The Black Collar Creative Foundation was born from a vision—one that sought to redefine, empower, and sustain the creative sector. That vision belonged to Janine Charles-Farray, a trailblazing advocate for the arts, a marketing and PR powerhouse, and a creative industry champion who dedicated her life to uplifting artists, cultural entrepreneurs, and behind-the-scenes professionals in Trinidad & Tobago.

The Birth of “Black Collar Creative”
Janine understood that creatives are often overlooked, despite their immense contributions to society and the economy. She recognized that while the world had labels for corporate professionals (white-collar workers) and manual laborers (blue-collar workers), there was no established identity for the artists, writers, filmmakers, musicians, designers, and production teams who fuel the creative economy.

So she created one.

The term “Black Collar Creative” became her rallying call—an assertion that creatives deserved recognition, structure, and support. She founded Black Collar Creative as an agency to serve these professionals, providing them with PR, marketing, and strategic guidance to help them build sustainable careers.
But Janine’s mission went beyond business. She advocated tirelessly for funding access, fair wages, and industry respect, helping creatives navigate an often unforgiving industry landscape. She fought to ensure that artists were not just seen and celebrated, but also financially supported and given the tools to thrive.

Continuing the Legacy
When Janine passed away, her mother, Marva De Freitas Charles, knew that her daughter’s work could not be left unfinished. She assembled a Board of Directors, made up of creative industry leaders, business professionals, and arts advocates, to bring Janine’s vision to life on a larger scale—not as an agency, but as a foundation dedicated to empowering Black Collar Creatives through grants, education, and advocacy.

The Black Collar Creative Foundation was officially established to honor Janine’s legacy and continue her work, providing financial support, professional development, and community-building opportunities for creatives in Trinidad & Tobago and beyond.