April Glasgow, Poet

April Tia Glasgow is a writer, a mother and a proud Virgin Islander.

She is the founder and member of the Callaloo Poets and Artists Collective and has represented the Virgin Islands at CARIFESTA X (2008) in Guyana, and was a participant for the premiere Moko Writers Workshop in 2018. Her poems have been published in three anthologies: “VI Callaloo: Poems from the Caribbean (2007)”, “The Caribbean Writer: Volume 23 (2009)” and “Where I See the Sun: Contemporary Poetry from the Virgin Islands (2016)”. April is the winner of the UNESCO 2022 World Poetry Day Competition. She also curates poetry events, including ‘Microphone Messenjahs’, the BVI’s first big stage poetry event, Open Mics at Mellow Moods Café, and Rose Duck N’ Dive.

She has worked as a vocalist with Shine-I, King Menalek, Awesome Band, Third Dimension Band, Oren Hodge and De Apostle; teaming up with each to record original music. In 2018, April released her single: ‘Beautiful’.

April has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of the Virgin Islands and currently serves the Virgin Islands as a Community Liaison Officer, where she engages stakeholders and connects the community to programmes, to foster a culture of ownership and inclusion.

April Tia Glasgow is the Bookings Manager for The Virgin Islands Icon Awards.

Kyra James, Founder of Kickin It.

Born and raised on the island of Tortola, Kyra has always been captivated by the power of storytelling. Her early love for creative expression started with a fascination for drawing and creating slideshows. These childhood interests have evolved into the content design and video production skills she uses professionally today. 

Her time at the University of the Virgin Islands provided the perfect playground for Kyra to explore her purpose. There, she delved into the world of Communications, becoming fascinated by both the theory and practical application of the field. However, the defining aspect of this period was the creation of “Kickin It w/ Kyra.” 

What began as a 30-day video series has blossomed into a thriving non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Virgin Islands culture in innovative and sustainable ways. For almost 10 years, “Kickin It w/ Kyra” (now simply “Kickin It”) has served as a source of Virgin Islands cultural representation online. Her commitment to its success fueled years of self-teaching, shaping her into the creative force she is today. 

Now residing in the US, Kyra works in the entertainment industry as a content producer full-time. This path allows her to leverage her entire creative toolkit. She has already made significant strides by developing engaging content for prominent brands like xoNecole, ESSENCE, Refinery29, and The Recording Academy, just to name a few. 

Culture remains a cornerstone of Kyra’s identity, both professionally and personally. In her career, she champions multicultural marketing and at the helm of Kickin It, she is paving the way for other Virgin Islands creatives to be recognized and gain access to the cultural and developmental resources needed to thrive. Her drive, talent, and unwavering commitment to being the change she wants to see in her community position her for a remarkable future. 

With a strong foundation in multicultural marketing, Kyra is committed to championing inclusion and fostering community in her work. Her ability to ideate innovative concepts combined with her deep understanding of digital platforms positions her as a valuable asset to any team or company seeking to make a positive impact. 

 

Alton Bertie, Creative

Alton Bertie is described as a “renaissance man” from the British Virgin Islands whose work intersects music, technology, and the natural world.  

A passionate musician and producer, Alton is known for blending Caribbean roots with modern sound design and cinematic production. He has worked with some of the greats within the region, including Destra, Bunji Garlin, Farmer Nappy, RDX, Edwin Yearwood, Maxi Priest, Konshens and Kymani Marley to name a few. 

 Beyond the studio, he’s a black belt martial artist, marine researcher, and conservationist with Beyond the Reef and ARK (Association of Reef Keepers), and a tech leader exploring technology in its widest sense. He also works in photography and cinematic videography, capturing both people and the planet with an outstanding eye.