Virgin Islands Youth Advocacy Coalition (VIYAC)

06/08/2026

🎉💰 Huge congratulations to the graduates of VIYAC’s Smart Money for Strong Futures program! 🎓👏
Over 7 weeks, these impressive young leaders mastered budgeting, saving, investing, and entrepreneurship to build a foundation for long-term success. 🌟
💼 Business Pitch Winners:
🥇 1st Place: Amayah Etienne
🥈 2nd Place: Zyan James
🥉 3rd Place: Antoniqua Williams
“Dedicating your Saturdays to this hard work shows real commitment—you chose to invest in yourselves and learn skills that will last a lifetime.”
— Genevieve Whitaker, VIYAC President
Huge thanks to our interactive tools—Value Your Future 1 by Leon Perkins and the MoneyMovez game—for making financial literacy engaging and fun! 🎮📚
🤝 Thank You to Our Sponsors: FirstBank | Masters Concrete | MoneyMovez
🌟 Shoutout to Our Facilitators: Genevieve Whitaker, Hope Samuel, Kimie Tonge, Leon Perkins, Ray Parris, & Alejandra Borge, CFP®.
We are so proud of every participant. Your future is bright! ✨
Entrepreneurship VirginIslands InvestInYourFuture

30/07/2026

🎉💰 Congratulations to the Participants of VIYAC's Smart Money for Strong Futures Program! 💰🎉

The Virgin Islands Youth Advocacy Coalition (VIYAC) is proud to celebrate the outstanding participants who successfully completed our 7-week Smart Money for Strong Futures Program! 👏🎓

Throughout the program, participants strengthened their financial literacy, explored entrepreneurship, and gained practical skills in budgeting, saving, investing, and business planning to help build brighter futures. 🌟

💼 Business Pitch Competition Winners
🥇 1st Place: Amayah Etienne
🥈 2nd Place: Zyan James
🥉 3rd Place: Antoniqua Williams

Congratulations to all of our participants! Your dedication, perseverance, and commitment to investing in your future have made the VIYAC Board of Directors incredibly proud. ❤️

As President Genevieve Whitaker shared:
"Congratulations to all of our participants! Dedicating your Saturdays to put in this hard work shows real commitment; you chose to invest in yourselves and learn skills that will last a lifetime. Of course, this wouldn't be possible without our amazing facilitators and partners who showed up for our young leaders every step of the way. Thank you for making this vision a reality!"

💬 Participants shared that they learned valuable financial skills, praised Value Your Future 1: A Young Investor's Love Story for making financial concepts easy to understand, and said the MoneyMovez game made learning engaging, interactive, and fun.

🤝 Thank You to Our Sponsors
🏦 FirstBank
🏗️ Masters Concrete
🎮 MoneyMovez

📚 Program Facilitators
🌟 Genevieve Whitaker – VIYAC President
🌟 Hope Samuel – VIYAC Secretary
🌟 Kimie Tonge – VIYAC CURES Committee Co-Chair
📖 Leon Perkins – Author, Value Your Future 1: A Young Investor's Love Story
🎮 Ray Parris – Founder & CEO, MoneyMovez
💼 Alejandra Borge, CFP® – MoneyMovez

Together, we're empowering the next generation with the knowledge and confidence to make smart financial decisions and become tomorrow's leaders.

🎉 Congratulations once again to the Smart Money for Strong Futures Participants! Your future is bright, and we're honored to be part of your journey.

06/07/2026

🎓✨ Congratulations to the Classes of 2026 across the Virgin Islands (U.S.) and our trainees Uniqua and Darion! ✨

VIYAC proudly celebrates all graduates across St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John on this incredible milestone. Your hard work, resilience, and determination have brought you to this moment, and we can't wait to see all you accomplish in the years ahead.

We are especially proud to recognize high school graduates Uniqua Williams, a graduate of the St. Croix Central High School and a NAF Academy of Business Certification recipient, and Darion Stanislaus, a graduate of Antilles School and the Raphael O. Wheatley Skills Center, HVAC Certification recipient, who are participants in our Smart Money for Strong Futures Program. As they begin their next chapter, Uniqua plans to pursue a career in nursing, while Darion plans to study electrical engineering. We know their dedication and perseverance will lead to bright futures and meaningful contributions to our community.

