Hope Markes breaks barriers as first Caribbean woman to lead Kiwanis Int’l
Published:Friday | January 16, 2026 | 12:05 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Her election as the first black woman and first Caribbean national to head the 110-year-old Kiwanis International service organisation is already inspiring renewed confidence, leadership ambition, and service across the region.
When Hope Markes tries to describe the moment she realised she had been elected president of one of the largest volunteer service clubs, she laughs softly, almost disbelieving.
“It’s almost hard to explain what it means to me,” she says. “I’m still pinching myself.”
The history, however, is unmistakable as Markes’ mission centres on improving the lives of children. She will formally assume office on October 1, 2026, and the significance of her election is already being felt.
Earlier this month, the City of Lauderhill in Florida formally proclaimed January 8, 2026, as ‘Hope Markes Day’, recognising her decades of service and international impact.
Markes’ ascent is anchored in Jamaica. Born in Kingston, she attended Alpha High School, completed sixth form at Alpha College, and later graduated from St Joseph Teachers’ College. Long before global elections and packed travel schedules, her compass was set by a calling close to home.
“My calling for children was always there,” she reflects. “My mother recognised it early and encouraged me to get involved with something to do with children, and she was spot on.”
That instinct would eventually guide her to Kiwanis, where service to children sits at the heart of everything.
Markes was one of the founding members of the Kiwanis Club of Hopewell in Hanover, helping to establish the organisation 26 years ago and laying the foundation for what has become one of the parish’s most active service clubs.
Upon assuming office on October 1, 2026, Markes will oversee a membership spread across 84 countries and 53 districts, a responsibility she says she approaches with calm conviction.
Give “selflessly”
Despite the prestige of the office, Markes is quick to dispel any notion of personal reward.
“It is not a paying job,” she says plainly. “It’s volunteer work, and you give of your time selflessly.”
Travel costs are covered, and districts host visiting leaders, but she stresses that commitment – not compensation – sustains the role.
“If you don’t have the heart for what you’re doing, you probably won’t do it,” she says. “Or you’ll find reasons to complain. I’ve been exceptionally happy with the choice I made to become a Kiwanian.”
Roy Hedeen, a 38-year Kiwanis member and former senior staffer at Kiwanis International headquarters in Indianapolis, has worked alongside multiple presidents. Few, he says, match Markes’ ability to unite people across borders.
Having collaborated with her during her tenure as governor of the Eastern Canada and Caribbean District, one of Kiwanis’ most complex jurisdictions, Hedeen saw her leadership tested daily.
“That district covers 17 countries, includes Canada, and multiple languages,” he notes. “I saw firsthand the type of leader Hope is. She brings people together.”
He describes her as tireless and focused.
“She’s the hardest worker I’ve ever seen, always with a smile,” he says. “Her focus has always been on the right things, serving children.”
Hedeen also places her election in historical context: in more than a century, Kiwanis has had only three other women presidents, all within the last decade.
“Hope being the first woman of colour and the first from the Caribbean really reflects the diversity of our membership worldwide,” he adds.
Hopewell club proud
Nowhere is the moment more personal than at the Kiwanis Club of Hopewell in Hanover, where Markes is a charter member and one of the club’s founders.
Nicolette Wilson, immediate past president of the club, recalls the reaction when the news broke.
“One member broke down in tears right away,” Wilson says. “That’s how proud we are.”
Hopewell often calls itself a “little big club,” she explains, modest in size, rich in impact.
“We’re always happy when we see big things coming from us,” Wilson says.
More than titles, she credits Markes with a leadership style that empowers others.
“She inspires you, but she also gives you the space to make your own mark,” Wilson says. “Every project comes back to the core question: Will this be impactful? Will this change lives?”
For Markes, the greatest legacy may lie beyond her own achievement. She believes her election can reshape how Caribbean nationals view their place in global leadership.
“I want people to say, ‘Hope tried it, let me try, too,’” she says. “You must never think of yourself as a loser. If you believe in something and go for it, even if you don’t achieve it, you haven’t lost.”
She hopes that confidence will translate into growth. Globally, Kiwanis counts about 155,000 members. In Jamaica alone, there are roughly 3,000 members across nearly 100 clubs.
“We’re doing very well,” she notes. “But growth is about legacy. If we don’t grow, that legacy fades.”
Balancing her international responsibilities with life at home and her business managing resort properties, Markes remains grounded.
“My base is Jamaica,” she says simply.
History will record her as a “first”. She hopes she will also be remembered as a path-opener – someone who strengthened service, widened opportunity, and reminded a region of its power to lead.
If her story inspires even one more Caribbean Kiwanian to step forward, she believes the journey will already have been worth it.