says she recalls growing up in Harbour Island and her grandmother, Alice Moss, often making breakfast for her and her cousins. What always stood out most for Kayleaser, though, was constantly watching her grandmother feed everyone else, before she tasted even the tiniest morsel of food. “Whatever was left was what she ate,” she says humbly. “So I learned that from her; you take care of the ones who need your help, or are more needy than you and it’s a principle I try to live by. I feel it’s my duty to be there and give a little of myself and my time and I sometimes speak to young ladies and it’s just those little things. We all need to help each other. We need to find what we can do and just help.” And it’s a principle she says she tries to instill, especially in women. As a woman in power, Kayleaser says she herself has had to endure so much backlash in her life and career for the mere fact that she’s a woman with a voice, one that she made sure was always heard. “Being a female in broadcasting and leadership, it’s a role that many women, if they have the chance, ought to do,” Kayleaser advises. “Because there aren’t so many women who get this opportunity in broadcasting. Our field is still pretty young in The Bahamas and I’d like to be around to see more women lead in this area because we can do it. “ “You be sincere, you speak your piece, don’t be afraid to sit at the table and raise your hand, lean in make sure you understand your role and make sure you don’t forget it. Even with a lot of secretaries who are

women, they sit outside the table and around the table and quietly take notes. No! You sit at the table and don’t be afraid to give an input even if it’s a weak one, over time that will strengthen. Don’t you ever sit like a wallflower, those days are gone.” Kayleaser says she does believe that as women, we do have our foot in the door but not neccessarily at the table and in the conference room. It’s something she wants to see changed soon, as too many women today have bought into the erroneous belief that their role is to be ‘polite’, sit back and don’t speak. That’s a school of thought Kayleaser can’t and won’t subscribe to. But as strong as she is, there’s a woman she says is even stronger and one whom she draws inspiration from.

“My sister Karen lives in New York and she’s a Sagittarian and she’s just one of my heroes,” Kayleaser says laughing. “She is bold! She would change her hair and use different colors. I’m very conservative. I’m a Capricorn so I’m a little laid back and classic and she’s always just like, ‘Do it!’ I love it when she does these things, I enjoy seeing her do all this crazy stuff I can’t do so I try and live vicariously through her.” Just as her sister is an inspiration to her, Kayleaser says she hopes to do the same for so many other women. So if iron sharpens iron, as they say, maybe being an iron lady isn’t a bad thing after all.

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TEA TIME CAN BE ANYTIME WITH TWININGS!

(242) 677-6380

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STYLED BY SHOP THE CC

Chic Red Looks FOR EVERY AGE

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20s

Have fun with miniskirts and stilettos.

20s 38

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Stylist Tip: A playful bow adds a little bit of sweet to a sultry plunge neck mini-dress. A metallic gold choker makes the look both playful and edgy. T HE R ED D R ES S S O I R Ã&#x2030;E | RED MAGAZINE 39

30s

Fall in love with palazzo trousers.

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Chic Red Looks AT

EVERY

AG E

Stylist Tip: For petite women, high-waisted palazzo pants can elongate the legs to make you look taller. Pairing it with a crop top adds a youthful flare to this classic silhouette. T HE R ED D R ES S S O I R Ă&#x2030;E | RED MAGAZINE 41

40s

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Add refined accessories for a dose of chic.

Chic Red Looks AT

EVERY

AG E

Stylist Tip: A wide brim felt bowler hat instantly dials up the style factor of a simple, structured look.

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50s

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Opt for tailored pieces but play with trendy accessories.

Chic Red Looks AT

EVERY

AG E

Stylist Tip: Pair classic wardrobe staples such as a tailored blazer and black trousers with a leather choker for a youthful twist.

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Kim Gibson LE ADING LA DY FE ATU R E

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I A N T H I A

S M I T H

Kim Gibson REACHING OUT TO HELP OTHERS

She could’ve easily been a mother scorned; a mother who had every right to wallow in self-pity and hide away from the world. But when Kim Gibson’s son was diagnosed with autism she took what was a blindside for her entire family and used it to help change lives. Kim’s son Daylen was just two-years-old when he was diagnosed with autism. His mother says he was the typical child when he was born, meeting all of his developmental milestones on time. Until an incident just months before his second birthday changed Kim’s life forever. “I came home from the store one day and said, ‘Hi Daylen!' and he didn’t turn around. I called him again and he didn’t turn around. I thought he was deaf.” Kim says she wasted no time taking her son to doctors to see what had gone wrong. “I took him to an audiologist, the only one in the country at the time, but his hearing seemed fine,” she explains. “Then I took him to a speech therapist, and there were only three in the entire country at that time. All the doctors here said not to worry and that he seemed fine.

years-old to do some testing but I pushed and pushed. Around that time I took him to Florida and we got the diagnosis, twice, because I couldn’t believe it the first time. He was diagnosed with autism.” Within seconds of walking into her office and starting our interview, Kim lovingly points at a photo of her son Daylen. The picture, pinned to a board in her office, sits just above her head. Daylen, now 13 is boyishly handsome and is clearly the apple of his mom’s eye. She teases about the lashing she gets from her daughters Kaurin, 19 and Kendall 15. “They always fuss at me for always talking about Daylen and not them,” she said laughing. “But I love all of my kids.” And that love is very evident, but it’s a given that a child with special needs simply requires more. Kim learned the hard way, after returning home with her son’s diagnosis, just how much more. For one, many of the things Daylen required couldn’t be found in The Bahamas. “There were no schools that catered to children with autism,” Kim says. “But I put him in a local school and sent an aid there to be with him, but he wasn’t getting the right care. They didn’t cater to him; he just wasn’t the typical child.

“A lot of parents have their kids and they know almost right away when something isn’t right. But he was developing typically and then all of a sudden it changed. At first the doctor thought it was silent seizures but “Eventually I had to relocate with him. We they never imagined autism. They wanted went to Florida that summer and he started me to wait until he was a little over twoundergoing this intensive therapy that

wasn’t offered in The Bahamas. Summer was coming to an end and then school started, and then I realized my girls needed me too. So I would spend half of the week in Florida and the rest of the week in Nassau. I did that commute for about six months.” It was around this time that Kim says she started to get weary, but more passionate. “In the midst of that I started having a pity party, asking why this was happening to me. ‘He was born fine, what happened,’ I thought. In the middle of my pity party it hit me that as bad as it is, it could’ve been worse, especially if I didn’t have the access to the resources to care for my child. "I realized there were so many other parents out there going through the same thing, but they had no resources. They couldn’t care for their children and that thought alone changed something in me, I knew I needed to help someone.” The R.E.A.C.H Organization was started by four people looking to help kids with autism and their families. Kim says the two parents, one speech therapist and one teacher were looking to make a difference. “When I came back home I immediately joined R.E.A.C.H,” she says. “They were doing all they could to get the organization to grow and they were trying to help as many people as possible. I had just joined them and I said to myself that I never wanted to see another parent go through what I went through with my son and that was the

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“When you go through something like this you just have to give back. It sounds corny but it’s what you’re supposed to do.”

beginning of me, R.E.A.C.H and autism and it became a great part of my life.”

with autism and are looking for help and hope.

She says any story or article about her life would not be complete without mentioning her parents, but most specifically her Autism is now being diagnosed in 1 in every mother who passed away on January 20, 68 children and 1 in every 48 boys. 2016.

