In August 2020, the Hunter Brooks Watson Memorial Fund awarded six grants to promising young people with inspired ideas of how to change the world. From creating a line of sustainable fashion to making the music industry more inclusive, each grant winner will use their funds to pursue creative projects and businesses that make their communities a better place and carry on the spirit of Hunter Watson.

Jademan Baker

Jademan Baker is a Brooklyn-based fashion designer,  SCAD graduate, and founder of the sustainable fashion brand LOM + MOY (Less Of Me and More Of You.) Her work centers around sustainable, eco-conscious fashion and creating fresh dialogues around the Bible. 

“Being black. Being a woman. Being a follower of Jesus and being a friend, I have always been in search of my voice. A voice that is honest, empathetic, and loving… one that is clear, that unites, and that inspires change,” Baker said. 

The brand will operate through a rental business model, allowing customers to lease elevated special-occasion pieces made with recycled materials and eco-friendly fabric. Baker hopes that the rental structure will serve as a model for conscious, sustainable clothing lines. 

Hunter’s Fund will help Jade fund a website and photoshoot for her brand’s first collection. “My goal is to merge faith and fashion by designing for the modern-day Eve and hopefully expanding the brand to one day, design for the modern-day Adam as well.”

Nicholas Barba

Nicholas Barba is an entrepreneur, Eagle Scout, and founder of Smarta, a cutting-edge “smart home” app that streamlines and protects communications between landlords and tenants. The idea was dreamed up while Barba was a student at Syracuse and uses blockchain technology to provide an uber-secure app that connects tenants to their landlords.

“We are combating the standard that enjoying a connected and smart home requires the sacrifice of your personal privacy,” Barba said. 

After pitching Smarta in Syracuse’s Orange Tank competition and winning a cash student prize, Barba and his team were able to register the company as a C-Corporation and begin researching development. Hunter’s Fund will enable the company to continue developing its blockchain technology, create and pay a technical team to finish app development, and launch a market-ready product by 2021.

“With Smarta, we have the potential to help millions of people protect their personal data from hackers and advertisers, all the while enjoying the benefits of modern smart technology.”

Kenichia Charles

Kenichia Charles is a biomedical technician, teacher, and entrepreneur dedicated to improving the safety and efficiency of medical equipment in the Caribbean islands. 

While working in the medical field in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Charles noticed a severe lack of resources and attention to the upkeep and maintenance of medical equipment. 

“Preventative maintenance and performance inspection of medical equipment contribute to prolonged equipment lifespan as well as to reduction in the failure rate of the equipment.”

Her grant from Hunter’s Fund will provide the means to invest in biomedical repair tools and test equipment to establish the first medical equipment maintenance and repair company in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“What I have recognized over the years is that many health professionals and administrators have failed to place much-needed emphasis on the importance of the maintenance of medical machinery, particularly in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Charles said.

Willow Collins

Grant winner Willow Collins and partner Laura Beard are working to revolutionize the music production and recording experience for young women and non-binary musicians in the UK through opening a recording studio dedicated to community service and music education. 

“We want to create an environment that encourages young people to engage with music and technology and learn transferable skills that will stay with them for the rest of their lives… Everybody should have access to a recording space that allows their art to express itself,” Collins said. 

The concept was born out of a desire to interrupt the male-dominated music industry, and Collins’ commitment to creating a diverse space for young musicians is what sets their studio apart from others in the industry. 

“We want to send the elevator back down, and construct a space less intimidating and abrasive for the future women and non-binary artists of the music industry.”

The money from Hunter’s Fund will enable Collins and Beard to purchase equipment for their recording studio, provide workshops and skills classes, and hire teachers.

Semesha Corea

Semesha Corea is a media entrepreneur and the founder of EDGE Media Centre, a boutique digital marketing firm specializing in creating videography, photography, and graphic design content for small businesses and nonprofits in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The company’s mission is to connect young audiences to the history and culture of the islands by creating educational videos and digital content that highlight important voices, causes, and traditions in Caribbean culture. 

“We want to help our Vincentian children connected to their roots and connect to their culture using the platform of video… to act as the bridge and reawaken the passing down of traditions and culture and create an appreciation for the current times,” Corea said. 

Hunter’s Fund will enable Corea to create the pilot season of a show that will dive deep into the history of the islands and its people. “We will be creating the experience of sitting on the porch, listening to your grandmother telling tales of when she was younger, the fairy tales of old and mysterious creatures that used to hang around, the beginning of a tradition. Let’s make history entertaining and start family conversations about heritage again”.

Census Hinds

Census Hinds is the founder of Cariway, a tourism company in St. Vincent and the Grenadines offering kayaking and diving tours to locals and tourists alike. The company was inspired by the idea of enabling locals to have unique experiences within their own country and showing island inhabitants hidden gems of their homeland. 

Hinds founded Cariway after college with his own savings but has dreamed of expanding its offerings to island-hopping tours, recreational fishing and small boat tours. 

 “I did all tours myself for a full year, learning what my customers actually like and want, grew the kayak fleet, and then hired an employee,” Hinds said. 

The money from Hunter’s Fund will help Hinds buy a larger boat, fishing gear, snorkeling equipment, and hire additional employees to expand Cariway’s scope in the Caribbean tourism industry. 

“If I am able to complete this current project with Cariway, my community would benefit directly with a job opportunity for youths who may be interested in tourism and entrepreneurship on the whole.”

Apply for a grant

• Anyone between the ages of 16 and 26 can apply for a grant 

• All awards range from $500 to $5,000 based on submitted budgets. All grantees are partnered with an appropriate mentor to encourage their progress and growth as they move towards their goals. 

• Applications are reviewed and accepted twice a year.

• Deadlines are June 15 and November 15. 

• Selected grantees are announced in August and January.

• Click here to start an application

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Click here to donate to Hunter’s Fund and help young people pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

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