Alisha Thorpe’s J-CAF Partners With UTech to Empower Jamaica’s Emerging Creatives

Partnered with UTech’s Fashion Department, the August 16–22 programme will equip 10 emerging creatives with business, digital and career-building skills

Alisha Thorpe, CEO of My Model University

The Jamaica Creative Access Fund (J-CAF) is set to take place from August 16–22 at UTech, Jamaica, providing greater structure and opportunity for the country’s emerging creative talent through an intensive creative entrepreneurship camp and digital skills accelerator.

Founded by Alisha Thorpe, CEO of My Model University (MU), J-CAF is designed to identify, train and showcase emerging Jamaican creatives while equipping them with the business and digital skills needed to build sustainable careers. The programme is powered by the Universal Service Fund (USF), with UTech’s Fashion Department serving as an official partner, and will offer J$300,000 in total cash awards.

“Our goal with J-CAF is to give Jamaican creatives more than visibility. We want to give them the structure, education, mentorship and access they need to turn their creativity into sustainable careers and businesses,” Thorpe said.

Throughout the programme, participants will receive training in business planning, personal branding, digital literacy and pitch preparation, culminating in a live Final Pitch Competition.

Hosted by Ashlie Barrett, Head Coach at My Model University, and co-hosted by Thorpe, the programme brings together professionals from Jamaica’s creative, technology, media and entrepreneurial sectors.

The Top 10 creatives selected represent a diverse range of disciplines: visual artist Justine Brown of Saturned; animator Malik Mitchell; comics animator Stephen Oti; Nzinga Myton of Bussu Foods; Omario Wright of Jay Foods Labs; marketing entrepreneur Lauren Less; fashion designer and stylist Sausaha; creative web developer Caria Oldham; fashion designer Naomi Frazer; and creative writer and screen playwright Diana M. Williams.

J-CAF's facilitators and partners include representatives from UTech’s Fashion Department and USF, alongside Kavouhn Lewars-Smith, CEO of Kinematics; Leroy Smith, CEO of LiveFeed.JM; project manager Ashley Jones; celebrity stylist Neko Kelly, known as Bootleg Rocstar; SunCity radio producer Jody-Ann Beckford; StarApple.AI founder Adrian Dunkley; Emudio Records CEO Emmanuel Schrimer; Women’s Marketing Code founder Telika McDonald; and Joshua Solas, founder of Bad Art Gallery and SOLASINK.

“Our goal with J-CAF is to give Jamaican creatives more than visibility. We want to give them the structure, education, mentorship and access they need to turn their creativity into sustainable careers and businesses.”

Thorpe's vision for J-CAF grew from her experiences in Jamaica’s creative industries, where she recognised an abundance of talent but limited structured access to mentorship, education, resources and funding.

“There is so much raw talent in Jamaica’s creative and fashion industries, but talent needs access and opportunity to grow,” Thorpe added. “We want to help create that bridge while building stronger opportunities for the next generation of Jamaican creative entrepreneurs.”

J-CAF connects emerging creatives with mentorship, education, career opportunities and investment, while its partnership with UTech’s Fashion Department supports aspiring designers through formal training and professional development.