From Boarding School in Ohio to Living in Barcelona: Pursuing a Ph.D. Abroad with Dr. Rachel Brown

Podcast

Sep 14

SEASON 1 EPISODE 19 |Flourish in the Foreign - Black Women Living & Thriving Abroad

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Rachel shares how her experiences in predominantly white spaces abroad has shaped her global perspective as a Jamaican woman. Moving to the US to attend boarding school & attending 2 PWIs, Rachel shares how she has always sought out Black spaces no matter where she has lived abroad. She also talks about how pursuing a Ph.D. forced her to create the Black community she craved thus forming (the informal) Barcelona Black Students & Young Professionals Association.

*Disclaimer: A portion of this episode contains graphic descriptions of torture.*

Did you know that the intial year of study for a Ph.D. program in Spain has an average cost of 1500€-2500€? [Source]

Meet Rachel

Dr. Rachel Victoria Brown is a 29-year-old Jamaican who earned a Ph.D. in Media, Communication, and Culture at Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona in Barcelona. Her thesis, written in both English and Spanish focuses on "The Impact of Social Media Activism on the Law and Society". She is also a teacher and consultant for multiple companies in Barcelona.

Rachel is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Every Mikkle Foundation located in Jamaica and Florida which serves approximately 350 orphans and underprivileged youth annually. Every Mikkle serves 6 children's homes; Dare to Care (a home for children with HIV and AIDs), St. Anthony's (A home for pregnant teens), Mary's Child (A home for abandoned babies), Matthew 25:40 (A home for boys), Martha's House (A home for girls), and Jamaica National Children's Home (A home for rescued street youth). Their programs focus on mentorship, female empowerment, literacy, career development, sports, the performing arts, mental health, physical health and hygiene, academics, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. Their most recent projects are an island beautification mural project across Jamaica, a Sewing workshop for pregnant teens at St. Anthony's Children’s Home, and the Installation of Solar Panels in 3 orphanages they serve.

Rachel is also the Vice President of Global United Diaspora and serves with passion. Her passion for the diaspora, our youth, and improving the world has taken her around the world and she proudly added Ghana as country number 30 last summer where she and her team from GUD were invited to host an afro-philanthropic as part of the year of return. This conference hosted 100 individuals of African descent who are serving their respective countries around the world. In Ghana, they also completed multiple service projects including a youth development and literacy program for children in Okponglo and the restoration of an orphanage in the Volta region.

In 2016 she founded the Barcelona Black Students and Young Professionals Association which now consists of 50 young Black people representing 35 countries.

In 2019 she was named one of the Caribbean's 30 under 30 for her work, service, and contributions to Jamaica.

In 2016 Rachel was appointed as a Global Youth Ambassador for education by the UN and A World At School and has served in that capacity ever since. She is the first Jamaican to hold this position.

She obtained her undergraduate degree in Communication with a Pre-law emphasis and minor in Spanish from the University of Southern California in 2013 and later, her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. Since then she has been able to work on amazing cases like the Mau Mau reparations case in Kenya where she lived for a few months and served as an advocate.

Connect with Rachel

www.everymikklefoundation.org

Instagram @everymikkleja

Facebook: The Every Mikkle Foundation