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AMPLIFY CONNECT: Creative Social Enterprise Fellows - 2026​​​​
Asher Bain – Crochet Artist
At 24, Asher is the founder of LA Designs, a crochet clothing brand merging tradition and trend. Inspired by her grandmother and mother, she’s preparing to launch her first storefront and a new denim-crochet line in 2025.
Denée Thomas – Visual Artist
Denée is a Trinidadian visual artist whose vibrant works explore Caribbean identity, tradition, and social change. With a background in management and digital marketing, she blends creativity and business to elevate regional narratives and inspire transformation.
Deneka Thomas – Poet, Entrepreneur and Comms Professional
Deneka is a spoken word poet and aspiring author with an urgent voice that rises against gender inequality, advances advocacy for women, encourages self and body image appreciation and exhorts environmental awareness. An award-winning Spoken Word Poet, writer, arts educator and activist, Deneka is the force behind popular spoken word and slam event, Bacano Leaf. Deneka was the 2018 First Citizens National Poetry Slam Champion and 2nd runner up of the competition in 2019.
Jonathan Villaroel – Visual Artist & Entrepreneur
At 22, Jonathan explores identity and culture through drawing, sculpture, and painting. His work reflects the complexity of life and humanity’s attempts to understand it, aiming to inspire introspection and connection.
​Jordan Smith – Game Developer
Founder of Accent Games, Jordan is a Trinidadian developer creating culturally inspired, innovative games. With over a decade in game design, he champions Caribbean representation in the global gaming space.
​Keeron Isaac – Poet, Author and Entrepreneur
Keeron Isaac is a 28 year old medical student turned poet and author. After being faced with death of relatives, redirected career plans, and salient advice from his mother Keeron Isaac has found himself on a new journey which explores, upholds and preserves culture through writing . With two poetry collections out and more on the way, Keeron is enjoying diving wholly into this life of writing , performing and connecting to people through poetry and art. He always thought that his empathy would be perfect in shaping him into a doctor but it has now coalesced into a space that allows him to connect to others through writing and vulnerability which he thoroughly enjoys .