|
Our Staff
Rodlyn H. Douglas
Director, GrenadaAssist Foundation, Inc. (GAFI)
Rodlyn
Douglas assumed office as Director of the GrenadaAssist Foundation on September 15, 2006.
Ms. Douglas earned a
stellar reputation in New York, NY and Trinidad, where she was Creative Director for Christiansen and Belgrave and Corbin
Compton Communications, two of the leading advertising and marketing firms in Trinidad. As Director of the Visual
Arts Foundation, a non-profit organization, under the umbrella of the School of Visual Arts, Rodlyn is responsible for national
and international funding outreach for the Visual Arts Foundation.
Ms. Douglas is a published author, performance
artist and oral poet. Through Poets & Writers Senior Outreach Writing Program, she conducts workshops that explores the
concept of writing your life, as a story; a once upon a time story. Taking the theatre for development approach, she
utilizes writing and performance as a tool to investigate and understand life’s social issues and to advocate a space
in the debate.
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, to a Grenadian father and Trinidadian mother, Ms. Douglas honors her
“GrenTrini” roots. Her propelling passion for her people stands behind the importance of bringing technological
advancement and outreach educational opportunities, to the Grenadian people.
Rodlyn Douglas is our Founding Director. She loves to garden and likes to revisit family and friends of GAFI in Grenada. ---------------------------------------------------------------
John M. KirkwoodCIO and Founding Director, GrenadaAssist
Foundation, Inc. (GAFI) Mr. Kirkwood assumed office as Director of the GrenadaAssist Foundation on September 15, 2006. Experience- HUMAN FACTORS LEAD ENGINEER: Managed projects in design, production & testing, since
1982
- INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: Graphic product design and MMI concept development,
Since 1970
- TEACHING: Graphics, photography, model construction, Since 1960
- CONCEPT PRESENTATION: Design concept and training presentations, Since 1982
- AUTHOR: Published engineering documents, magazine items, poetry, charts, Since 1960
- MULTI-MEDIA TECHNOLOGIST: Audio & video development, Since 1970
- PHOTOGRAPHY: Professional and industrial photography; published, awards, Since 1966
- PUBLISHING: Publishing Systems, Workflow, HTML, XML, DTD, PDF, Since 1989
Professional Certification
Issued "Certified Human Factors Professional"
(CHFP) Certificate Number 184 by the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE) 1993 Professional Memberships;
Human Factors Society member 1975 to Present Education:
Education- U of I ... Mechanical Engineering, Communications, Art ............. BFA 1972
- U
of I ... Industrial Design, Human Factors Engineering ............... MA 1976
- RCA CE ..... HP Systems Computer Course
................ Fall 1982
- U of M .... Human Factors Engineering .............. Summer 1983
 John in Grenada shortly after GAFI was chartered. Grenada was a moving experience and exciting to think of the
possibilities for GAFI. -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debbie Douglas
Proto-Director, GrenadaAssist
Foundation, Inc. (GAFI)
Debbie assumed office as Canadian Proto-Director of GAFI on March 15, 2007.
Debbie
Douglas is the Executive Director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, (OCASI). Debbie has spent the last
15 years working in the non-governmental (NGO) sector in direct service organizations as a manager/director and as a consultant.
As a consultant Debbie designed and delivered anti-oppression workshops for a wide range of community based organizations,
post-secondary institutions, hospitals, community health and legal centres, police services and Arts organizations. As well,
she worked with community based service agencies on organizational development and change including policy and procedures
development. Debbie currently co-chairs the national working group on immigration and settlement at the Canadian Council for
Refugees (CCR). -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lloyd Lancelot Taylor
Director, GrenadaAssist Foundation,
Inc. (GAFI)
Lloyd Taylor assumed office as Director of GAFI on March 15, 2007.
Born in Trinidad, West Indies,
in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. In his native country his institutional relationship is with the Trinidad and Tobago
Institute of the West Indies which publishes the Trinidad and Tobago Review. He sells himself as a management and business
consultant for small firms in New York City. Lloyd acquired an expertise in the operations and management of privately-owned,
publicly-regulated radio dispatch commuter transportation entities, and is trained in property management systems. He collaborates
with trade associations in the livery cab industry in NY City. His volunteer work is with The Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society ( NYC Chapter), Court Appointed Advocates for Children (CASA) in foster care. LLoyd is a tri-athete enthusiast.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
Our Programs
The GrenadaAssist Foundation, Inc. (GAFI) is a non-profit philanthropic organization in New York, New Jersey and Grenada.
