Our Why
The Duncan Tree Foundation is on a mission to empower the next generation of the tech workforce, addressing the significant representation gap. In collaboration with partners like iPEC, we are dedicated to bridging the wealth, education, and empathy gap, focusing specifically on the often-overlooked “Kids in the Middle” KITM. By providing professional coaching and mentoring, we believe that with the right support and resources, these young individuals can navigate personal and academic challenges, achieving their dreams in the tech industry and beyond.
Our Tech Workforce Prep Pilot Program targets under-resourced families affected by adversity, aiming to eliminate barriers to success and foster a balanced and purpose-driven life. The goal is to enhance diversity in technology fields, tackling the stark statistics outlined by Pew Research Group and the U.S. EEOC.
Together, we aspire to unlock the full potential of these bright minds, fostering a future where they lead with technical expertise and exemplary soft skills.
Duncan Tree Foundation - building capacity for a diverse pipeline who are prepared academically as well as emotionally to matriculate to top colleges but more importantly graduate from college.
Here’s a short video reflection on our past scoliosis missions
Our History
Established in 2008 by Ouida Duncan, MBA, CPC, ELI-MP, the Duncan Tree Foundation (DTF) has been a beacon of hope for underprivileged communities, striving to bring balance to their physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual well-being. For nearly a decade, DTF operated as a veritable "Doctors Without Borders" for spine surgery, delivering free interventions for severe scoliosis to hundreds of adolescents with an added value of $50MM USD for the governments of Jamaica, the Philippines, Trinidad & Tobago. Over 500 medical professionals were educated, and more than 100 highly trained medical volunteers were trained across three developing nations and the US.
Expanding its vision, DTF now focuses on empowering inner-city youth pursuing Tech, specifically Tech careers, offering leadership development through mentorship and emotional intelligence coaching. Volunteer mentors from Tech fields, along with a certified professional coach specializing in emotional intelligence, guide students using assessment tools to qualify for Tech employment.
From 2009 to 2011, DTF collaborated with various organizations, providing free cancer screenings and educational resources to underserved communities in the US and Jamaica. In 2012, the Scoliosis Care Fund (SCF) was launched in Jamaica, reducing waiting times for scoliosis treatment. Between March 2012 and March 2020, DTF conducted over two dozen scoliosis missions, performing free corrective spine surgeries for almost 200 adolescents in Jamaica and the Philippines, introducing neuromonitoring technology to Jamaica.
DTF's visionary mission extends to healing and empowering young individuals in underserved communities in the U.S. through in-person and online connections. In response to COVID-19 in 2020, DTF shifted its focus online, launching the Duncan Tree Podcast with Ouida. Currently, the organization is gearing up to launch the Kids In the Middle Diversity Pipeline Pilot Program.
Pictured: Dr. Harshad Patel, Spine Surgeon (DTF Jamaica Volunteer) and Ms. Ouida Duncan, MBA, CPC, ELI-MP, Duncan Tree Founder, at Kingston Public Hospital, March 2020
Our roadmap
Our past
We've helped hundreds of adolescents with severe scoliosis by providing them with free access to expensive spine surgery. We've also worked to improve the skills of local healthcare workers such as orthopedic spine surgeons, nurses, and technicians through various Scoliosis Mission Trips. Our efforts have also contributed to building capacity at public and private hospitals in Jamaica, The Philippines, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Thanks to our dedication, our spine program has been recognized as a Centre of Excellence by the Scoliosis Research Society in Jamaica. We're proud to have successfully completed 200 surgeries, making a huge difference in the lives of adolescent patients while saving these governments over $50 million dollars in the process.
* on average patients were between the ages of 10-22 years old and typically had severe curvatures of 50-135 degrees.
Our present
We're thrilled to announce the launch of the first season of the Duncan Tree podcast series, focused on wellness. In the upcoming episodes, we'll be diving into the four pillars of wellness that the Foundation has established in response to the pandemic: emotional, spiritual, physical, and financial wellness.
We're just like you, still figuring it all out. But with our diverse backgrounds and resources, we're confident that we can not only heal ourselves but also support you on your own journey toward healing. So let's embark on this journey together!
Present and future
We're teaming up with our M/WBE partner White River Consulting, and Coaching partner iPEC and others, to make a real difference for inner-city youth interested in FinTech careers. Our goal is to provide mentorship and coaching programs that empower and inspire them to pursue FinTech careers while bridging the wealth and education gap.
Together, we're committed creating a roadmap for these young people to have sustained success. We're excited to see what we can accomplish when we work together towards a common goal!