Aspire Artemis

11/14/2025

✨ Throwback Thursday ✨

It’s Throwback Thursday and oh do we have a throwback teaser for you!

“I wanna be in the room where it happens…”

And on Day 3 of the Aspire Artemis Foundation’s High-Level Event, our youngest innovators were in the room — building, imagining, exploring and proving exactly why we fight to bridge the digital divide.

As world leaders return from climate meetings in Belém, we remember the why:
🌍 Who are we protecting the planet for?
🌱 Who will inherit the technologies we are shaping today?
💡 Whose imagination lights the path forward?
On Day 3 — our “Energize Day” — we witnessed the answer in real time.

🔥 The Room Where Innovation Happens

We welcomed 4th graders from the Brooklyn Charter School into a world many of them had never seen before — Manhattan tech hubs, Microsoft’s spaces, hands-on labs bursting with energy, wonder, and possibility.

These young creators turned discarded Amazon boxes into solar-powered cars, a beautiful double tribute to the Amazon rainforest as climate negotiators met in Brazil.

They didn’t just build circuits; they built confidence.

They didn’t just explore sustainability; they explored their own potential.

They stepped into a room where future leaders are shaped — and they owned it.

⚡ Day 3 Highlights: Building Strong Minds & Strong Bodies

Day 3 Facilitators:
* Hermina Johnny, Executive Director – Aspire Artemis Foundation
* Michelle Gall, Executive Director, DigitalGirl Inc. Opening & Overview
* Toni Robinson, Director of Programming – DigitalGirl Inc., Energy Foundations
* Barbara Romualdo, Program Coordinator – DigitalGir Inc. - Sustainability & the 3 R’s
* Stepan Novatorskyi, Lead Instructor – Circuits & Solar Cars
* Joanne Hunt, Principal, Brooklyn Charter School

What students explored:
🔋 What is energy?
🌞 How does the sun power our world?
🔌 How do circuits make our daily lives possible?
🌿 What does sustainability look like in action?🚗 How can a cardboard box become a solar car?

Their hands-on mission:
Build a functioning solar-powered vehicle using recycled materials.

Their takeaway challenge:
“Which type of sustainable energy would YOU choose for your home?”

🎶 “In the room where it happens…”
Day 3 embodied the heart of our 2025 theme:
Culture, Health, Trade & the Role of Artificial Intelligence — Bridging the Digital Divide through Collective Action.

These children reminded us that:
* Innovation thrives when creativity meets opportunity.
* STEAM education is the gateway to equity.
* AI, data, art, music, and wellness build stronger minds AND stronger bodies.
* The Global South must be equipped not just to use technology — but to create it.
* Local ideas can become exportable treasures, strengthening markets, resilience, and communities.

This is the future we invest in.

This is why partnerships with Governments, International Organizations, tech leaders, global NGOs, and community institutions matter.

This is how we make sure no one is left behind.

💛 A Moment They’ll Never Forget — And Neither Will We

Seeing these students step into a world of innovation — many for the first time — reminded us that the next generation is not waiting for permission.

They are ready.
They are brilliant.
They are the reason we continue this work.

To our partners, supporters, and future collaborators:

Thank you for helping us open the doors to the rooms where it happens.

Because when young people are invited in…✨ they don’t just observe the future — they build it. ✨

10/28/2025

🌺 Power Women of the Caribbean: Voices of Leadership & Resilience 🌎

We’re thrilled to share a few short snippets from our inspiring UNGA High-Level Panel: “Power Women of the Caribbean: Women in Leadership – Climate Leadership, Digital Equity & Cultural Diplomacy.”

🎥 Please note: the video quality is not what we had hoped for — our tech setup unfortunately failed to capture the afternoon session in full.

What you’ll see here is a compilation of audience-contributed videos — moments too powerful not to share.

This dynamic conversation brought together female leaders from across the Caribbean who are redefining what leadership looks like in our region — across climate action, digital transformation, education, and cultural diplomacy.

💬 Key reflections from the panel included:

✨ “Being small doesn’t mean you cannot deliver — or speak with authority.” Honourable Penelope Beckles

✨ “Being small, we punch above our weight.” Honourable Penelope Beckles

🇰🇳 Hon Dr Joyelle Clarke highlighted the transformational work being done in Saint Kitts and Nevis under her Ministry and beyond— from sustainable development and energy resilience to water and food security — underpinned by a bold vision for women and youth empowerment.

