Future Makers: A Guide to 30 Creative Careers, authored by Social Impact Creator Joel Nomdarkham, is set to empower the next generation with insights into diverse and viable careers in the creative and cultural industries. The highly anticipated book will be launched on Monday, January 13, 2025, at the Kingston & St. Andrew Parish Library.

Future Makers builds on Nomdarkham’s reading promotion projects including the highly successful Reading N’ Reasoning initiative, which directly impacted over 1,000 boys across three Caribbean islands. Reflecting on his journey, Nomdarkham shared, “Growing up, I always knew I wanted to do something creative but never saw representations of careers outside of the traditional options; there were no marketers. I discovered marketing in my final year of high school, and that changed everything. I want to make a difference by presenting these opportunities to youth, so they can look beyond traditional career paths and dream bigger.”

The book is published by iMagiNation Books, an imprint headed by Latoya West-Blackwood, and showcases creative professionals from eight Caribbean territories including Jamaica, Barbados, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Grenada, Dominica, and St Kitts and Nevis. The project is also a pioneering step in accessible publishing, incorporating embedded multimedia content featuring sign language interpretation.

West-Blackwood shared, “This is one of the most exciting books I’ve worked on! The final product is designed to inspire children and young people to dream more, think bigger, and prepare to unlock their purpose. I am proud that we’ve made this project accessible to children living with disabilities who are often forgotten in providing access to books.”

Future Makers was endorsed by former Minister of Education and Jamaica’s first female Minister of Finance, Hon. Fayval Williams as she believes it “aligns with the focus on developing students’ readiness for creative careers.” Additionally, the initiative has welcomed its first corporate partner, the Sandals Foundation, whose support amplifies its reach. Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, expressed their commitment:

“The Sandals Foundation is excited to support this initiative by gifting copies to school libraries and getting books into the hands of students in schools across the Caribbean. We believe deeply in the power of education to transform lives and create opportunities, and this book is a wonderful way to inspire young minds to embrace and pursue their creative passions for work.”

The book launch’s Guest of Honour, Yvette Noel-Schure, widely respected for her work with global superstars, including American singer, songwriter, and businesswoman, Beyoncé. She’s an advocate for creative expression and will join the launch event to deliver an inspiring keynote. Her visit to Jamaica will also include experiencing the island’s rich culture and promoting the project through media engagements.

With 30 dynamic career profiles, Future Makers offers an inspiring roadmap for young people to explore creative career paths and discover opportunities that go beyond traditional professions. The book is a celebration of possibility, creativity, and inclusion, providing a critical resource for youth across the region.

About The Book

This book is the first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean. It introduces young readers to diverse creative careers—from filmmaking to fashion—while providing authentic insights from real Caribbean creative professionals spread across eight Caribbean islands. As a pioneering, born- accessible project—the book features embedded videos with sign language interpretation—the book is also designed for the inclusion of children living with disabilities.