Resources and Education for Autism and Related Challenges caters to the needs of autistic children and their families, providing a safety blanket of help, resources “We do provide benefits for children, but it’s and education. more about networking with the parents; helping them, talking to them, sharing Kim knows firsthand the physical, emotional information with them and I found that and financial burdens that come with caring fulfilling, just being able to make life a tiny for a child with special needs. bit better for someone else. We’ve learned that early intervention is key. Once you find “Parents with special needs children, many out in time the chances of them leading a of them can’t work,” Kim explains. “When typical life is high.” those children come home from school at 3:00 p.m. the parents have to be there with And yes, life is on a high note for Kim, them. Some of them you have to be with Daylen and the entire family. She says her 24 hours, you have to provide the usual now 13-year-old, who now stands at around like food and clothing but then there’s that six feet tall, is progressing smartly with the much needed therapy. At R.E.A.C.H we try help of his teachers and family. to provide that therapy and provide parents with skills needed to assist their children “He is awesome,” she said beaming. “All of themselves. We try to make it easier for my children are totally amazing, but for everyone involved, because this is hard.” him he kind of just made me evolve into someone different. He made me push But what was meant to be a hard task myself more, I wasn’t a people person at to overcome, Kim Gibson has not only first but I was forced to interact. People mastered, but each day she’s teaching other would now seek me out to talk about parents to do the same. autism and I am a shy person! He pushed me out of my comfort zone, but he’s doing “I just think this was supposed to happen,” well." the mother and activist adds. “When you go through something like this you just have “I’m just so happy that things are different to give back. It sounds corny but it’s what now, in that there are more speech you’re supposed to do. For every situation therapists here now, there are still not that might not be ideal, and I won’t say enough to deal with the population but negative, I feel that you can always just turn it’s gotten much better. I had this one wish around and help someone out." that no parent would have to go through what I went through in trying to learn about And she’s helped a lot of people out. autism and there not being any resources, and I finally got my wish. Because of Kim’s work as Vice President of R.E.A.C.H has R.E.A.C.H no parent has to experience that helped to bring the resources, support and void.” encouragement to hundreds of Bahamian But there’s another void that Kim says she families whose kids have been diagnosed feels daily, the loss of her mother.

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“Most mother/daughter relationships are special but I think ours was cemented by the fact that we spent 54 hours, six days every week working together for over 16 years." “Ivis Carey née McCartney was my mentor, confidant, motivator, teacher, best friend, my hero and an amazing lady who loved the Lord, her family and her career,” Kim says of her mother. “Her life and legacy continues to inspire me daily and all that I am was shaped and nurtured by her example, her love, knowledge and wisdom. She and my father W. Archie Carey were married for 63 years and both established Carey’s Department Store now Carey’s Fabric and Uniform Store over 40 years ago.”

And that’s the very place I found Kim huddled in an office continuing on the legacy her parents shaped for her. She was fielding phone calls from her partners in R.EA.C.H, wrapping up the days’ work in the office and preparing for a trip the next day. I joked with her that she’s a modern day superwoman, but it was a compliment she refused to accept alone. “I’m not special, many of the people in R.E.A.C.H are making sacrifices and giving back, and so I accept this honor on behalf of all the parents.”

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Felicity Humblestone LE ADING L A DY FE ATU R E 50

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N O E L L E

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Felicity Humblestone A

L I V I N G

By the time of publication, Felicity Humblestone will surely have completed reading “The New Better Off”, a book about reimagining the good life. For generations, children have been socialized to aspire for home ownership, a nuclear family and a 9-to-5 job. More and more, however, new generations are rejecting the conventional pathway to happiness and success opting instead for nontraditional ways of loving, living, working and being a part of a community. Felicity set herself the goal to read 50 books this year. When she was on “The New Better Off”, she was 25 books behind her target. And yet, her concession that she “will not reach” her goal this year, makes her reading proclivities no less impressive. Felicity is never without a book. In her car she listens to audio books. In waiting rooms, whether at the doctor’s office or a business appointment, she always has a book in her bag to whip out and satiate her fix. On Friday nights, most often she is not at happy hour celebrating TGIF, she is engrossed in the pages of a book. At home, a waterfront apartment overlooking Delaporte Bay, you’ll find her lying in bed or sitting on her wooden porch on weathered plastic patio furniture. Along with her work, her friends, the ocean and seafood, reading is one of Felicity’s great loves. Felicity’s home reveals a lot about her personality. “I am very no frills. I took that as a great compliment when my friend said that one time.” Every day, before noon, she

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needs coffee to feed her admitted addiction to caffeine. She wakes up early, but takes her time to get ready, relishing in the salty ocean breeze and the crashing waves against her seawall. She works further west than Cable Beach, so no traffic is a complement to her no rush attitude. There is nothing fancy about her car. It drives and it has AC.

experiences to share. While her laudable work at FOCUS inspired her nomination, and is the subject matter Felicity is most passionate about, the full tapestry of her life renders her story even more remarkable. In particular, Felicity’s journey with her mother, Juliette Barrett, is something few can probably relate to, but all can be inspired by.

The Red Dress Soirée, a couture fashion event, therefore, is way outside Felicity’s comfort zone. The event is a trigger for that very reason: unexpected, but not surprising. It brings up raw and painful memories of her best friend Dani, who died in 2013. Her death was ruled a suicide. Felicity has to swallow some of the emotion as the weight of the memory overwhelms her, for if she had a formal event to attend in the past it was Dani’s closet where Felicity would go shopping. “She would have been all over this, telling me what to do and how to wear my hair and whatever else.” Dani would have provided a cherished type of sisterly support for the dress fitting with Bahamian designer Javotte Bethell, the photo shoot and “21 Questions” video shoot, even the interview, which Felicity had no idea would lay her so bare.

Felicity lives with her mother. More accurately, Felicity’s mother lives with her. Felicity’s parents separated when she was four and she grew up with her mother and grandmother as an only child. Six years ago, Ms. Barrett suffered a life altering stroke, which rendered her paralyzed. Although she has some cognitive functions, she is bedridden and in need of constant care.

It is Felicity’s work as the programme director of FOCUS: Forward and Onward to College, Upward to Success, an initiative of the Lyford Cay Foundation, which garnered her public recognition. However, behind the professional persona is a woman: a multidimensional woman with unconventional responsibilities and

Felicity was at tennis class when the call came in. She missed it: The first time her aunt tried to call, the second time and several other frantic times. When she finally caught the call from her father she rushed to the hospital.

“She was in hospital for six months on a ventilator. We were given a prognosis that she would not gain consciousness or live on her own. Six months on, the wonderful nurses at the Princess Margaret Hospital weaned her off the ventilator and I took her home. I have been overseeing her home care ever since. The parent role is reversed. I have had the opportunity to be a mom to my mom.”

“Mummy had already been taken to

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“We are trying to make academic skills relevant to real life, so all of the learning you traditionally do in school has meaning and relevance.”

accident and emergency in an ambulance. She was on a gurney when I arrived. She was healthy. She had no health condition that would have prepared me for that. I was in shock. I was definitely in shock.” The six months of hospitalization were emotionally tumultuous for Felicity, who was 31 at the time, and misinformed at one point that her mother was brain dead. “I went through several periods of mourning.” It was the nurses who faithfully cared for her mother who gave Felicity hope. She made daily visits to ICU, alternating shifts with her aunt. Beeping noises still remind her of being on the ward. Her supportive friends would take Felicity out for drinks after visiting hours ended at 8pm. “I journaled a fair amount. We would play music in her ears through headphones. I took old photos and scanned them across her supposed field of vision. We had a box at her bedside where people could put a prayer or leave a note. We would read those to her.”

marker Felicity purchased and a small dry erase board, her mom wrote the word “Fefe”, which is Felicity’s childhood nickname. “She has incredible functionality beyond what was expected,” as she moves through the development stages all over again. “[I love] when she makes jokes or is in some ways mischievous, which she is; when she makes me laugh; that she is very sweet and caring and affectionate. She has ups and downs in terms of her mood, but she is a delight. She will sometimes get the roles reversed: she will say, “You are my mummy”. I will banter with her back and forth. She likes to joke about it.” Felicity admits, she has had to find that mothering for herself from surrogate mothers; regardless however, she has fully embraced her role and the new meaning to having a grown child.