Hon. Pennelope Beckles reflected on the historic moment for Trinidad and Tobago, now led by an all-women triad — President, Prime Minister, and Opposition Leader — and asked the profound question:

“Why did it take so long to get to this stage where the focus is on women leading?”

Penny Beckles

She also reminded us how girls across the region, particularly at the University of the West Indies, are excelling in every field — proving that education remains the great equalizer.

The panel explored how Caribbean women are crafting national and regional policies that bridge climate resilience, technology, and cultural identity — while calling for more inclusive representation in global leadership, including at the United Nations, which has yet to see its first female Secretary-General.

From steel pan performances in Times Square to Caribbean scientists at NASA, our region continues to show that small nations can make a mighty global impact — truly “punching above our weight.” 🥊🌍

💡 This conversation was part of the Aspire Artemis Foundation’s UNGA High-Level Program, dedicated to advancing AI, education, health, and cultural diplomacy through inclusion and innovation.

🎧 Take a moment to listen in — and be inspired by these powerful women leading change across our islands and beyond.

10/22/2025

🌍✨ Recap: Arthur Gianelli on “Transforming Underserved Communities Through AI in Healthcare”

At our recent high-level event on Culture, Health, Trade and the Role of Artificial Intelligence, we were honored to welcome Mr. Arthur Gianelli, President and Chief Transformation Officer at One Brooklyn Health, for a powerful and thought-provoking intervention on how artificial intelligence can revolutionize healthcare—especially for underserved communities.

With over 25 years of leadership in major health systems, including the Mount Sinai Health System and now One Brooklyn Health, Mr. Gianelli has been at the forefront of hospital transformation, patient care innovation, and community-centered healthcare reform. His insights bridged technology and humanity—reminding us that AI is not just about algorithms, but about equity, empathy, and access.

“Artificial intelligence could help bridge the gap between those who don’t have access to healthcare. It can bridge divides and close gaps.” — Arthur Gianelli

From detecting cancer through AI imaging to envisioning “ambient AI” systems that support real-time patient care, Mr. Gianelli highlighted the incredible potential of technology to modernize medical systems while preserving the human touch. He spoke candidly about the ethical and social questions young people must help answer:

💭 Will AI ever gain self-awareness?

💭 Could nanotechnology soon be
integrated safely into healthcare?

His call to action was clear: We must ensure that the next wave of innovation serves everyone—especially those most often left behind.

This powerful conversation sits at the heart of the Aspire Artemis Foundation’s mission—to bridge the digital divide through training, upskilling, and collective action. By integrating STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) and focusing on wellness, culture, and innovation, we’re shaping a future where technology uplifts all communities—not just a privileged few.

🎧 Listen to Arthur Gianelli’s full talk and be inspired by his vision for transforming health systems through artificial intelligence, compassion, and collaboration.

10/20/2025

🌺 Listen In: A Powerful Message from Her Excellency, Lady Alida Francis, Governor of St. Eustatius reminding us that women have played a substantive role in guiding the history of their nations and the world 🌺

We are still feeling the resonance of a powerful moment from our high-level convening on Culture, Health, Trade, and the Role of Artificial Intelligence—a moment where history, heritage, and humanity came alive through the words of Her Excellency, Lady Alida Francis, Governor of St. Eustatius.

💬 “Caribbean women do not wait for women to lead. We lead because history demands it.”
💬 “Our history is not a footnote. Our identity is not negotiable.”
💬 “We cannot allow artificial intelligence to erode ancestral intelligence.”

From the island that once helped birth American democracy by becoming the first nation to salute the U.S. flag, Governor Francis reminded us:

🌍 Even the smallest nations can change the course of the world.
👩🏽‍💼 And women have long shaped the cultural and political resilience of their countries.

Her intervention touched deeply on the need to preserve cultural heritage in the age of AI, highlighting how initiatives like the Heritage Root Project are using virtual reality to recreate sacred spaces and protect our stories—digitally, but with deep reverence for our roots.

🎧 Join us in reliving this remarkable address—a testament to the strength of Caribbean leadership, the global role of women, and the critical importance of protecting identity, legacy, and memory in a fast-moving digital age.

👉 Listen now and be inspired to lead, preserve, and innovate.

