Her Story
About Stephanie
My career in international development and nonprofit work began 13 years ago when I was an assistant on a project funded by UN Women and the government of Jamaica. That experience led me to work in international development, non-profit programs, and youth-focused initiatives. As a project coordinator, researcher, and communications specialist, I focus on youth development, gender equity, social justice, and community empowerment. I've conducted policy and social research and supported grant development efforts aimed at strengthening communities and expanding opportunities. In addition to my institutional work, I run a content writer page where I help organizations, researchers, and entrepreneurs develop compelling written content, presentations, and digital communications. I also spent two years as a ghostwriter working on non-fiction books for clients. Currently, I'm volunteering as a grants writer for the Institute for Democratic Discourse, contributing to donor-facing communications and funding strategy alignment with nonpartisan evidence-based research. One of my proudest achievements was working with the Restaurant Development Foundation on a USAID-funded project centered around youth development for kids between certain ages. Hearing back from participants, like one young man who wanted to do welding and now has his own welding business, makes all the work worthwhile. During my earlier years volunteering at the Women's Research Outreach Center, I started a homework program with the children of women who came to the center, and that program is still helping kids today. Nonprofit work is my calling, and I will always be a part of it in some capacity.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Stephanie
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received came from my mentor, Taitu Heron, when I was working on my first project funded by UN Women and the government of Jamaica. I was reading actual cases of children being abused and stories of domestic violence, and it was overwhelming. We went to a workshop at E for Life in Jamaica, and there was a child who was 14 and pregnant with HIV because of assault. I was there crying, my nose was running, and I couldn't control it. Taitu told me in the car afterward that she understood how I felt because I was a caring person and human, but that when you're in this field, she would teach me how to separate my emotions - not to become cold, but so that when I'm giving information, I can educate people in various ways without crying to the point where I can't speak and the message won't get out. She guided me through that experience so I didn't run from the field, and she taught me how to give data and speak in public about these issues. Even if I get a little teary-eyed now, it's not like the reaction I had that time. She's the reason I can function in this work and have conversations with people on these difficult topics.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Fairness to people is at the top for me. When you've been doing this kind of work in a non-profit organization, you can't come in with a judgmental mindset. I will always be passionate when it comes to people with disabilities, women and children, and young people who are lost or need guidance. There's no compromising that for me, there's no middle ground. I don't care what you're believing, I don't care what ethnic background you have - there is just fairness and to be kind to people and help if you can help. That is just a big deal. I want to make a difference.
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