Motherhood is a role that seems to follow Felicity although she has no biological children of her own, because at FOCUS, Felicity considers the instructors and Now that mom is home, Felicity is learning participants in the programme her family, about motherhood from an entirely new and the cohort of first year graduates, perspective. particularly, her children. FOCUS is essentially a college readiness programme “[Motherhood], I guess, is protection and with a project based learning curriculum decision making, and caring and joy and that serves a spectrum of students losing your patience, and exhaustion and academically and also in terms of social feeling overwhelmed, but also a lot of joy, a conditions. Its focus is children who will be tremendous amount of joy.” the first in their family to attend college. Students learn research and presentation "Hearing her speak for the first time was a skills, teamwork and problem solving. milestone as any mother might expect. With A sense of curiosity about the world for a feeding tube in her mouth, no one could curiosity’s sake is fostered in them. tell if mom had language capacity. But when the trachea was removed, mom said “We are trying to make academic skills “a very raspy 'hello'”. Felicity has a photo of relevant to real life, so all of the learning the first word that her mom wrote. With a you traditionally do in school has meaning

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and relevance. [We believe] these are the skills needed to be successful in any tertiary academic context.” Last summer, grade five and six students at FOCUS did a project on climate change, where they created a mock exhibit for the United Nations on climate change for small island nations. The grade seven and eight students executed a project on democracy and forms of government. They studied the constitution and had to moot the question: Is democracy the best form of government for every country? The grade nine cohort had to create a parliamentary address defending whether it was a good or bad idea for countries to take on the Summer Olympics. Given the financial challenges faced by most countries and the enormous economic pressure of the Olympics, students had to present arguments from different ministries of government to make their case in a formal parliamentary debate. Watching her students blossom through these experiences delights Felicity to the core. Amanda Marray, the colleague at the Lyford Cay Foundation who nominated Felicity, said of her contribution: “The impact that this exposure will have on these students and their families is immeasurable. Because of her leadership these students are exposed to Bahamian culture and experiences that give them a complete picture of the best aspects of life and what their future could be. Each student has a voice and is heard. Felicity through her work is cultivating a generation of leaders who may have otherwise been ignored or fallen through the cracks of our system.”

Felicity Humblestone L EA D I N G L A DY F EAT UR E

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Dr. Kim Johnson-Scriven LE ADING L A DY FE ATU R E 54

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I A N T H I A

S M I T H

Dr. Kim Johnson-Scriven G I V E S

With some people, it’s easy to see when they’re passionate about something. But if Dr. Kim Johnson-Scriven had her way, you’d hear it.

T H E

G I F T

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H E A R I N G

“I wanted to be a physical therapist and when I attended Middle Tennessee State University, I wasn’t impressed,” she remembers. “I wanted to work more with kids and I had a roommate who was She’s passionate about her work. studying speech and therapy science and she said to me, ‘Why don’t you just come I went to meet her at her Blake Road office over and look at the clinic, see what we one day, at the new hearLife Clinic where do and see if this is something you’d be she works tirelessly to make life better for interested in since you’re not so sure what her patients by giving them the sense of you want to do.’ I went over and that was it! hearing. I realized that was my calling, just watching the interaction with the therapists and the And for those of us who’ve never had kids I realized this was me! And I wanted to hearing challenges, it’s something we could do something that was fun, I wanted to get easily take for granted and dismiss in others, down on the ground and play with the kids.” that’s why Kim says she’s their advocate. She says there’s a special reward she gets “Hearing loss is our invisible disability,” she each time one of her young patients hears eagerly explains. “It’s interesting because for the first time. I have so many deaf or hard of hearing patients here who apply for disability but “For me it’s really rewarding to take a child are denied because the disability is invisible. who cannot speak and you may work It’s not physical so the doctors tell them, relentlessly with them, day in and day out, ‘Your hands and legs work, so you can work.’ and then eventually they get it,” she says, her eyes wide and engaged. “You can now “When you can’t hear you are cut off from understand their sentences and they’re the world. I’ve had two students knocked not stuttering anymore. So I got into that down because they couldn’t hear but our program and was able to do a one-year in doctors refuse to give them disability.” service. Then I came back home in 1985 and got hired by the Ministry of Education as a She says she hears and witnesses stories like speech language pathologist, but it was so these on a daily basis in the country, adding boring!” that these are tales that fuel her fire and commitment to giving the gift of hearing. “We had long days going into the public schools and then gave private school And in this field locally, Dr. Kim Johnsonstudent screenings in the evenings, then we Scriven is a pioneer. also had private clients coming for therapy as well.”

Kim explains that although she was doing something that she loved; she always felt that there was something else she was missing out on. And just as it had happened when she stumbled into her speech therapy classes, she was again about to fall into another passion. “One day I had a parent whose son had an ear infection and the doctor wanted to do surgery and she asked if he really needed the surgery,” she recalls. “I told her at the time I was not in a position to tell her that, but that she should get a second opinion. That’s when I realized that I should be that second opinion. I should be the one who says, ‘Hell no!’ I realized then that speech wasn’t my role but that my passion was hearing.” Kim recalls the instant gratification the doctors she witnessed received when they fit a child with a hearing aid. She soon realized that she wanted to experience that fulfilment too. Giving a child the gift of hearing immediately changes their life and gives them a better shot at reaching their full potential. If this was true, in order to make her dream come true, she had a lot more learning to do. That’s when her dad paid for her two-year in-service program at Howard University in Washington, DC. Although late into the program, Kim quickly worked her way through the system, getting exposure and experience by working with elderly patients and inmates.

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“When you can’t hear you are cut off from the world. I’ve had two students knocked down because they couldn’t hear but our doctors refuse to give them disability.” After a few years there, a scary encounter one cold autumn day made her stop and reevaluate her life and quite literally her address.

stabbing a Hispanic teacher to the face, causing her to lose vision in her right eye.

for babies, such as preemies at risk of hearing loss. At that time I also established newborn testing and trained the nurses, so all babies born at Doctors Hospital are tested before leaving. With the introduction of this testing The Bahamas joined 49 states in the United States who have made this mandatory because they know the importance of hearing and ensuring that our babies get cared for early.”

Kim was his third victim. “He pleaded guilty and got 30 years,” she “I just felt like if I’m going to die, let me die says shaking her head. “He was a part of a in The Bahamas,” she says. “I decided I didn’t big crime ring. His family had a hijacking want anyone shipping my body back home.” car ring and they were just all over DC. I went back to work but I couldn’t see male She recalled the horrific incident that forced patients for a while after that and my her to pack up and leave DC. coworkers understood they told me to just take care of me first. After that I said it’s time Kim says as the word audiology became “I was coming home from work and I pulled for me to go home! This was in 1993 and I a household name more people came into the parking lot, but I didn’t know just told them I couldn’t renew my contract.” seeking out her services and looking for that earlier that day they had a number of help. robberies and hijacking of cars,” Kim recalls. But when Kim got back home, she found “So this guy, one of them, decided he would herself full of passion, but nowhere to Something she was more than happy to hang around the Howard University lot and channel it. In the early nineties, audiology provide. as soon as I opened my door all the foul services didn’t exist in The Bahamas. words came.” “We say it all the time and I’ll say it again “I said what the hell am I going to do,” Kim and again; when you cannot hear that is a “He was in the car. I remember so vividly says laughing. “I remember going to Mr. disability, you are cut off from the world. that I had “Through the Storm” playing by Rassin at Doctors Hospital and he told If you’re only hearing part of it you are Yolanda Adams, and he started cursing and me that there was someone who came cut off. It is a disability, when you cannot screaming at me and threw a Hennessy to see him and that he’s a foreigner and communicate, when you cannot hear bottle and the next thing I knew he was on wanted to provide audiology services in instructions, when you cannot hear warning me choking me to death. I said to myself, The Bahamas. But he said, ‘Kim, you can do signs, when you cannot communicate ‘My brother I’m from The Bahamas if I’m that!’ So he rented me a space and I was like, with your boss and cannot respond to going to die I’m going down fighting’.” ‘Goodness what am I going to do with this?’ customers, that is a disability. It’s invisible That’s when I opened the first audiology but it’s so real. It stops a person from “I fought and I fought! He had a knife, clinic in 1994 at Doctors Hospital providing contributing to the hearing world and they and all I could hear was Yolanda saying, comprehensive services." fall in this category where they are pushed ‘through the storm,’ and at the same time aside and given mediocre jobs because I’m fighting. I really thought I was going “I remember when I initially came home they can’t function.” down that day, I kept saying it to myself I had approached the Ministry of Health that I wasn’t going to make it out of this. about doing work in audiology but they Over the years the good doctor has But somehow I got a good kick in his groin said they had no facilities and they weren’t changed so many lives, brought area and he jumped out the car and was ready. Seven years after I got back home, groundbreaking technology to The limping off. I screamed and hollered and in 2000, I got a call from them saying they Bahamas to give Bahamians the gift of the security and some other people came. were now ready to get some audiology hearing and helped to change the course But he got away. My car was a mess and services in the public clinics.” of education, growth and development in the glass was all shattered and it was just a so many lives. She says for her it all comes scary situation.” Kim led, pioneered and championed the naturally because it comes from the heart. government’s program to help Bahamians Actually, scary is an understatement. with their speech and hearing; a program “When you find your passion you can that’s helped thousands of Bahamians, definitely reinvent the wheel,” she says. Not long after the assault, Kim went to who may not have had the chance to lead identify her attacker and describes him as productive lives. Kim has quietly steered the course of being “blood red.” audiology in The Bahamas, creating “I was instrumental in establishing the waves of advancement that will benefit Police told her that the man was also under audiology clinic at the South Beach Clinic,” generations to come. arrest for robbing a pregnant woman Kim adds. “We provided diagnostic testing, and kicking her in her stomach as well as screenings and also provided infant testing