10/14/2025

🌍✨ Day 2 of Our High-Level Event Was a Powerful Reminder: We’re Building More Than Just Technology — We’re Building Legacy. ✨🌍

We’re still buzzing from the energy of Day 2 at our groundbreaking event focused on Culture, Health, Trade, and the Role of Artificial Intelligence — and if you missed it, you’ll want to be in the room where it happens for our next event!

🔗 Watch our Monday Highlight Video featuring the powerful and uplifting voice of Prophetess Lesley Osei, who reminded us that before we build with code, we must build with conviction.

From the frontlines of real estate and clean water advocacy to mentoring 25,000+ women through her Ark of Women Leadership Academy, Lesley Osei has been raising leaders, healing communities, and advancing a Kingdom vision where technology serves humanity—not the other way around.

🎥 Watch the highlight now — and hear her call to action that moved the room:

“Build people while technology is being built.”

🧠💡 Together, we explored how STEAM education, mental wellness, culture, and AI must collide to create a future where no one is left behind — especially youth, girls, and underserved communities. As the Aspire Artemis Foundation continues to bridge the digital divide through collective action, we ask:

➡️ How can AI be used to protect cultural heritage and legacy?
➡️ How can it strengthen trade, health systems, and entrepreneurship in the Global South?
➡️ How do we prepare every young person not just to use AI—but to lead in the age of AI?

🔥 Day 2 reminded us:

✅ Strong tech starts with strong people.
✅ Culture is more than content — it’s identity.
✅ Collective action builds digital justice.

📌 Our partners from across the UN system, digital inclusion leaders, and grassroots change-makers came together to create a transformative learning space—the kind of space where healing, innovation, and equity meet.

🎶 As the song goes:
“I wanna be in the room where it happens…”

💥 If you weren’t — now’s your chance.👇👇👇
🎥 [Watch this Highlight Video featuring Lesley Osei]

10/11/2025

🎥✨ In the Room Where It Happened — and Women Led the Way. You’ll want to listen in…
Because history is happening — and women are leading the charge. 💪🏽🌍

We invite you to watch and listen to a powerful and inspiring session featuring H.E. Noemí Espinoza Madrid, the first Honduran Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States, a groundbreaking leader standing at the intersection of diplomacy, purpose and possibility.

In a time when the world is navigating technological transformation and global uncertainty, this conversation couldn’t be more timely — or more vital.

This year, as we celebrate UN@80 and explore the theme “Culture, Health, Trade & the Role of Artificial Intelligence – Bridging the Digital Divide through Collective Action,” we had the honor of witnessing Day 2 packed with extraordinary female voices from across GRULAC (Latin America and the Caribbean), where the next UN Secretary-General is likely to come from.

From the halls of diplomacy to the grassroots of innovation, the women of this region are not waiting for permission. They're building bridges, shaping futures, and lighting the way.

🔥 The day was power packed with High Level Ministerial representation from GRULAC featuring powerful interventions by:

Our Founder as moderator, 💥 Ms. Hermina Johnny, Executive Director, Aspire Artemis Foundation

👩🏽‍⚖️ Lady Alida Francis, Governor of Saint Eustatius – a leader whose quiet resolve and clear vision embody the strength of island states.

👩🏾 Hon. Penelope Beckles, the first female Leader of the Opposition in Trinidad & Tobago, a country now led entirely by women — President, Prime Minister, and Leader of the Opposition.

Let that sink in!

🇰🇳 Hon. Joyelle Clarke, from St. Kitts and Nevis — the very birthplace of Alexander Hamilton himself — proving once again that small islands could produce big leadership. Her insights on the intersection of AI, health, and culture were both brilliant and bold.

They tackled big questions head-on:

💡 How do we protect culture in the age of AI?💡 How do we ensure AI and tech strengthen—not widen—the health, trade, and education divides?
💡 How do we build digital bridges that empower young people, especially girls and marginalized communities, to become creators of technology and their future not just consumers of one created for them.

This wasn’t just another conference. It’s a power packed movement led by the Aspire Artemis Foundation, focused on advancing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math), health and wellness, and AI-powered solutions to real-world challenges — from climate change to clean water, from remote healthcare to ethical data use.

💡 The mission?

To upskill, train, and empower the next generation—especially from the Global South—to be leaders in a digital world.

🎶 With meditation, music, art and fashion integrated into the sessions, we didn’t just talk tech — we centered emotional intelligence, mental health, and cultural preservation.