To every graduate: continue to dream big, make wise decisions, and believe in your potential. Congratulations, Class of 2026, we are cheering you on every step of the way! 🎉💙

04/07/2026

Today, we commemorate the 178th Anniversary of Emancipation Day, honoring the courageous men and women whose fight for freedom in 1848 forever changed the course of our history. Their resilience, determination, and sacrifice established the foundation of the strength and unity we continue to build upon today.

The Virgin Islands Department of Education encourages our community—especially our youth—to remember the past, reflect on its significance, and continue advancing the enduring ideals of freedom, justice, equality, and opportunity for all.

03/07/2026

✊🏽 THE TORCH HAS BEEN PASSED! Happy Emancipation Day from the Virgin Islands Youth Advocacy Coalition (VIYAC)! 🇻🇮✨

Today, July 3rd, marks 178 years since our ancestors stood shoulder-to-shoulder at Fort Frederik, St. Croix, and demanded their absolute freedom. Today also marks the powerful conclusion of VI Freedom Week—a time to honor the heavy price paid for the liberties we enjoy today.

At VIYAC, we draw immense inspiration from our history because the historic revolution of 1848 was fueled by the fierce energy and vision of young people.
💥 Did you know? The brilliant coordinator and leader of the rebellion—John Gottliff (also known as Moses Gottlieb, or General Buddhoe)—was only 28 years old when he stood on his white horse and changed the course of Virgin Islands history forever.

Our ancestors broke the physical chains, but the journey of true emancipation is continuous. Today, advocacy is our tool. We honor their sacrifice by fighting for equitable education, mental health resources, and vital youth representation across St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Water Island.

To the youth of the Virgin Islands: Your voice is your power. Advocacy is in our DNA. If a 28-year-old could shake an empire in 1848, imagine what we can do today when we unite.

🐚 Let the conch shells blow! Let’s honor our past by boldly leading our future.
👇🏽 Drop a comment: How are you carrying General Buddhoe's torch of freedom in your community today?

19/06/2026

Commemorating Juneteenth ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽

At the Virgin Islands Youth Advocacy Coalition, Inc. (VIYAC), we stand with our community in celebrating Juneteenth—also known as Freedom Day.

On June 19, 1865, enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word of their emancipation, a full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Today marks a historic triumph of freedom over slavery, reminding us of the enduring resilience and profound contributions of the Black community.

"Juneteenth is a powerful reminder that freedom and justice are not passive inheritances, but victories that must be continuously protected and nurtured. As we look to our youth, we see the torchbearers of this legacy—the brilliant young minds who will carry the fight for equity, voice, and systemic change forward." — Genevieve Whitaker, VIYAC President & Co-Founder

As a youth advocacy organization, we recognize that the pursuit of equity, justice, and systemic change requires continuous action. Today, we pause to listen to Black voices, reflect on our shared history, and renew our commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture both inside and outside our walls—empowering the next generation to lead the way.
To help families and young people understand and honor the significance of this day, we are sharing this wonderful educational guide from the National Museum of African American History and Culture:
👉 NMAAHC Kids Juneteenth Resource Guide:https://nmaahc.si.edu/sites/default/files/files/nmaahc_kids_-_juneteenth_resource.pdf

Happy Juneteenth! ✨❤️💛💚

09/06/2026

🎉 A Successful Start to Smart Money for Strong Futures! 🎉

VIYAC is excited to share that we successfully hosted our first orientation sessions for the Smart Money for Strong Futures Program on both St. Croix and St. Thomas!

We are proud to welcome 8 amazing students who have officially joined the program and are taking the first step toward building strong financial knowledge and brighter futures.🌟Their willingness to show up early on a Saturday morning with enthusiasm made our first orientation a success!

A special thank you to our valued sponsors, FirstBank V.I. and Masters Concrete VI, whose generous support helps make programs like this possible. We are deeply grateful for your investment in the future of our youth and your commitment to financial empowerment in our community.

We also want to acknowledge our incredible curriculum partners, Leon Perkins, author of “Value Your Future!: A Young Investor's Story,” along with Ray Parris, and Alejandra Borge, the CEO and CFP of Money Movez, for helping provide meaningful financial education resources and guidance that support our students’ learning journey.