GAFI works to enhance and improve the general community welfare of Grenadians,
disadvantaged by the long shadow of slavery
and recent weather phenomena, by providing education, basic supplies, employment opportunities, and assisting all disadvantaged
Grenadians to a higher standard of life. The Organization
GAFI, was founded in 2006 as the GrenadaAssist Foundation, Inc.. Our management team consists of the board of directors of
GrenadaAssist Foundation, Inc. working collaboratively with “Representatives” and “Agents” in Grenada.
In addition, professionals in Grenada are retained to keep us appraised of laws and legislative activities and to help us
further our outreach. Plans include adding to the GAFI staff in Grenada and the US as the mission requires.
Organizational Structure
GrenadaAssist Foundation, Inc.
works through the direct and personal attention of GAFI “Agents”. These agents are located in each village
or community and seek to interact with and know personally each recipient of our assistance. The agents are managed
by six GAFI “Representatives”, one for each parish. The representatives are in close contact with the foundation
directors at all times and attend frequent national meetings. At a regional level, the directors meet with each parish
representative and his agents in his home parish. The nature of the meeting allows each agent to present his report
on each recipient. This report contains financial data and other material to illustrate the progress of the funded project.
These reports are filled at the regional level and at GrenadaAssist Foundation, Inc. headquarters.
Services
Grenada presents an opportunity for GAFI to lift the
quality of life for a large segment of its 107,000 (July 2006 US gov. est.) citizens. GAFI provides a variety of services, including the scheduling and coordination
of a number of activities and events. We provide direct services that include hands-on instruction to students, teacher trainees
and teachers, and an extensive web site for all manner of information and instruction. Our services include working with computer
companies to equip as many primary and secondary schools as possible with up-to-date computer systems, and providing Internet
access for further education, teaching opportunities and the development of web site creation skills.
GAFI Objectives - Microloans for small and very small business,
- Training and development of micro-business skills,
- Critical materials for repairs to home and community,
- Computers, books and supplies for schools, businesses and professions,
- Medical supplies for improved adult
and child health,
- Training in infrastructure design for home, and community,
- A group buying plan for home
and business,
- A website clearinghouse with a wealth of information about culture, health and technology,
- Education
for the public, “Go to school: You can learn it! We will help.”
- Protection for the rights of the disadvantaged,
- Discovery of opportunities for small and very small business,
- Communication of these opportunities to those
who are eager and able,
- Educating, through social outreach and Theatre for Development,
- Providing critical
materials through local suppliers and/or import.
Demographic
Research
Our research shows that the underprivileged sector of the Grenada’s population has been
severely impacted by hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005). The damage to infrastructure, buildings and agricultural crops
is widespread in all of Grenada. In depressed parishes, such as St Andrew and St David an opportunity exists to move
ahead with needed repairs and up-grades If the right tools and supplies can be obtained. For the most part, our recipients
are very small businesses and individuals with extremely limited resourcesfor training in appropriate technologies, that is,
using what is at hand in Grenada. With small but critical additions of outside help, we can help them improve their
earnings and increase the value of their sweat-equity investments. GAFI will provide technology and cultural training and
well as marketing information and intercommunity co-operation to reach this goal. Who?
There are more than 20,000 capable individuals living below
the poverty level in Grenada. These represent potential skilled tradesmen within the parishes, such as farmers, shopkeepers,
carpenters, masons, and electricians, who can service and rebuild their lives. GrenadaAssist is providing the underlying skills
that smooth the way to a healthy happy quality of life and community.
Financial Outlook
Our main strategy is to provide the funds to facilitate the growth of knowledge
and the discovery of opportunity. We seek contributions from a large interested donor base to provide revenue to reach our
goal and position GAFI as a true benefactor of the disadvantaged people of Grenada. GAFI growth is financed solely through
donor cash flow. We are proceeding without loans or other indebtedness. Cash flow is expected to be mainly from grants,
and philanthropic donations. We have set a goal of a net annual donated income of $10,000,000 to support the full-time GAF
effort. In-kind and material donations will eventually make up a large percentage of the GAF donated value.
|