We believe in a world where the global digital economy includes everyone( especially the disadvantaged)—and that women are in the room where it happens.

🚨 Don’t miss this groundbreaking session — watch now, share widely, and be part of the change.

10/07/2025

📍 Day 2 | Aspire Artemis Foundation High-Level S.T.E.A.M. Forum

📅 September 22, 2025 | Microsoft, 11 Times Square

🎭 Theme: “Culture, Health, Trade, and the Role of Artificial Intelligence”

✨ “I want to be in the room where it happens.”

On September 22nd, we didn’t just echo the famous line from Hamilton—we embodied it.
Day 2 of our High-Level S.T.E.A.M. Forum was nothing short of transformative. From soulful soundbaths and musical interludes to deep-dive conversations on AI, equity, and innovation— the room was filled with changemakers, visionaries, and pioneers shaping the digital and cultural future of our world.

We were especially honored to be in the room with all of the incredible high level speakers who graced our stage and inspired the young kids from Children’s Village, NYC public schools, and across the globe along with movers and shakers in the Culture, Health, Trade and AI sphere. From Bankers and CEOs to app creators, from Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies to nonprofits and NGOs, from Government representatives to royalty, from UN delegates and organizations to University representatives, everyone was left inspired to take action in their own communities.

Among the incredible speakers was Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder of Global Citizen, whose keynote "From Advocacy to Action: Mobilizing Youth and Data for Global Change” reminded us of the power of collective movement and storytelling.

🔥 Michael has helped mobilize over $40 billion for global development and worked alongside global icons and leaders to drive action on poverty, health, climate, and youth empowerment. His message? That young people aren’t just the future—they are the now.

He shared incredible stories of youth from across the globe who have used data, advocacy, and creativity to shift systems and demand justice in their own communities.

🎤 From high-impact campaigns like Mandela 100 to grassroots mobilizations in the Global South, Michael’s work shows us that change doesn’t happen by accident—it happens by design. And it happens when diverse voices are not only heard—but amplified, resourced, and in the room.

👥 Our panelists and speakers explored how to:
* Leverage AI for equitable health care in underserved communities
* Use data to shape resilient policies and preserve cultural legacies
* Center youth and women as architects of Africa’s digital transformation
* Strengthen regional leadership in the Caribbean for climate, diplomacy, and tech
* Build inclusive partnerships that unlock potential across the Global South

And we’re just getting started.

🎥 We’ll be sharing videos, photos, and exclusive insights from these powerful sessions in the coming days. So whether you were in the room—or wish you were—get ready to dive into the stories, sounds, and strategies that are shaping our shared future.

💡 Stay tuned, stay inspired, and stay connected.

10/03/2025

🌍✨ In the Room Where It Happened: Healing, Harmony & High-Level Impact at UNGA 80 ✨🌍

What a whirlwind of a week it was!

🚨 From East to West side Manhattan, weaving through security barricades, honking horns, back-to-back meetings, and crowds packed like sardines—UNGA High-Level Week was in full chaotic swing. And yet… amidst the frenzy, we created a sacred space of calm, purpose, and transformation.

To mark the opening of our high-level gathering commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations, we began not with speeches, but with stillness. A soul-centering Sound Bath experience—a musical meditation—set the tone for what would be a week of powerful dialogue, impactful partnerships, and collective action rooted in healing and harmony.

🌀 Healing in Harmony with the Feminine Energy

In a world constantly moving at breakneck speed—especially during UNGA—we paused. Thanks to the ethereal voices of The New Consort, Baroque-pop artist Elly Kace, and the resonant tones of crystal singing bowls, participants were transported to a space where peace met purpose. This wasn’t just music—it was medicine, grounding our minds and bodies so we could approach the world's most pressing issues with clarity and compassion.

🎶 “In the room where it happened,” something shifted.

From sound healing to solution-building, our event was a beautiful intersection of culture, health, trade, and the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI). We brought together diverse voices—from young innovators and students to development practitioners and policy shapers—to ask bold questions and propose future-facing solutions:

🔹 How can AI protect our cultural legacy in a digital age?
🔹 How can wellness practices improve mental and physical health outcomes?
🔹 How can technology bridge the digital divide and empower entrepreneurs in the Global South?
🔹 How do we build resilient systems for trade, health, and water in a climate-uncertain world?