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Dr. Kim Johnson-Scriven L E A DING LA DY FE ATU R E

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Janet Kemp LE ADING L A DY FE ATU R E 58

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N O E L L E

N I CO L L S

Janet Kemp T H E

When Janet Kemp says, “that is the past”, give her a shovel if you want to know more, because she has to go digging in her memory to take you back in time. There is no doubt, who she is today, has been shaped by her past life experiences, many of them painful to have endured. One notable moment was one of surrender, when her ex husband grabbed her by the neck and used his ten fingers to squeeze the breath out. “He was strangling me. I already started to blackout. I remember thinking you know what, why am I fighting him. I can’t overpower him. If he is going to kill me, then so be it. I guess that is the whole thing about surrendering. That is when he let go.” An abusive marriage that took Janet to death’s doorstep is just one of the opportunities life presented with a choice: “either crumble or get stronger”.

A W A K E N I N G

and awake, and she knows thoughts are powerful creative forces. “Things are created twice: The first time as a thought and then they manifest.” So she carries a deep gratitude for the good, the bad and the ugly of life’s experiences, and her thoughts are firmly on the present.

These days Janet is deep in pursuit of her spirituality. It is an unconventional spirituality that delights in the power of the mind and the power of a healing touch. Her passion is to be a trigger to help people wake up to the lessons life has taught her. One of these lessons is about the creative power we all possess to shape our lives. Little things give her a joyful rush, like witnessing a young boy discover his inner superhero. Janet led a classroom of children in a guided lunchtime meditation at a friend’s school, during Janet shared that she was molested in her which she asked everyone to choose a early teens by a woman: it was a neighbour mentor – a parent, Jesus, a friend – to go on whose home Janet visited for sleepovers on a journey inside their own consciousness. some weekends. Now the experience is an Janet shared, one little boy said he took a insignificant memory. But what stayed with superhero with him, but by the end of the Janet was a thought she formed at the time meditation he became the superhero. This of the abuse: “I didn’t say it, but I felt, you was symbolic, because Janet believes we could molest my body but I am not going to are powerful beyond our imagination, and allow you to molest my mind. I remember learning to embody this power is part of the thinking that.” awakening. Janet’s philosophy is to let the past be the past. Not because the past is painful or disheartening, which sometimes it is. She simply has no energy to invest in thoughts of regret, hate or despair; coulda, woulda or shouldas. Life is an evolution and the past but a footnote. Today, she is alive

Professionally, Janet runs a management consulting business, Ace Management Services Limited and a charitable foundation, Agape. It is her work as founder of the Agape Foundation that inspired Janet’s Leading Lady nomination. Agape helps other nonprofits do their work more

effectively, by providing administrative and fundraising capacity. Janet doesn’t have a specific thematic interest when it comes to the nonprofits she chooses to work with; she just deeply appreciates the spirit of people working together. In the nonprofit sector, she sees empowered communities taking care of themselves. As neatly as Janet has her past buried, it is impossible to know the empowered mother, Managing Director, Founding Chairperson and woman Janet is today without understanding her history. When she does go there – when she invokes the past; when she digs up the memories – the raw emotion even hits her by surprise. It comes as tears, which she wipes away in curious disbelief. “Hmmm. I just told this story the other day. Why am I crying?” Janet was a shy woman when she got married. She was a top performing student in her class, but she gave up school to marry young, dropping out of A Levels and never considering college. The expectation to get married was what society dictated, and it’s what Janet believed a woman did. She lived with shame, hiding for many years the abuse in her 14 year marriage with a husband she harboured a hatred for. For a long time he threatened to kill her and her three young boys. “That is why I stayed.” It was one of her sons that triggered her to leave; to move out of the marital home, a place where the living dead resided. On parent’s night at school, the teacher

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displayed an essay for one of her sons on the board, along with the well written work of other classmates. The assignment was titled, My Family, but the teacher had drawn a line through his paper and wrote, My Mother, instead. “He only wrote about me, every single detail, down to the size of my shoes, the fact that I would come home after work every afternoon and go to sleep. My husband would come home at midnight and raise eternal hell, so I would have to go home and get sleep to prepare before he came. When I read that, when I stood up there and I read that, I was like oh my goodness, what am I doing to my children? Because he was not there for them and I was not there for them and I was like we have to get out of this.” The fear of leaving “because he might kill us” overshadowed all other impulses until Janet saw her life written there in black and white from the perspective of her child. The next morning she started looking for an apartment to move. “The events that happen in your life give you an opportunity to either crumble or get stronger. I had that something to be able to get stronger, more resilient.” Shy no more, Janet can appreciate that we attract people and experiences into our lives to serve us in some way, and “sometimes you have to go through certain things” to discover yourself.

The owner postponed the immediate payment of the deposit and helped Janet negotiate a loan through her insurance company, which lent up to 85% of the appraised value. Turned out, the appraised value was high enough to qualify for a loan that would cover the full selling price: deposit and balance. That innocent essay, it helped Janet develop the confidence to open her own business. And who knew you could start a business to close down another business. Janet didn’t. When her former boss suggested the idea, she was as green as a child inexperienced in entrepreneurship. With no college education, self employment was never an ambition Janet pursued, particularly in banking and finance. As a long serving mutual fund administrator, however, Janet made an impression on her employer. He saw her as a natural manager to help liquidate several businesses he was moving to close. When she recalled the moment there was a sense of excitement in her voice; in retrospect, the nudge from her employer was a door of amazing possibility being opened before her. But at the time she was afraid. She had no answer, at first, only fear about her perceived inexperience and having “no money”. How would she afford an office? How would she pay her staff?

That innocent essay, it opened up so much for Janet. It allowed her to receive a gift from her father, who died when she was six, after he had been dead for 30 years. It was a house worth $100,000 that Janet could not afford to buy. She was a single mother, working diligently to provide for her three boys. Peer pressured by her mother and a friend, Janet inquired into a house being sold by a family friend. She wanted it badly, but she didn’t have the 15 per cent required by the bank for a down payment. But Janet learned that being a good person pays dividends for generations to come.

After giving it some thought Janet reasoned, she would be doing the same work as before, so why not do it for herself. It was a leap of faith that paid off. Janet has been in business for 11 years, and her primary client is still her first client. With business success she was eventually able to set aside 10 per cent of the earnings from her company to invest in Agape and ultimately donate to various other charities.

“My dead father helped me buy a house by being a good man. Every time I tell that story I cry.”

“I love life. I have a vigor for life. I have been seeking and finding what it means to be human. I am so interested in that. The more I find out, the more I love it. I am like, yes. I love the mystery of life. Discovering what that is.”

The owner was friends with Janet’s father. He remembered him as a good man, and he knew his old friend would expect that he help his daughter provide for her children.

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Janet gets giggly now when she talks about how much she loves life. She tend to keep the past in the past, right where it belongs.

“The events that happen in your life give you an opportunity to either crumble or get stronger. I had that something to be able to get stronger, more resilient.”

