Sherna Alexander Benjamin
Network of NGOs of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women
Sherna Alexander Benjamin is a development, safe space, MEAL, and change and project management specialist with over ten years of experience who uses data and community experiences to tell stories and drive change. She is a contributing author to the book titled “Gender and Domestic Violence in the Caribbean” published by Palgrave Publishers. A World Pulse digital ambassador for over eight years,where she works with women leaders across the globe to develop strategies to bridge the digital divide, strengthen their capacities, implement and analyze their programs, and tell stories.
In 2022 she worked with World Pulse to launch the pioneering Global Digital ChangeMakers program six-month training program. She is the director responsible for advocacy and lobbying at the Network of NGOs of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women, and she continues to advance the agenda of the Network in every aspect. She is a 2022 -2024 Peace Justice and Transformative Leaders Fellow by the Gettysburg College Peace and Justice Studies Department and a 2020-2021 International Fellow of Cornel University's Einaudi Center.
In her work, she walks alongside individuals, communities, development actors, and institutions to cocreate innovative responses to address, prevent, and respond to all forms of violence within private and public spheres. Drawing on the power of community and stakeholder engagement, informal and formal education to decolonize and reframe understandings of conflict, violence, power, poverty, and inequity to humanize policies and processes to co-create safe, healthy, inclusive, resilient, and people-centered environments.
She advocates for preventing family and institutional violence, participatory governance, and transformative investment in women and children (especially Caribbean women and children of African heritage); Spatial, economic, health, and gender equity. She is passionate about bridging the digital divide, technology literacy, women, peace and security agenda, and human-centric social protection.
Over the years, Alexander Benjamin has received numerous awards; Her most recent awards included The U.S. President's Gold Volunteer Award in 2021; The 2021 National Award Silver for the Development of Women from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Being listed on the 2021 Femilist 100 by the Gender Security Project. And a 2019 Joint Legislative Resolution from the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey.
In 2022 Alexander Benjamin founded ALEXINNA Strategic Development Solutions (ASDS), a training, development, and consultancy startup. Alexander Benjamin holds numerous professional certifications, including Six Sigma and Project Management. She also has a Diploma in Development Leadership from St. Francis Xavier University in Canada and a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Huntington University, USA. Alexander Benjamin is presently pursuing a master’s to Ph.D. academic goal.
She is a writing enthusiast. Public speaker, a realistic optimist, and an intentionally thriving survivor of childhood and adult violence who believes in the power of community and healthy change. MEAL, lean processes, and walking alongside women, girls, men, boys, and communities who experienced violence and poverty to embrace their narratives and create their own future stories and privilege.
In May 2023, she will launch the Bridges Out of Poverty Individual, Community, and Institutional lens training in Trinidad and Tobago.