Curtis Myrie

Born in Jamaica when political independence was on the horizon and the poetry of Claude McKay, Dr. Louise Bennett-Coverley, and Derek Walcott were a clarion call, Myrie fell in love with writing. At the age of 16, teacher Joe Kijanski planted the journalism seed, inviting Myrie along with friends Clyde McKenzie, Dennis Lyn, Donovan Green and others, to revive the school newspaper Blue and White and become its editorial team.

Their remarkable work caught the attention of Raymond Sharpe, sports editor of the Daily Gleaner and Tony Becca of the Daily News. The young reporter, Myrie, soon found himself simultaneously writing for both national newspapers while still in high school. His journalism skills bloomed under the watchful eyes of his mentors, and he branched out into sports reporting, news and special features in print, radio, and television. Myrie's writing has won him accolades. He's most proud of the 1999 Caribbean Broadcasting Merit Award for Excellence for his documentary on Jamaica's Reggae Boyz football team's journey to the World Cup in France.

A successful consumer marketer, Curtis has produced numerous campaigns in the public and private sectors. He continues his creative writing and is currently touring with the Jamaica Poets Nomadic College and School Tour, a performance collective helping students across the nation develop resilience and self-esteem.