Young Advocate and Community Leader to Receive Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service

At just 25 years old, Anisheka Crosdale has already established herself as a youth advocate, community leader, public servant, minister of religion, and devoted mother.

Guided by a philosophy rooted in service, impact, and influence, she is building a legacy of empowerment that reaches from Tivoli Gardens, a community in West Kingston, to regional leadership spaces across the Caribbean.

Ms. Crosdale will be among the more than 130 individuals, in addition to some members of the uniformed groups, who will be recognised on National Heroes Day (October 19), at the National Honours and Awards Investiture Ceremony.

She will receive the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service for her contribution to Youth Advocacy and Community Development.

For Ms. Crosdale, success is not measured solely by personal achievement.

Instead, she believes it is reflected in the lives that are positively influenced along the journey.

Drawing inspiration from renowned motivational speaker, Earl Nightingale, she embraces the belief that success is directly connected to the quality and quantity of service rendered to others.

“I believe in service, I believe in impact, and I believe in influence,” she tells JIS News, during a recent interview.

“I am where I am today because someone before me believed in service and poured it into my life. Because of that, I feel obligated to pay it forward to someone else,” she says.

A graduate of The Queen’s School in Kingston, and currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology with a minor in Political Science at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Ms. Crosdale has combined academic pursuit with an unwavering dedication to community development.

Professionally, she serves as Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, where she provides administrative and client support services, while maintaining the high standards of professionalism for which she is known.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, it is her work with young people that defines her deepest passion.

Having spent much of her life in Tivoli Gardens and surrounding communities, Ms. Crosdale knows first-hand the challenges many young people face.

Rather than allowing circumstances to define their futures, she encourages them to embrace purpose, resilience and possibility.

“Everybody is here for a purpose,” she explains. “No matter where you come from, there is something meaningful that you can contribute to society. Your background should never determine your destiny,” she adds.

Her advocacy has taken many forms over the years.

In 2020, she was elected Chapter Chair for West Kingston Young Jamaica, the youth arm of the Jamaica Labour Party, where she championed initiatives aimed at youth engagement and community upliftment.

She later served as Secretary and Coordinator of the Jamaican Chapter of Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL) from 2023 to 2025, helping to advance opportunities for women and girls in leadership.

Her influence continued to grow when she represented the Constituency of West Kingston in Jamaica’s historic First All-Women’s Parliament in 2023.

The experience further strengthened her resolve to amplify the voices of young women and advocate for meaningful social change.

In 2024, her leadership and dedication to national development earned her induction as a Governor-General’s I Believe Ambassador, a role that aligns closely with her commitment to youth mentorship and civic engagement.

Among the initiatives closest to her heart is her volunteer work with the Youth for Development Network (YFDN).

Through workshops targeting at-risk and unattached youth, she utilises life-skills development and sports-based approaches to encourage participants to envision a brighter future.

Her work with the organisation has also led to certification in Personal Youth Development Skills, further equipping her to support vulnerable young people.

For Ms. Crosdale, mentorship is essential to nation-building. “I believe people need people,” she says.

“We are not meant to go through life alone. We need mentors, guidance, encouragement and positive examples. Sometimes all a young person needs is someone who understands where they are and can help them see where they can go,” she says.

She tells JIS News that her philosophy is deeply rooted in her faith. Baptised at the age of eight, she has remained an active member of Mount Carmel Revival Mission Church number one.

At just 16 years old, she was ordained as a missionary and today serves as Youth Choir Director and leader of the church’s Youth Ambassadors Ministry.

“My vision for young Christians is both simple and profound: to live lives that reflect the teachings they profess and to become active agents of positive transformation within their communities,” she says.

While her accomplishments are noteworthy, Ms. Crosdale considers one of her greatest blessings to be motherhood.

At age 22, she became the mother of a son who is now three years old. Contrary to the assumptions often associated with young parenthood, she views motherhood as one of the forces that strengthened her determination to succeed.

“I don’t believe children stop you from achieving your dreams,” she reflects. “If anything, they should motivate you even more. My son gave me an added reason to work harder and to ensure I build a better future, not only for myself but for him,” she adds.

She credits her son with sharpening her focus and reinforcing her commitment to excellence, describing him as one of the greatest motivators in her life.

Family support has also played a significant role in her journey.

Raised by her mother after losing her father at age five, Ms. Crosdale speaks with gratitude about the sacrifices made to ensure she had opportunities to excel.

She also cherishes the encouragement received from her siblings, particularly her younger brother, who sees her as a role model.

In 2026, she was among only four Jamaicans selected to participate in the Young Women in Leadership Regional Workshop in Trinidad and Tobago.

Convened by ParlAmericas, Caribbean Women in Leadership and UN Women, the programme brought together emerging female leaders from across the Caribbean to explore solutions to issues affecting women and girls throughout the region.

Despite her growing list of accomplishments, Ms. Crosdale remains grounded.

Whether spearheading youth forums, coordinating back-to-school drives, planning mentorship programmes or simply offering encouragement to a young person in need, her mission remains unchanged – to serve.

Driven by faith, strengthened by motherhood and inspired by community, she continues to demonstrate that true leadership is not about titles or recognition.

It is about creating opportunities for others, lifting those around you and leaving a lasting impact.

As she looks to the future, Ms. Crosdale remains steadfast in her goal of becoming an even greater asset to Jamaica.