BOARD MEMBERS
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Michele Rollins
Chair
Michele Rollins is a distinguished business leader, philanthropist, and advocate for education and community development whose career spans more than five decades. She holds master's degrees in International Affairs, Law, and Tax from Georgetown University. -
Patricia Francis
Vice Chair
Patricia R. Francis is a global leader in trade, investment, and international development, with leadership experience spanning the private sector, government, and international organizations. She served as Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (2006–2013), -
Carol Narcisse
Director & Secretary
Carol has had an extensive and successful career in fields related to human, social, and organisational development. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Education from Columbia University, New York and has served in leadership and consulting roles. -
Anthony Stewart
Director & Compliance Officer
Anthony Stewart is Operations Manager and Head Chef at Copperwood Estate, Rose Hall, where he oversees daily operations and leads the culinary department. He ensures efficient operations management, exceptional service standards, staff coordination, and skilled execution of culinary services. -
Bernadette Buccini
Director
Mrs. Buccini began her career at Edward J. DeSeta Company, Inc. in 1967 shortly after the death of her father, who was the founder and president of the company. Mrs. Buccini stepped in to oversee the operations of the company, until purchasing the company from the family stockholders in 1994. -
Brenda Johnson
Director
Brenda LaGrange Johnson served as U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica (2005–2009) under President George W. Bush, following a career as partner at BrenMer Industries and an early stint teaching in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Her extensive board service includes the Kennedy Center -
Mark Newman
Director
Mark brings over 30 years of Fortune 500 executive leadership to the Rose Town Foundation, including a wealth of experience in organizational transformations. He holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey Business School.
ADVISORS
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David Clarke
Prince of Wales Heritage Crafts
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Jeremy Cross
King’s Foundation
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Paulton Gordon
Sports & Youth Mentorship
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Inés Pacheco
Digital & Communications
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Kate Searby
Donor Development
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Dwayne Vernon
Community Development
TEAM MEMBERS
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Grace Kelly
Director of Programmes
Grace Kelly is a Project Director with over 35 years’ experience within the creative industries of hair, beauty and fashion. Her expertise lies in Public Relations, Marketing, Event Management and Publishing. Her career has been based in London and but her work has taken her to Europe, Jamaica, Africa and US.
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Fosuwa Andoh
Director of Traditional Arts
Fosuwa Andoh is Rose Town Foundation’s Artist in Residence and Farm Manager. She is a visual griot and educator who works in glass, ceramics, and other multimedia. She first became involved with Rose Town in 2013 as part of the Prince’s School of Traditional Art Outreach Programme.
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Fabian Davis
Director of Sports
Fabian Davis is Rose Town Foundation's Director of Sports. A former Reggae Boy, he earned over 72 caps for Jamaica's National Senior Team between 1995 and 2007, captained the U-20 and U-23 sides, and played professionally for Tivoli Gardens, Portmore United, and Arnett Gardens in Jamaica, as well as Seattle Sounders and Atlanta Ruckus in the United States.
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Kimberly Black
Community Liaison
Kimberly Black is a dedicated Community Development Practitioner and Advocate with the Rose Town Foundation since 2016. She is passionate about youth empowerment, community development, and social transformation.
PARTNERS & FUNDERS
OUR MISSION
To transform Rose Town into a model of resilience, opportunity, and inclusive growth.
OUR VISION
For Rose Town to be a thriving model inner-city community with a strong culture and positive education, employment, and health outcomes.
Rose Town Foundation is a trusted community partner that raises funds, conducts programs, and builds connections.
We direct dollars to impact in Educational Excellence, Sports and Athletics, and Economic Resilience in Rose Town.
Rose Town Foundation seeds change. In the heart of West Kingston, Rose Town was almost entirely torn apart by political unrest and violence. What was once a thriving neighborhood became two areas at odds with each other. But quietly, a strong community with visions of transformation and peace kept its roots firmly in Rose Town.
This spirit of change and belonging is what drives Rose Town Foundation to support every single member of the community. We see the best in Rose Town residents: in the child who stays in school, in the entrepreneur who opens her first door, in the young leader who finally sees who they can become. The rose in our name is not decoration. It's a declaration. Every seed planted in Rose Town, when tended, becomes the proof.
Rooted and Rising, Together.
FROM RENEWAL TO TRANSFORMATION
In tIn the early 2000s, a historic visit by then-Prince Charles to Rose Town sparked a commitment to help the community reclaim its potential. Early support from The Prince’s Trust focused on essential infrastructure—roads, water and electricity—laying the foundation for a new chapter.
Today, the Rose Town Foundation is focused on something even more powerful: people.
Our mission is to create pathways to skills, employment, entrepreneurship, education and personal development, while preserving and building upon Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage.
Through a partnership with the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London, the Tourism Enhancement Fund, and private donors, Rose Town residents developed expertise in traditional pottery and carving. Today, the Rose Town Potters and Traditional Arts Program are building skills that connect heritage with economic opportunity. In collaboration with the King’s Foundation, Rose Town residents have gone on to participate in specialized programs at Dumfries House in Scotland, including furniture restoration and hospitality.
Our vocational programs are opening doors to careers. Participants in construction and woodworking programs have moved into employment with the Jamaica Constabulary Force, local construction companies and university programs. Young craftsmen have also contributed directly to Rose Town’s renewal, including creating doors for the Moore Street Office.
Education and youth development are equally central to our work. Rose Town students have participated in summer learning, STEM programs at the University of Technology, painting programs with Edna Manley College teachers, and partnerships with Union Gardens Primary. Our farm supplies fresh produce for community children’s programs, connecting agriculture, nutrition and education.
Sport has become another powerful vehicle for mentoring and life skills. Under the leadership of former Reggae Boy Fabian Davis, our football program is helping young people develop discipline, confidence, teamwork and ambition alongside athletic ability.
For women in the community, our Women’s Empowerment Group has grown from embroidery into a robust sewing and quilting program—creating both skills and opportunities for economic independence.
And perhaps nowhere is Rose Town’s transformation more visible than in the Rollins Enterprise Center, built on the site of a former morgue from the community’s most troubled years. Its presence is a powerful statement: Rose Town is not defined by its past. Its people are building its future.
As we complete our new Six-a-Side football field, imagine the journey—from children playing barefoot on concrete to a Rose Town team competing on an all-weather field built for the future.
Rose Town is becoming a model for what is possible when an underserved inner-city community is given the resources, partnerships and opportunities to determine its own future.
This is not a story of what we have done for Rose Town. It is a story of what the people of Rose Town are doing for themselves—with the right partners beside them.
We invite donors, foundations, corporations and partners to join us in this ambitious and historic endeavor.
Rose Town is transforming. And this is only the beginning.