The Caribbean Local Influencer Program
Bridging Human Rights and Economic Empowerment for LGBT+ Progress
Open For Business’ Caribbean Local Influencer Program is a multi-year effort to build a strong network of business leaders to advance LGBT inclusion. Our focus is on the 12 English-speaking CARICOM countries: Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The program is based on a research report, The Economic Case for LGBT+ Inclusion in the Caribbean, which provides business leaders, politicians, civil society, and media with a clear picture of how LGBT inclusion is good for business and economic growth in the region. Through three separate research methods, including the largest ever survey of LGBT+ issues in the Caribbean, the report focuses on four specific demographics: the LGBT community in these 12 Caribbean countries, the LGBT Caribbean diaspora, business leaders in key sectors in the Caribbean, and prospective tourists to the Caribbean. The research utilizes a mixed-methods approach to data collection, which allows us to capture the socioeconomic costs of LGBT+ exclusion and the benefits of LGBT+ inclusion.
Open For Business is now building a sustainable network of business leaders who collaborate with policymakers and civil society on advancing LGBT+ inclusion and rights in society.
The program is funded by Virgin Atlantic
The Research Team
Phil Crehan, Principal Investigator, Open For Business
Ceren Altincekic, Data Scientist, Open For Business
Liam Rezende, Fellow, Open For Business
Dr. John Wolf, Assistant Dean, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Peter Jordan, LGBT Destination Development Consultant, Gen C Traveller
The Program Advisory Board
The Program Advisory Board is comprised of a number of experts from academia, business, activism, and economic development who are providing their input and expertise to guide the research process. We strive to ensure that all of our work is grounded in local realities and guided by the highest ethical and academic standards. This Board helps us achieve these goals.
Mohamed Q. Amin, Founder and Executive Director – Caribbean Equality Project
Dr. Lee Badgett, Professor of Economics - University of Massachusetts Amherst
Dr. Felicity Daly, Visiting Research Fellow - School of Advanced Study, University of London
Alexus D’Marco, Founding Director - The D M A R C O Organization; Executive Director - United Caribbean Trans Network (UCTRANS)
Joey Gaskins, Senior Partner, Communications & Policy Strategist - Open Current
Simone Harris, Analyst of Tourism Networks - Jamaica Tourism Enhancement Fund
Kim Hurtault-Osborne, Executive Secretary for Integral Development - Organization of American States
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer - Virgin Atlantic
Dr. Michael Martell, Assistant Professor - Bard College
Neish McLean, Executive Director - TransWave Jamaica; Caribbean Program Officer - OutRight Action International
Dr. Betilde Munoz-Pogossian, Director of the Department of Social Inclusion - Organization of American States
Caleb Orozco, Executive Director - United Belize Advocacy Movement (UniBAM)
Donnya Piggot, CEO and Founder - Pink Coconuts Travel
Kenita Placide, Founder and Executive Director - Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE)
Mariette Vidal, Program Officer within the Department of Social Inclusion - Organization of American States
Community Partners
The Community Partners are organizations that focus on advancing LGBT+ rights in their communities in the Caribbean or through the travel and tourism industry in general. These Partners are essential for providing input and connecting our research with the communities that it will benefit in the Caribbean and around the world.
Miranda Alexander, Founder, President and Project Director, Caribbean Community in Philadelphia
Cracey Annatola Fernandes, Guyana Trans United
Jake Fagan, Product & Social Impact Leader
Angeline Jackson, Founder and Executive Director, Quality of Citizenship Jamaica
Kadeem Khan, Associate Research Manager, Data for Good at Facebook
Karen Lloyd, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG)
Élysse Marcellin, WOMANTRA
Col Mc Ewan, Executive Director, GuyBow
Anil Persaud, Managing Director, EQUAL Guyana
Colin Robinson, Director of Imagination, In Memoriam CAISO
Brandy Rodriguez, Trinidad & Tobago Transgender Coalition
Joel Simpson, Founder and Managing Director, Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD)
Matt Skallerud, President, Pink Media
Jessica St. Rose, United and Strong
Adrien Gaubert, Co-Founder & CMO, myGwork