Janet Kemp L EA D I N G L A DY F E AT URE

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Tis The Season To Beautify The holidays are chock full of reasons to get dolled up and celebrate. We’ve compiled a list of beauty must-haves to help you channel your inner glamazon for all your special occasions!

Glitz & Glamour

Ever since Naomi Campbell wowed us at the VMA’s with her sparkly red lip, the fashion world has been buzzing over Pat McGrath’s lip kits. Revv up your NYE look with a pucker worth it’s weight in diamonds.

Lash Worthy Even on your bare-faced days, plumped lashes are a must. Mascara trends come and go, but Maybelline’s Great Lash is here to stay. Tried and proven, the signature pink pottle and green top has adorned many a vanity and gives a clump-free, natural looking volume to even the most thin lashes!

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Nail It!

OPI has managed to bottle the bold, energetic effervescence of New York City in a .5 ounce bottle with their Big Apple Red nail polish. A perfect choice get your digits holiday ready.

Pretty Pink Cheeks

Iman Cosmetics has a great line of blushes that give subtle color an amazing glow. Posh, a pink hue adds a sheer wash of colour to the cheeks. Gently mist your blush brush with makeup setting spray, dip in blush and then apply for a more dewy finish!

Classic Red Lips A forever classic! Whether you’re a fan of a crimson pucker, or tend to shy away from red lipstick, Ruby Woo is a staple in even the most limited cosmetic arsenal. Its velvety application and matte finish makes it kiss proof and food proof!

Holographic Eyes Pat’s latest cosmetic invention has everyone drooling and seeing stars, literally! The Metalmorphosis Eye Shadow Collection plays off of her mesmerizing lip creation and brings that same wow factor to the eyes.

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I A N T H I A

S M I T H

Christine King T R A G E D Y, T R I U M P H A N D C H A R I T Y

You don’t usually meet people as bubbly and warm as Christine King. Her quiet, but bold demeanor and inviting smile instantly drew me in when I met her. Christine grew up in Cat Island and was raised by her grandparents and aunts. She first met her dad when she was nineyears-old, didn’t meet her mom until she was 13-years-old and when her mom died of HIV/AIDS related illnesses a few years later, Christine would find herself caring for sisters she’d never known. She says at a very early age, because of this complex situation, she learned the true meaning of selflessness and service. “I think it’s because I myself am a product of service,” Christine explains. “And when I say that, although I had a great life in Cat Island, so many people had to come to my aid when I was a child. I saw my whole family just pitch in to help grow me up and I think that spurred my love for giving back and just helping people around me.” Just three years after first meeting her dad, Christine found herself living with the man she’d dreamed about for so long. She says she’d often sit and wonder what his face looked like, but one day he showed up and she didn’t have to imagine any longer. “When I was old enough to know I had a father, but I didn’t know him, it was always in my back of my head as to who he was,”

she explains. “One day in Cat Island a lady came to my grandmother and told her my dad was at the restaurant and wanted to see me. My grandmother picked me up and I could see us walking there now. We got there and we just met and talked, he asked me what I wanted and I said a bicycle and that Christmas I got my first bike; a white one with the little basket in front.” She smiles as her mind jogs this pleasant memory. “We kept in touch over the years after that and when I was 12 he came and told my grandmother he wanted me to live with him and I told her I wanted to go with my daddy,” Christine says laughing. “I just was always inquisitive about my dad and I had him now and I just wanted to be with him. My grandmother told me at the time she was getting old and she wasn’t going to be able to really care for me and that the world was bigger than Cat Island so she let me go and I thank her for that because who knows what would’ve happened.” Christine moved with her dad to Grand Bahama and describes those years as the best times of her life. She lived with her father for six years until she was 18-yearsold. Graduating high school meant it was time to make a move to further her education. So she headed to Nassau to attend The College of The Bahamas, but an unexpected roadblock would change the course of her life forever.

“The year after I moved to Nassau and started COB my mother took ill,” Christine says. “I have three sisters who were younger than me and their father had died. I’m the oldest and have a different father. That was the most difficult time and situation for me because after having an enjoyable childhood, I had this roadblock. I had to assume the duties of being mother for my three sisters, who I was just getting to know.” So there she was, barely legal, forced to become an instant mom and deal with the emotional toll of caring for a mom she didn’t really know, sisters she’d never met and a deadly disease that wasn’t talked about As it would be for anyone, Christine says the situation was tough for her and she even contemplated not taking on the challenge, leaving Nassau and heading back to Grand Bahama to live with her father. But at this stage and age the little girl from Cat Island says she remembers that she had been the recipient of so many people rallying around her, protecting her and raising her when her parents were gone. So, despite the challenges she made a quick decision to do the same for her little sisters. “I was just 18-years-old and during that time all three of my sisters were in school and we lived alone,” she reminisces. “My aunts would help me by buying groceries and paying the bills and so I was always a product of service, my whole life. Since I’ve

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“People always ask me about the happiest time of my life and I would say that is right now.”

known myself people have been looking out for me so it makes me want to give back. I just think when I could see what the needs are of people and I could meet them, I just do it because it makes it much more rewarding than them having to ask me. It’s all of these life experiences that make me want to get involved with service. I just have a heart to give.” And giving is exactly what she did and continues to do. While her mother battled her illness and Christine almost singlehandedly raised the sisters she’d never known, she was forced to learn and live with the mental, emotional and psychological effects HIV/AIDS had and is still having on so many Bahamian families. “To this day we never speak about it,” she informs. “We never really spoke about it back then either. When I went to live with my mom and sisters, they started talking and questioning stuff and one day my aunt just told us. She sat us all down one time and gave us the news, but that pretty much was the first and last time we spoke about it." “We didn’t really have a lot of education about the disease back then so we thought we needed different toilet seats. I was forced to find another home just to make sure we had two toilets. She used her own everything; forks, cups, towels, everything and all of our stuff was separate. It didn’t really drive a wedge between us because we just thought it was normal. I know firsthand what kids go through whether you are infected or affected. Luckily none of us were infected.”

explore life for herself, see the world and just live. “The situation made me bitter towards relationships,” she says. “Whenever I got close to a guy, I would disappear. As soon I felt like the relationship was getting too serious I would just run away because I was afraid that he would do to me what my mom’s boyfriend did to her.” It wasn’t until she was 30-years-old that she finally spoke to her boyfriend at the time about the situation and, once and for all, she says she got it all off her chest. Instead of being mad and wallowing in self-pity, she educated herself and helped others to do the same. “I just wanted to learn more about the disease,” she adds. “I wanted to learn more about it over the years. I wanted to learn how it worked, how it happened, what it was all about, I just wished people would talk about it more. So I joined groups and organizations where I could learn about HIV/AIDS because I wanted to help people like me.” For five years Christine was president of Bahamas Family Planning where she worked closely with HIV/AIDS patients, teen mothers and other Bahamians seeking help. And just as she’d always done, Christine found herself giving the biggest part of her heart to strangers, a habit that continues today. Christine is a proud member of the Kiwanis of Montagu Organization and is always finding ways to be of service to those who need it most.

Her mom died at just 38-years-old. The move to Nassau, her mother’s diagnosis and battle with HIV/AIDS, her abrupt responsibility to take care of her younger sisters all happened so fast and around the same time Christine says she wanted to

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“People always ask me about the happiest time of my life. I would say that is right now,” she says smiling. “I can look back and say something was fun and something was happy but, why look back, right? Right now is my happiest.”

