Community Development & Outreach
If you are searching for smart leadership generously fueled by heart and empathy, Mustard Seed Communities is the place to look.
Across Jamaica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, women are at the forefront of care, bringing both professional excellence and unwavering empathy to serve children and adults with disabilities.
During Women’s History Month, we recognize the legacy these women carry forward. For generations, women have led with courage and conviction, advancing advocacy, challenging barriers, and creating more inclusive communities despite persistent inequities.
Today, that legacy lives on at Mustard Seed Communities. We’re proud to highlight just a few of the many women whose knowledge, leadership, and compassion are transforming lives every day across our global MSC family.
Amberly Makes a Home Where She Can Thrive
MSC creates places of safety, healing, and hope, shaped by the strength of the children and adults who make it their lifelong home.
In the Dominican Republic, Amberly makes Hogar Niños de Dios her home, sharing her vibrant energy to uplift those around her and reflect the life-changing impact of an attentive, dignity-centered community.
Amberly came to Hogar Niños de Dios after overcoming immense challenges, growing up without access to the support every child deserves. Now a teen living with disabilities, she navigates challenges with determination, surrounded by caregivers and therapists who empower her to thrive.
Today, Amberly’s joy is unmistakable. She eagerly participates in therapy and daily activities, especially building with blocks and playing with colorful balls that strengthen her motor skills.
Amberly is a fierce example of perseverance and renewal. She never stopped dreaming of a greater future, even while facing some of childhood’s most difficult challenges. This is a young woman who knows what it means to move through life with courage, resilience, and a powerful sense of possibility.
Miss Dobson Commits to Courage Throughout a Historic Challenge
When Hurricane Melissa submerged the entire property of Montego Bay’s Blessed Assurance in floodwaters, MSC caregivers remained present onsite nonstop. Under no circumstances, they promised, would the residents have any reason to fear. They kept that promise.
One of those caregivers was Miss Vanessa Dobson. Working at Blessed Assurance for decades, Miss Dobson is head matron and a steady source of leadership for both staff and mission volunteers.
During the October 2025 hurricane, only the second floor of Blessed Assurance’s mission house remained above water. With 33 children and adults with disabilities living onsite, many in wheelchairs, the caregivers had a momentous task … which they accomplished against the odds. Together, every resident and staff member remained sheltered and safe throughout the entire historic storm.
When the hurricane had passed, Miss Dobson shared how truly difficult it was to stay strong amid chaotic uncertainty. Yet the residents and staff attest that through the worries, she was a model of courage through the storm, a rock of calm for the residents.
In the aftermath, Miss Dobson reflected on the weight of uncertainty. With access routes cut off from Montego Bay, it was unclear when or if supplies would arrive, raising immediate concerns about sustaining care. At the same time, she had no way of knowing how her own two children were faring across town.
Even so, Miss Dobson maintained a steady presence of compassion for those around her, providing reassurance and continuity of care. Her leadership in those moments stands as a powerful example of a woman’s composure, responsibility, and commitment to her values under pressure.
Occupational Therapy Students Alyssa and Maddie Lead with Empathy
Alyssa Murnane and Maddie Conover, second-year master’s students in occupational therapy at Regis College, are putting the power of compassion and clinical education into action at Mustard Seed Communities Jamaica.
During a week-long mission trip to Blessed Assurance, Alyssa and Maddie recognized that many residents with disabilities communicate their needs through sensory behaviors like humming, rocking, or seeking movement: signals that can become pathways to connection with the right tools and strategies.
Motivated to make a difference by bringing the most up-to-date targeted occupational therapy strategies to caregivers, Alyssa and Maddie developed the Sensory Integration Education Program. Made up of hands-on training, the SIE Program is an initiative that equips caregivers with practical, research-based tools to support residents’ complex sensory needs.
They later returned to Jamaica to adapt the program to MSC’s particular culture, working side by side with caregivers to create calmer, more responsive environments where residents can fully participate in devotion, school, and play.
Alyssa and Maddie’s volunteer work highlights how women forge paths for the future lit by both intellect and empathy, driving meaningful, lasting change in communities around the world. Through their leadership and heart, they are helping build a more inclusive world, starting right here at Blessed Assurance in Jamaica.
Anne Gilbert’s Leadership Ensures Children are Safe
Anne Gilbert, Administrator of MSC Dominican Republic, is a beloved leader among MSC’s international community. Anne brings her training in development, marketing, and hospitality to a purposeful environment where residents, caregivers, and mission volunteers find a trusted voice in her.
“With Christ-like love at the heart of her leadership, Anne creates a home where residents are embraced with dignity and care,” says Chantel Ellis, Volunteer Engagement Associate at MSC USA. “She inspires staff to serve with compassion, purpose, and hope.”
In 2015, Anne was drawn to MSC through a personal connection and has since built a career centered on service. She has overseen daily operations with both skill and compassion—supporting staff, guiding programs, and ensuring that children with disabilities receive the highest level of care.
“It is a challenge, but I am happy to do what I do every day. Serving our children is a privilege. When you see the children smiling and what they give to you, it makes everything worth it,” Anne reflects.
Anne’s leadership is a living example of what makes MSC so special: a commitment to excellence that grows from compassion, where every decision is guided by the desire to make the world better for others.
We’re proud to celebrate the women who lead with compassion and serve with purpose, transforming lives at Mustard Seed Communities each day.
How do these women inspire you to be more resilient, courageous, empathetic, and committed?
In celebrating these values, we invite you to be part of the impact: help us ensure that every life we serve is met with love, respect, and the opportunity to thrive.