Anesha Miller wins Supreme Hero title
ANESHA MILLER was shocked when she emerged as the 2023 winner of the Supreme Ventures Foundation (SVF) Supreme Heroes programme. “Wow! I’m shocked and excited and happy to win,”said the young entrepreneur from Gordon Town, St Andrew. The announcement was made at a ceremony held in January at the Spanish Court Hotel.
Launched in 2021 by the SVF, the Supreme Heroes programme spotlights and supports unsung heroes across the island who utilise limited resources from their small businesses to aid those in need. The initiative also focuses on enhancing the business and outreach operations of each beneficiary through a capacitybuilding training programme facilitated by the Mona Entrepreneurial Commercialisation Centre at the UWI Mona Campus.
Miller organises a back-toschool treat twice a year in her community to not only support children with school supplies but also to cultivate a sense of unity within the community. “Children are my passion, especially when it comes to their education. So I’m always thinking of ways to help them. I vividly recall the hardships my mother faced to send us to school. It was an uphill battle. That’s why I host events like the back-to-school treat to help as many people as possible”, she explained.
Yet, her biggest passion lies in coordinating the construction of a foot bridge across the Hope River, addressing the potential danger posed to community members during periods of increased water flow.
“When it rains and the river is in spate, nobody can cross to go home or get out if they are at home. When that happens, I open a room I have at the back of the shop to allow the children to stay until the water recedes. There have been times when it takes days for the water to recede, so I keep the children and take on the role of parent – feed them, send them to school, do homework – for a few days,” she said, adding, “Getting a bridge constructed is very important for the community. I know people who have lost their lives there, and a bridge would help us to prevent that happening again.”
Other entrepreneurs who were shortlisted for the Supreme Heroes programme were Andrea Kerr-Finakin of Kerr’s Décor N More, who offers free adult literacy classes at the community centre in Rose Heights, St James; and Emeelia McCallum, a restaurateur who supports several children in the Mount Salem community through mentorship.
SVF Director Heather Goldson was happy and proud of the finalists ’work in their communities, “While we’re here today to crown one ultimate Supreme Hero, the reality is that each of our shortlisted nominees are all community heroes in their own right. We often hear that micro entrepreneurship is the engine of growth in Jamaica and that is a fact, but there’s also a strong argument that they are also the engine of change through their philanthropy and community outreach efforts. SVF is proud to not only highlight and celebrate these community heroes but to also give them the opportunity to strengthen and grow their businesses.”
SVF Chairman Peter McConnell echoed her sentiments. “We at the Supreme Ventures Foundation are firm believers in the power of Jamaican entrepreneurship, which is driven by common human characteristics of creativity, innovation, passion, and the desire to succeed. We also recognise that there are other human characteristics that not all entrepreneurs possess, which are compassion, generosity, gratitude, and kindness. It is heartwarming to see that the Jamaican culture of helping each other is alive and well, despite the challenges that we face in our ever-changing society,” said McConnell.