Christine King L EA D I N G L A DY F EAT URE

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I A N T H I A

S M I T H

Charlene Mcphee A PA S T O R ’ S W I F E , B U T N O O N E ’ S F I R S T L A D Y

She’s a pastor’s wife, but Charlene McPhee says she’s no one’s First Lady. “That term just comes with such a stigma, and that’s not who I am,” the nurse and “church mother” says smiling. “People come and look and say, ‘You’re not the typical pastor’s wife.’ They look at the “first lady thing” and try to make me fit into that. Don’t do that. “I am the mother of the church and that’s what I love. When they started that first lady thing, I told them don’t even go there. I’m not the one who has a special seat in the church and have to always be identified that I am the pastor’s wife. You might come in my church and not even recognize that I am the pastor’s wife, because I want to be reachable and touchable. I usher, I clean the church, I teach Sunday school, and I’m in charge of prayer ministry. That’s me, I do the dirty work, I don’t have to be performing.” Early on into our conversation, I learned that Charlene wasn’t going to let anyone define who she is and what she does. I also soon learned that she has a passion for service and helping others and beginning at just three-years-old she began shaping her life to be a giver. Charlene says it was at this tender age she decided she wanted to do two things; become a nurse and a pastor’s wife.

the road because again, like nursing it’s something I always knew I wanted to do. But I thought I was going to be a Methodist pastor’s wife because I was raised the Methodist way. For me it was bringing the little ones over teaching them how to make cookies, how to dress, speak, behave and be a lady because that’s what I saw. But then a young man, every Sunday, used to come over and sit on the eastern side of our church and he would just eye a little lady called Charlene. My mom and dad always told me to watch out for that boy, but on August 23, 1975, we ended up getting married.” And a difference in their denomination wouldn’t keep them apart either. Charlene says she decided to follow her Baptist husband to his church leaving her Methodist upbringing behind. She says, as with any new lifestyle change, there were bumps in the road. “The transition from Methodist to Baptist was hard,” she exclaims. “It was a shock because Methodist are quiet and I was very, very quiet. Some of the ladies in the [Baptist] church would say things like, ‘She isn’t saved, where did she come from,’ but just because I didn’t shout and jump like them didn’t mean I wasn’t saved.

“After a while, I just said to myself, ‘Well if he wanted them he would’ve married them Two items she can now successfully check but he married me.’ I was minding my own off her bucket list. business in my Methodist family enjoying life and he plucked me out.” “I’ve been a pastor’s wife for 41 years, it’s not I interviewed her in her office one Thursday been easy,” she says smiling. “I’m enjoying afternoon and couldn’t help but notice the

overwhelming number of pink hearts and ribbons decorating the space. “I can see you’re truly passionate about breast cancer,” I said. “I’m passionate about nursing on the whole,” she quips back. “If they put me in the desert I would nurse the creatures. Since I was three-years-old I knew I wanted to be a nurse. All I had were nursing toys and I was the second of eight kids and sometimes I had to take care of everyone. “I just loved that and it extended to taking care of the animals and helping to take care of my friends. Whenever anyone would ask, no matter the age I was, I always told people I wanted to be a nurse and a pastor’s wife. Those were two things I always wanted to be and I made both of them happen. So I am happy with who I am.” And who she is, is someone who has dedicated her life to ensuring that everyone around her is well taken care of. Whether that’s in the church or at the doctor’s office. The nursing manager at the Centerville Medical Centre is said to be the lifeline of the organization; training and setting the example for staff, being the doctors’ right hand (wo)man and the lifeline of all patients. They even say so on their website. “A woman of faith, Nurse McPhee has extended herself tremendously in this practice from living in Spanish Wells in the early ‘90s and managing the practice

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located there, to rising to executive directorship of the organization Sister Sister. Nurse McPhee has always applied her best talent: compassion.” And showing compassion seems to flow effortlessly from her soul. “It’s more about the one on one with people, that bedside nursing,” she says with passion in her eyes. “It’s all about the person not the paper, for some reason it seems like the touch is gone in nursing, the personal part of nursing is gone and I hate that. The doctor sticks and go and cuts and go, but the nurse stays around to make sure you’re ok. We bring people back to life. When patients wake up, the nurse’s face is the first one they see. I am comfortable being the nurse.” Charlene is second in charge to some of the country’s most noted and successful doctors and nurse to some of the most vulnerable patients. “I work very closely with a lot of trauma patients in the chest unit, like victims of gunshot wounds,” she explains. “I also work very closely with breast cancer patients and it is something I am passionate about because I just love to help people.” For many years, Charlene was the glue that kept the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group together. Founded by two of her doctors in 2000, Nurse McPhee was one of the first three nurses to help get the organization off the ground and grow the non-profit support group to what it is today. She still devotes much of her time to the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, doing what she knows best, helping those in need. “I just love helping people, that makes me most happy, she explains. “It sounds cliché and it’s said so much, but it’s really true.” When she’s not caring for her patients or family, she likes to unwind on a Family Island, alone. “I love to travel,” she says excitedly. “Every year I would take a week where it’s just me. No phone, no TV, nothing. I just try to take the time to regroup, refocus, find out if I’m

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“People come and look and say, ‘You’re not the typical pastor’s wife.’ They look at the “first lady thing” and try to make me fit into that. Don’t do that.”

Charlene Mcphee L E A D I N G L A DY F E AT U R E

at the right place, doing what I need to be doing and just hearing from God. “It strengthens me, it helps me to see if there are some faults, and some things I need to fix; whether that’s emotionally or physically. On this last trip I found out that I need to exercise more but overall these trips just help me be a better me.” A missionary trip to Russia was one of her most memorable and life changing trips to date. On that visit, Charlene and her church group travelled to a remote part of Russia where they were tasked with handing out Bibles to people in a part of that country who had never seen them before. “Some of the children had never seen a doll or a toothbrush so we took basic toiletries,” she recalls. “And when we were done giving out the last bible they crowded the bus and tried to shake it. Some of the group members were so afraid we had no idea what was going to happen. That’s when I stood up and I screamed out, ‘In the name of Jesus, we don’t have anymore,’ and everything just stopped. I always wanted to know how come people in my country, with the resources and access to information and education don’t have the drive like these people do for The Word. That trip still sticks with me to today and that was years ago.” But for someone who gives so much Charlene says she finds it hard to receive. And she’s a Taurus; the astrological sign brought to life by a bull. Taurus is headstrong, steadfast and knows what they want and she blames her unwillingness to receive on the innate characteristic of Taurus to do as they please. But she says she’s a silent bull. “It’s a problem I am working on,” she says with a smirk. “I love to give, but I could never get used to someone wanting to do something for me. I am learning though that God doesn’t want me to only give, give give and that he has placed people in my life to help me out as well so I am learning that life is this balance where you give but you also receive.”

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Alana Major L E A DING LA DY FE ATU R E

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Alana Major L O V I N G

On the evening of the Red Dress Soiree when Alana stands in front of the mirror to apply foundation to her face, trace the contours of her eyes with liner and apply gloss to her lips; when she clasps her bra and adjusts the straps to make sure it fits comfortably; when she slips into her red gown, designed by Phylicia Ellis and marvels at its beauty; when she steps into her heels and polishes her look with a splash of perfume, there is one person who will be noticeably missing. If she were alive, Dina would have had a front row seat to the drama and excitement of couture gowns, high fashion and charitable women behaving remarkably. “I lost my friend over nonsense and garbage and stupidness. How many women are in that same position right now over something that doesn’t make any sense, over something that is not of any value? And then you lose that person and then what.”

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reconciling just days after Dina awoke from her coma. And yet, despite the hopefulness of a hospital discharge, which implied these two best friends could make up for the “lost time”, Dina died about a day later.

would sacrifice for her regardless of what it is. I can’t think of anything more precious than that. If you don’t’ have another women to chart through this wilderness it can be rough out there; you can get lost.”

“To this day it still hurts me really bad. For her to still have this impact on me and for me to talk about her so much, clearly she still resonates in my spirit. I think of what I lost by pure stupidness. And it reminds me of some of the garbage women go through. I can’t even remember whatever that garbage was we had an argument about. To think about the times we were there for each other. The fun times we had. Whatever it was. I am sure it was not worth it.”

Far from holding a romantic notion, Alana says she has experienced the stereotypical side of sisterhood as well, particularly as a sorority executive. Alana speaks words you might expect to hear from an antifeminist: “Dealing with women is not the easiest thing”. She believes that women, rather than being their biggest “uplifters and supporters”, often do just the opposite. “Women tear down women a lot. I don’t know why. We gossip. We don’t always empower each other the way that we should.”