We are excited for the journey ahead and look forward to our students’ active participation, growth, and achievements throughout the program. Stay tuned as we continue empowering the next generation through financial literacy and opportunity! 💙

29/04/2026

Take Action Toolkit: 3 Steps to Get Involved Today — a simple, low-friction path to civic engagement for Virgin Islands youth and young adults (14–30). 1) Verify or register to vote quickly; 2) Enroll in a short leadership micro-training; 3) Join a local advocacy sprint and start making measurable impact. Each step links to a single hub that captures your email and recommends next actions so progress can be tracked and supported. Learn more and get started at https://wix.to/ndNyMAn 🔗🗳️📣

Ready to take the first step? Click the link and let us guide you.

21/04/2026

Today is the deadline! Thank you to those who have already applied.

VIYAC Launches "Smart Money for Strong Futures!" 💰

Empowering Virgin Islands Youth for Economic Success

The Virgin Islands Youth Advocacy Coalition, Inc. (VIYAC) is excited to announce the launch of "Smart Money for Strong Futures," a powerful new initiative focused on building financial stability and economic empowerment for our territory's young people. This program is made possible by a generous grant from FirstBank's Community Reinvestment Program (CRA).
What is the Smart Money for Strong Futures Program?
This initiative is designed to address the urgent need for practical financial education among youth and young adults from Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) communities in the Virgin Islands. We provide hands-on training and culturally relevant education to equip participants with the skills they need to navigate the financial world confidently.
Core topics include:
✅ Budgeting and Saving: Strategies for managing money effectively.
✅ Credit Building: Understanding credit scores and establishing strong credit.
✅ Job Readiness: Personal financial management for the workforce.
Get Paid to Learn: Student Incentives 🎁
We believe the best way to learn is by doing! That's why we are partnering with FirstBank to help students put their new skills into immediate action. Selected students will receive a financial stipend to support their first step into formal banking:
High School Students: Stipends to help students open their first savings account.
College Students: Stipends to help students open a line of credit, jumpstarting their credit-building journey.
Who Can Participate?
The program targets motivated students who meet LMI eligibility criteria:
High School Students: Currently enrolled in a public or private high school in St. Croix, St. Thomas, or St. John.
College Students: Currently enrolled full-time at UVI or another college, residing in the Virgin Islands.
📅 Timeline & Deadlines:
Application Deadline: April 21, 2026 🚨
Recruitment: Ongoing through April.
Workshops Launch: May 2026 across St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
Don't miss this opportunity to build your strong financial future! 📈
🔗 Apply today at: https://www.viyouth.org/smartmoneyforstrongfutures

📧 Questions?
Email us at [email protected]
(Subject Line: Smart Money for Strong Futures Program)

04/04/2026

VIYAC Launches "Smart Money for Strong Futures!" 💰

Empowering Virgin Islands Youth for Economic Success

The Virgin Islands Youth Advocacy Coalition, Inc. (VIYAC) is excited to announce the launch of "Smart Money for Strong Futures," a powerful new initiative focused on building financial stability and economic empowerment for our territory's young people. This program is made possible by a generous grant from FirstBank's Community Reinvestment Program (CRA).
What is the Smart Money for Strong Futures Program?
This initiative is designed to address the urgent need for practical financial education among youth and young adults from Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) communities in the Virgin Islands. We provide hands-on training and culturally relevant education to equip participants with the skills they need to navigate the financial world confidently.
Core topics include:
✅ Budgeting and Saving: Strategies for managing money effectively.
✅ Credit Building: Understanding credit scores and establishing strong credit.
✅ Job Readiness: Personal financial management for the workforce.
Get Paid to Learn: Student Incentives 🎁
We believe the best way to learn is by doing! That's why we are partnering with FirstBank to help students put their new skills into immediate action. Selected students will receive a financial stipend to support their first step into formal banking:
High School Students: Stipends to help students open their first savings account.
College Students: Stipends to help students open a line of credit, jumpstarting their credit-building journey.
Who Can Participate?
The program targets motivated students who meet LMI eligibility criteria:
High School Students: Currently enrolled in a public or private high school in St. Croix, St. Thomas, or St. John.
College Students: Currently enrolled full-time at UVI or another college, residing in the Virgin Islands.
📅 Timeline & Deadlines:
Application Deadline: April 21, 2026 🚨
Recruitment: Ongoing through April.
Workshops Launch: May 2026 across St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
Don't miss this opportunity to build your strong financial future! 📈
🔗 Apply today at: https://www.viyouth.org/smartmoneyforstrongfutures

📧 Questions?
Email us at [email protected]
(Subject Line: Smart Money for Strong Futures Program)