💡 Our Answers? Collaboration, Innovation, and Inclusion.
Amidst global uncertainty, we created a space where real talk met real healing. Where students and youth heard stories from the frontlines of development—about finance gaps, lack of access, and the partnerships needed to move from talk to transformation. And most importantly, where they felt empowered to become not just users of AI and technology—but creators and stewards of it.

This high-level week wasn’t just about what happened in the boardrooms—it was about how we showed up. Strong minds. Strong bodies. Creative hearts. Unified vision. 💫

🌺 Special thanks to our performers whose art elevated the conversation:

🎤 Elly Kace – baroque pop artist whose voice became the thread weaving tech and culture

🎼 The New Consort – delivering choral soundbath healing in a truly unforgettable performance

Together, we reminded the room—and the world—that sound, story, and soul are integral to systemic change.

As Hamilton once wrote the blueprint that saved a nation from economic collapse, we too gathered to craft the roadmap that will help bridge the digital divide and move from data to dignity—for all.

📸 Couldn’t be in the room? Don’t worry—we’ve got you. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing highlights and inspiring moments from this year’s transformative celebration.

But for now… breathe. Reflect. And indulge in some well-deserved self-care this weekend—maybe even from one of the gorgeous Caribbean islands featured in our event, a short 4 hour flight away, or maybe even Sierra Leone which we heard is only a 10 hour flight from Miami! 🌴😉

🎧 Stay tuned for a clip from our sound healing session to carry you into the weekend with peace.

🕊️ Because even in the chaos, we choose calm. We choose music. We choose the future.

10/03/2025

Day 1 SPEAKERS Photo Drop!

Day 1 Recap – Conversations in S.T.E.A.M

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today."

On Day 1 of our transformative High-Level Week, we launched into a powerful series of “Conversations in S.T.E.A.M.” — uniting innovators, visionaries, and changemakers from around the world to explore how Culture, Health, Trade, and Artificial Intelligence intersect to shape our collective future.

Hosted at Microsoft 11 Times Square, this session was all about forward-thinking dialogue — bridging the digital divide, building sustainable trade partnerships, and exploring how artificial intelligence can support health systems, financial inclusion, and cultural preservation across the Global South.

💡 Key Themes Explored:

* Fintech & digital inclusion for underserved markets

* Women-led innovation in tech and entrepreneurship

* The role of AI in shaping equitable health care access

* Building strong trade ecosystems through tech partnerships

* The importance of culture in future-forward development

🌍 Featured Speakers:

👩🏽‍💼 Ms. Hermina Johnny, Founder & Executive Director, Aspire Artemis Foundation

🤝 Ms. Busie Matsiko Andan, President, NY Africa Chamber of Commerce

🏦 Mr. Habib Hann, CEO, Shelter Afrique Development Bank

💼 Ms. Dhwani Srivastava & Mr. Govin Srivastava, International Merchant Bank, Saint Kitts & Nevis

💳 Ms. Sepo L. Haihambo, , Former Banking Chief Executive and Investment Strategist

🏗️ Dr. Raphael Eluemuno Ajalie, Chairman, Reocomm Group of Companies

🌱 Mr. Dave Sahadath, Executive Chairman, Global Integrated Fintech Solutions

🚀 Ms. Annalisa Nsoroma Mensah, Founder, Suite Expansion

🌐 Ms. Annika Ojala, Global Tech & Equality Speaker

👩🏿‍💻 Ms. Anie Apke, Founder, African Women in Technology & Luma Hub

🔧 Ms. Chilli Chilwan, Strategic Product Lead, Invela Network

This day reminded us: We don’t wait for the future to include us — we co-create it. 💫

From Africa to the Caribbean, from fintech to AI ethics, our speakers tackled the toughest questions:

✔️ How can we bridge the digital divide without leaving communities behind?
✔️ How do we elevate girls and young women into tech leadership roles?
✔️ How can AI serve cultural preservation, health care, and equitable trade?

We witnessed dynamic partnerships forming, million-dollar deals inked, companies expanding into new markets and territories, ideas being exchanged, and most importantly — youth and women seeing themselves reflected in the conversations that matter.

✨ This was just Day 1. The momentum only grew from here.

📸 Stay tuned as we release highlights, video content, and take you inside “the room where it happened.”

📸: Ralph Charles Photographer @ MuzikiMatters

09/30/2025

09/30/2025

09/28/2025