Alana is the past president of the Eta Psi Omega Chapter of the AKA Sorority, and founding director of One Blood Bahamas, a charity dedicated to promoting safe blood donation. She dedicated her two years as AKA president to her friend, who she still misses dearly.

Dina died in 2011 after slipping into a diabetic coma. Prior to her death, Alana and her best friend were not on speaking terms for the greater part of a year. It was, unsurprisingly, an issue “very stupid and mundane” that escapes Alana’s memory. Their sisterly connection predated their time in college as sisters in the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority. Alana’s mother and Dina’s aunt were also sorority sisters. It was as if their paths could not help but cross.

It was a hard way to learn important lessons, but Alana says the death of her friend put a few things in stark perspective. Don’t waste time hung up on meaningless distractions. “When you find a soul, a spirit as true, as open and as loving as that, you don’t let that go. You don’t let that pass you like that.” Alana is thankful she found that in a sister, and now in a husband. “That is what I feel like I have with [Terrel].”

Alana pledged as an AKA when she was 16 years old, and a green freshman at Florida Memorial University. So green, during her first week on campus, she mistook weed for a “funny smelling cigar”. The library is where she felt comfortable, so she passed much of her time reading books and studying. Alana grew up as an only child with a socially and politically active mother, and the purpose of the sorority – to promote sisterhood, scholarship and service – resonated with her. When she pledged, Alana was young, impressionable and excited by the idea of being surrounded by smart women who were focused and energetic and community minded.

Dina taught Alana to make hot cross buns and satiated her craving to shop a lot. They were sisters from different mothers who shared “amazing times together”,

Sisterhood is everything: “The best way I can describe sisterhood is a loving sacrifice for another woman. Being able to love another woman to the extent where you

She found the promised sisterhood, but she discovered sisterhood to be far more complex and nuanced than she expected. The AKAs have a saying: “All your sorority

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“I lost my friend over nonsense and garbage and stupidness. How many women are in that same position right now over something that doesn’t make any sense, over something that is not of any value? ”

sisters can’t be your friends and all your friends can’t be your sorority sisters.” Back in Nassau as president, Alana led a group of women who were themselves strong headed, powerful women with careers, families and companies. “To be one of the youngest women in the organization to now stand up and be the leader for all of these fearless women [was a particular kind of challenge].” “Men play games a little bit differently than women do. Sometimes women won’t let go of things like a man would. You know men can get into an argument in the boardroom and then afterwards they go out for drinks and they are good. They leave it all in the boardroom. Whereas you get into an argument with a woman in a boardroom and you know you are going to have that issue with her for the next couple weeks, months, years or however long.”

and studied health administration at the postgraduate level, Alana’s interest in a health related cause is not surprising. The idea of blood donation, however, came unexpectedly from a casual conversation amongst friends. Alana innocently asked a doctor friend: “how do you guys do with blood?” The flood of information she received about the chronic shortage of blood in the local hospital system was a rallying call to action for Alana. “If someone is dying people will donate. When someone is already in hospital and in need people will donate. We want to encourage people to let it be a part of what they do on a regular basis, two or three times per year.” Blood donation is a form of community service that Bahamians should consider. Even more remarkably, Alana says giving blood is a way of creating miracles for persons in need. And yet, Alana says there are only about 150 Bahamians who give consistently every year.

Despite this more notorious side, Alana said the dominant takeaway from leading the sisterhood was the inspiring way women work together for a common cause. The key she said was a sense of common purpose, something that is far greater than individual concerns, petty or otherwise, and greater “Even if I can encourage one person to than power struggles and personality donate a pint of blood that can make a conflicts. difference in a number of people’s lives. When you give blood, you are literally “We may have our differences as women, giving life to someone else. I think people but when it comes time to serve, we hold who give blood are heroes.” hands. When we stay focused on the goal we are able to look at the bigger picture Alana is conscious of the ripple effect and are willing to come together for that blood donation has beyond the immediate purpose.” person in need. That ripple effect, she says, is powerfully felt when a person receives These days, Alana has her focus on one donated blood, and when they don’t. purpose: creating a sustainable blood supply for The Bahamas. Having worked in “A young mother with a complication the healthcare industry as a senior manager during pregnancy, if she doesn’t get that of group sales for an insurance company, donation she could die and her baby could

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die too. Imagine her spouse, her family, her friends and how that impacts the whole circle of persons that are affiliated with her. By donating it could mean the difference between someone losing their wife and child for a sacrifice of just sitting at a table for 30 minutes.” Through blood drives, community outreach and public education initiatives One Blood is working to convert hundreds of Bahamians into regular blood donors. She wants Bahamians to commit to donating every Christmas and every Birthday every year on a consistent basis. This sacrifice, she said, will have a significant impact on the community. Sacrifice is a theme that runs throughout Alana’s life. She believes it is one of the most important virtues. “It is so amazing that blood connects all of us. You could be from another country, another age group, another gender and your blood could save another person’s life. That fascinates me. You have to love past yourself to say I will do that for someone else. A lot of us are afraid to reach past ourselves and love somebody else. I think that is what is missing the most in our community, the community being global.” Sacrifice: It’s a calling Alana believes is most relevant to the sisterhood and to the world at large: to put aside insecurities and fears, to keep perspective on the things that matter, and to look after one another. “To love past ourselves: How amazing the world would be if we were to do that. Look past all of the surface nonsense which doesn’t matter at all.”

Alana Major L EA D I N G L A DY F EAT URE

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Neulessa Major LEGACY

Neulessa Major might just be the envy of women. She gave a man an ultimatum and he caved, packed up his Georgie bundle and relocated to another island just so they could be together. Neulessa, like many women, was allergic to heartbreak. She would rather run for cover than set herself up for the inevitable. So when she threatened to end their long distance relationship it wasn’t a game. It was simply offense. She had the benefit of past experience that taught her long distance relationships don’t work. Neulessa was in Abaco, her future husband in Nassau. Her journey to unite the family set the stage for the transformational work this proud Androsian would later do in Abaco. Neulessa reluctantly accepted a teaching job at a public school in Abaco. She left her son in Nassau with her future husband Peter, since it was only supposed to be a six month commitment. On the weekends, Neulessa would commute back and forward, trying to honour the commitment symbolized by their promise rings. After the six month stint turned into a five year commitment, Neulessa sent for her son so they could settle in together. Two months into the extended stretch, the burden of the commute became too taxing: emotionally and financially. The two reached an impasse. Neulessa no longer wanted to commute. Peter did not want to leave his well paying job bartending on Paradise Island. The choice in

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her mind was: end the relationship or bring the family together, in Abaco. One week passed with Neulessa skipping her weekend visit. Two weeks passed and still Peter had no sight of Neulessa. Three weeks passed and the stunt stopped feeling like a bluff. Finally, an exacerbated Peter called her up and said, “Really, you are not coming?” Neulessa’s mind was made up. Peter, who had a key to the townhouse, made his first trip to Abaco shortly after, ready to make the sacrifice for them to be together. Neulessa arrived home with her fellow teacher and friend Barbara. They heard footsteps upstairs. Afraid but in full protective mode, Neulessa grabbed a baseball bat and tiptoed up the stairs, ready to give whoever was inside a knock out surprise. “He said, no baby this me. You told me to come and now you trying to kill me.” Neulessa still has the bat, and she shares a laugh with her husband every time they think about that day. Now, Neulessa says she can hardly get her husband to leave Abaco, except for the most “morbid” reason, if there is a funeral in Nassau. The two eventually married after the guilt of lying to Peter’s mother became too burdensome. She was old school. But it was easy to lie, because she lived in the United States. So they said they were married even though they were shacking up. On a preplanned Easter trip to visit family in Nassau they planned to solve the problem with a simple marriage ceremony with their priest and the required witnesses.

