If recent times have proven anything, it’s that when times are tough and global headlines are heavy, women, more often than not, will be at the heart of recentring.

“Where the women go, the culture goes,” said acclaimed actress, director, and cultural leader Phylicia Rashad to the 100-plus individuals in attendance at the Jamaica Pegasus’s Talk of the Town in support of her and a group of Jamaican women being honoured. “When women gather like this, there is magic that happens. It’s wonderful to meet you, to know you, to know about you, and to celebrate each other.”

Hosted at the Jamaica Pegasus, on Friday, February 27, as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations,
the Plié for the Arts presented Women of Vision event unfolded in two parts: an intimate yet powerful forum designed for connection and cultural leadership, bookended by an award ceremony and reception to honour Rashad, and 12 women whose professional achievements have made a lasting impact across their respective fields: Appleton Estate Master Blender Joy Spence; Supreme Ventures Group Chief Marketing Officer Heather Goldson; Design HQ principal architect and founder Isiaa Madden; Scotia Group Jamaica President and CEO Audrey Tugwell Henry; From Thought to Finish CEO Jacqui Tyson; Justice Simone Wolfe-Reece, Supreme Court of Judicature of Jamaica; public defender Carolyn Reid Cameron, KC; decorated Olympian Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; vascular surgeon Dr Hilary Brown; Seaboard Freight & Shipping CEO Corah Ann Robertson-Sylvester; ARC Manufacturing Deputy Chair Charlotte Horne-Hayles; and Lake Group CEO Lisa Lake Epstein.

When we give, we gain…

Host Adrian Atkinson opened the awards ceremony with just enough humour to warm up the room, before inviting Plié for the Arts founder and Artistic Director Marisa Benain onstage.

“I call myself a dreamchaser, and I mean it with every fibre of my being. I eat, sleep, breathe creating,” she shared. “I was telling Phylicia yesterday, when I picked her up at the airport, that I’ve never left the dance… The dance has always been with me. The first time I travelled was because of dance… I hold five degrees, and I have never attended school full-time without working. I’ve always worked since I was 16 years old. And, this is why I put so much effort into giving back — we’ve given about 25 scholarships to Complexions Contemporary Ballet, the Alvin Ailey School, Broadway Dance Centre, and of course, you know Miss Debbie Allen took three of my men to dance in the Hot Chocolate Nutcracker in LA, for three whole weeks,” said Benain.

(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Plié for the Arts founder and Artistic Director Marisa Benain (fifth left) joined honorees (from left) Joy Spence, Charlotte Horne-Hayles, Lisa Lake Epstein, Dr Hilary Brown, public defender Carolyn Reid Cameron, Phylicia Rashad, Audrey Tugwell Henry, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Isiaa Madden, Corah Ann Robertson-Sylvester, Chef Jacqui Tyson, Heather Goldson, and Justice Simone Wolfe-Reece for a photo-op. (Photo: Kareem Carr/LH Multimedia)

Tony Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad (left) was escorted in by fellow Women of Vision honoree Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Plié for the Arts founder and Artistic Director Marisa Benain.  (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Honoree Phylicia Rashad engaged Plié Women of Vision conceptualiser Marisa Benain in conversation.(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Plié for the Arts founder and Artistic Director Marisa Benain opened the formalities with words that were equal part informative and inspiring (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

From left: Creative producer Conroy Wilson and Women of Vision honorees Phylicia Rashad and Joy Spence.(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Honoree Phylicia Rashad and Plié International Women of Vision conceptualiser Marisa Benain (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Plié Women of Vision honorees (from left) Audrey Tugwell-Henry, Lisa Lake Epstein, Corah Ann Robertson-Sylvester, Joy Spence, Isiaa Madden, and Charlotte Horne-Hayles.(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Host Adrian Atkinson (Photo: Naphtali Junior)