GoodHeart | Charise Simpson’s fight for women’s rights
Published:Saturday | May 31, 2025 | 12:08 AM
In a digital world driven by aesthetics and algorithms, Charise Simpson has built a presence rooted in advocacy, empathy, and action. At 26, she is a communications and advocacy specialist at the Caribbean Policy Research Institute, but her work began long before any job title. From her school days in Jamaica to university abroad, Simpson consistently engaged in volunteerism and community initiatives, laying the foundation for a lifelong mission to support women affected by stigma, violence, and inequality.
Raised by a single mother in Jamaica, Simpson drew early inspiration from the strength of the woman who raised her. “Just being around her and hearing her stories made me deeply aware of what women go through, especially in Jamaica,” Simpson shared. That awareness grew into action while she pursued her tertiary education in the United States.
At university in Washington DC, Simpson became involved with an organisation focused on the global struggles of women, especially surrounding reproductive health and gender-based violence. Through that group, she travelled to communities in Haiti to deliver public health education and distribute menstrual hygiene products. The work opened her eyes to the realities many women face globally like stigma, shame, and social exclusion.
During her volunteer trip to Haiti, she observed even more disparity in access to health care and gender equality. “It was overwhelming at times. I cried almost every night in Haiti,” she admitted. “But I wasn’t alone. Being with other women doing the same work reminded me why it mattered.”
A defining moment came in 2018, when she participated in the first-ever period poverty march in the United States and addressed a crowd outside Capitol Hill. “At the time, I didn’t even realise what I was doing was advocacy,” Simpson reflected. “It wasn’t until later [on] that I understood the power of my voice.” That realisation would follow her back home.
Since returning to Jamaica, Simpson has worked with local organisations like Eve for Life, which supports survivors of gender-based violence and women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Her time there revealed how stigma could destroy confidence and opportunity.
“Many of the women we worked with faced discrimination at work or couldn’t get employed at all. Yet they still got up, cared for their children, took their medication, and kept going. They taught me what real strength looks like,” she said.
Despite the emotional toll, Simpson has found ways to remain grounded. She credits community, especially those doing similar work, and professional mental health support for helping her navigate the weight of advocacy.
While many activists take to Instagram or TikTok, Simpson’s digital advocacy is more reflective. She uses LinkedIn to share articles and personal insights and attends intimate workshops, such as those conducted by Grounding With My Sisters, where women connect through artistic expression and shared healing. Last year, as a youth delegate at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), she noticed that conversations around women’s issues were missing from the agenda. She acted swiftly, coordinating a last-minute side event that gathered 25 women from across the globe to amplify their voices and share their work.
“We stayed up until 3 a.m. to get that concept note in. We just knew it had to happen,” she recalled.
When asked what message needs to be heard more in Jamaica today, Simpson didn’t hesitate: “We need to believe women, especially young girls. Too often, we hear their cries after it’s too late.”
Looking ahead, the Red Stripe Flavour Squad member plans to deepen her impact through further education in public health communications. With her best friend, a fellow Howard University advocate in Trinidad, she aims to launch a Caribbean firm focused on health advocacy, storytelling, and policy to amplify women’s voices regionally.
“We don’t want our stories lost in the data of larger regions. We want to ensure the Caribbean has a united, powerful voice,” she added.