They arrived on Wednesday with plans to marry on Saturday. Unaware they needed a marriage license their plan was almost thwarted on Thursday at the Registrar’s Department. It took a week to get the license and the license officer was unsympathetic to their spontaneity. A chance meeting walking down the stairs on the way out saved the day. It was an old friend who recognised Peter. She happened to be the director. While this problem was solved, another was brewing behind Neulessa’s back. Her sister and friend, a dressmaker, were planning a real wedding, reception and all. “When I walked in the church it was half full. My sister was so disgusting, God rest her soul; she called everyone. My aunts were so upset because they got invited over the phone.” Neulessa got the full wedding package. All she had to do was show up, and it didn’t cost her a dime. It still surprises Neulessa to think, six months turned into five years and five years turned into 25. Maybe one day she will make it back to her hometown in Andros, but for now, Neulessa has entrenched herself in the Abaco community as a distinguished leader with a unique gift to inspire young people. She is president of the Kiwanis Club of Central Abaco, having served as a former district advisor for youth mentorship and community service. For 13 years she served as director of the youth arm of the Pilot Club of Abaco, chartering four Anchor Clubs in Abaco. She is a recipient of the Central

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Neulessa Major L E A DING LA DY FE ATU R E

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“I love keeping myself busy. I don’t like sitting on the sidelines when I see things to do. I like to help make things a success.” Abaco Primary Teacher of the Year Award and the Abaco District Teacher of the Year Award.

“couldn’t understand why”, why God would take away her “most favourite parent”.

In the end, Neulessa was at her mother’s While her life in Abaco was never planned, bedside when she took her last breath. there was a cosmic order to how she ended It was 10.30 am. Older family members up there. In fact, her fate was sealed by the wanted Neulessa, a 16 year old at the time, journey she walked with her mother. outside the room. Her mother had stopped speaking three days prior and could no Neulessa followed in the footsteps of her longer advocate on her own behalf. But she mother by getting into teaching. They were had told Neulessa before, “I need you to be extremely close growing up as Neulessa by my side”. Hurt, but determined, Neulessa was the last of four children, with an 18 year stood her ground. Somehow, her mother gap between her and her youngest sister. found the strength to grab her by the hand. She practically grew up as an only child. Her When the celestial call came, her mother father worked on the Project, an agricultural raised her head slightly, waved three times exchange programme in the United States, to the group and took her last breath. They so he was absent a lot. had to pry their hands apart. “I kept reliving that same moment over and over again for At age 14, it was a shock when Neulessa’s two years. That really did a lot to me.” mother shipped her off to Nassau to attend Aquinas College. “I never understood why It was by playing on the memory of she would send me [away]”. Neulessa loved Neulessa’s mother that Director of living in Andros. The stories she heard Education Mr. Moss got Neulessa to take of Nassau over the years were in no way up the job in Abaco. Central Abaco needed endearing. Later she learned her sister’s a “young dynamic” temporary teacher to theory that mom was trying to wean her replace another teacher on leave. It was away because she was dying of colon supposed to be a six month stint only. cancer. Neulessa resisted. Her views on Abaco at first were influenced by a racially divided “My sister said, she wanted you to learn past. And coming from Andros she had how to be on your own. You were too close.” an aversion to “small islands”. It was mid This devastated Neulessa. The logic was semester and she had no desire to leave her completely backwards. If her mother was students. ill that was precisely the reason she should have been home taking care of her. The “Mr. Moss said, let me make it personal for cancer was aggressive. It shrunk Neulessa’s you. This young lady’s mother is dying of mother down to 80 pounds from 240 cancer and she wants to come to Nassau to pounds. be closer to her mom.” “When they took her to Florida Memorial Hospital, they cut her from top to bottom. She came back home with staples in her. The doctor in Nassau moved them out. I had to clean the area. It was a lot. She always had me as this brave soldier. I had to be brave for her.” While she cleaned her mother’s wounds, Neulessa said she would pray for her healing. “You cannot leave me before I graduate. I cannot see myself go through life without you,” was her cry. And when her mother continued to deteriorate, she

Mr. Moss had no further argument. Neulessa took the job. She told Mr. Moss, “I hope that story is true, because I’ll go.” With her family in place, and her time in Abaco locked in, Neulessa was able to turn her focus on community building pursuits. As a teacher, she was able to feed her passion for empowering young people. But she didn’t stop there. Outside of the classroom, Neulessa created Builder’s Clubs, Key Clubs and Anchor Clubs all across Abaco. She was the woman to call to mobilize young people and get them

engaged in positive social activity. One of her former students was being interviewed for a youth programme. The interviewer asked him to name someone who was influential in shaping him into the person he was today. “He said, there is a lady I hope she is watching. Her name is Ms. Major”. Colin is active in his community now, volunteering for various nonprofits, including the Red Cross and AIDS Camp. “Most of the time I thought I was fighting them to wake up early in the morning to feed the elderly or work with disabled kids or clean the road. I really didn’t know the impact I was having.” A few years ago, Neulessa took a group of Key Club students to deliver blankets to the home of an elderly lady. After the visit, the students were crying. “They said to me, did you look around? We were looking and we noticed there was no food in her cupboards. They suggested, we should do care bags for her, not just blankets. They said, we’ll cook the first meal. I was so touched by their concern. They were looking at their surroundings and showing [empathy].” Out of that experience, Neulessa helped start a “Meals on Wheels” project. Neulessa has suffered a lot of loss in her life. Her sister also died of cancer. And just like her mother, she hid it from the family. “I found out four days before she died.” Her father died of a stroke after she had cared for him for over a year. She is now the caretaker of her 70 year old brother, who recently had a stroke. She had two miscarriages, before successfully giving birth to a daughter. Through it all she has had her family and her home as an anchor. And for that, her light has never been dimmed. Over the years she has used it to care for others and pay it forward to hundreds of children. And she has no plans to slow down anytime soon. “I love keeping myself busy. I don’t like sitting on the sidelines when I see things to do. I like to help make things a success.”

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A truly exceptional woman within Bahamian society

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Cheers to Leading Lady

Dr. Kim Scriven Johnson

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Toast To The Season The holidays are a time to cheer Up and drink up! After flexing your culinary muscle in the kitchen all day, you deserve it. Here are our top three cocktails to make your holiday even more cheery and bright.

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Cranberry Moscow Mule

Dirty Chai

Caramel Apple Mimosa

This variation of a Moscow mule is sure to get you in the holiday spirit. Quick and easy to make, spike with vodka, gin or your favourite spirit.

This isn’t your grammy’s cup of tea. The perfect nightcap to round off a busy day of festivities and get you relaxed for bed, or energized to party a little more!

If you reserve your mimosa indulgence for brunch, you’ll want to ring-up your girlfriends for brunch everyday. A dressed up version of an already fanciful cocktail, perfect for the Yuletide season.

Makes 4 cocktails

Ingredients 1. Juice from 1/2 Lime 2. 2 ounces Sweetened Cranberry Juice 3. 2 ounces Vodka (or preferred alcohol) 4. 4 ounces Ginger Beer (or ginger ale) 5. Ice 6. Lime Wedges and Cranberries to garnish Instructions 1. Fill glass with ice. 2. Combine lime juice, cranberry juice, vodka and ginger beer in mug. 3. Stir. 4. Garnish with lime wedges and fresh cranberries. 5. Serve.

Makes 4 cocktails

Ingredients 1. 4 chai tea bags 2. 1 cup filtered water 3. 4 ounces espresso 4. 1 cup soy or almond milk 5. 4 ounces vodka (or preferred alcohol) 6. 1 tablespoon maple syrup 7. star anise, garnish Instructions 1. Heat the water to almost boiling and steep the tea bags in it for 5 minutes. Discard the tea bags and cool the chai concentrate. 2. Make 4 ounces of espresso and cool. 3. Combine the chai, espresso, milk, spirits and maple syrup. Strain and pour into 4 martini glasses, and top with star anise.

Makes 4 cocktails

Ingredients 1. 2 tbsp. Caramel 2. 2 tbsp. cinnamon sugar 3. 1 c. apple cider 4. 8 oz. caramel vodka 5. 1 bottle champagne 6. Apple slices, for garnish Instructions 1. In a small dish, pour caramel sauce. 2. In another small dish, pour cinnamon sugar. 3. Dip champagne flutes into caramel to rim glass, then dip in cinnamon sugar. 4. Pour apple cider, caramel vodka, and top with champagne into flutes. 5. Garnish with an apple slice and serve.

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