Our Team
Denise Cagley-Jefferson, Executive Director
Since the age of nine, Denise has been called to service. She grew up volunteering with her mother in a soup kitchen in Iowa, participating in environmental clean-ups and leading youth groups. As a college student, she took her first trip to Hagley Gap in 1995 and has been working with the community ever since. As the Founding Executive Director, she worked with a dedicated team of volunteers and staff to start the Blue Mountain Project in 2004. In 2010, she began working for the US Peace Corps until responding to BMPs call-to-action in 2017 and was named Executive Director once again. In addition to BMP, she currently works as an independent contractor for the USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs. Denise has a Behavioral Sciences Degree from the Metropolitan State College of Denver and is a Registered Yoga Teacher.
Since the age of nine, Denise has been called to service. She grew up volunteering with her mother in a soup kitchen in Iowa, participating in environmental clean-ups and leading youth groups. As a college student, she took her first trip to Hagley Gap in 1995 and has been working with the community ever since. As the Founding Executive Director, she worked with a dedicated team of volunteers and staff to start the Blue Mountain Project in 2004. In 2010, she began working for the US Peace Corps until responding to BMPs call-to-action in 2017 and was named Executive Director once again. In addition to BMP, she currently works as an independent contractor for the USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs. Denise has a Behavioral Sciences Degree from the Metropolitan State College of Denver and is a Registered Yoga Teacher.
Kylee Bagley, Community Ambassador
Kylee is a New Jersey native who developed a heart to serve rural Jamaica in 2016, as a short-term missionary through her home church. Each year, she returns to serve the same community in Portland Parish through farming, home repairs, visiting the elderly/shut-ins, and leading activities for youth. After graduating from Rowan University and completing a term with AmeriCorps in 2019, she began working for a south Jersey non-profit as an executive assistant and grants coordinator. Since then, she has sought a way to use her non-profit skills to benefit rural Jamaicans who lack access to vital resources. After a vague Google search and a couple of (not vague) meetings, she connected with the Blue Mountain Project to serve as a community ambassador for the education program. Kylee also enjoys volunteering at her local hydroponic farm, outdoor roller skating, and being her family’s favorite auntie.
Kylee is a New Jersey native who developed a heart to serve rural Jamaica in 2016, as a short-term missionary through her home church. Each year, she returns to serve the same community in Portland Parish through farming, home repairs, visiting the elderly/shut-ins, and leading activities for youth. After graduating from Rowan University and completing a term with AmeriCorps in 2019, she began working for a south Jersey non-profit as an executive assistant and grants coordinator. Since then, she has sought a way to use her non-profit skills to benefit rural Jamaicans who lack access to vital resources. After a vague Google search and a couple of (not vague) meetings, she connected with the Blue Mountain Project to serve as a community ambassador for the education program. Kylee also enjoys volunteering at her local hydroponic farm, outdoor roller skating, and being her family’s favorite auntie.
Palasha Tuladhar, Intern
Palasha is an international student from Nepal studying at Ripon College in Wisconsin. Born in a Hindu-Buddhist family, she was always taught that if you do good, good will come to you. She loves to volunteer, meet new people and travel. She has helped fundraise, volunteered in a local community hospital and organized fun after-school courses for a public school during her holidays in Nepal. During her Spring Break in 2019, she went on a mission trip to South Carolina with Samaritan’s Purse to build houses for people who lost their homes in a hurricane. During her Summer Break in 2019, she went to Jamaica for two weeks with the Blue Mountain Project to organize Fun Camp for children. She now volunteers as a remote Intern with BMP.
Palasha is an international student from Nepal studying at Ripon College in Wisconsin. Born in a Hindu-Buddhist family, she was always taught that if you do good, good will come to you. She loves to volunteer, meet new people and travel. She has helped fundraise, volunteered in a local community hospital and organized fun after-school courses for a public school during her holidays in Nepal. During her Spring Break in 2019, she went on a mission trip to South Carolina with Samaritan’s Purse to build houses for people who lost their homes in a hurricane. During her Summer Break in 2019, she went to Jamaica for two weeks with the Blue Mountain Project to organize Fun Camp for children. She now volunteers as a remote Intern with BMP.
Leon Jeffrey, Community LIGHT
Leon Jeffrey is from Hagley Gap, in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. He currently volunteers in the BMP computer lab where he monitors and assists students with any issues they might have. On Tuesdays, he assists with health home visits in the community. His normal occupation is farming but he enjoys volunteering with BMP because it gives him the opportunity to give back to his community.
Leon Jeffrey is from Hagley Gap, in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. He currently volunteers in the BMP computer lab where he monitors and assists students with any issues they might have. On Tuesdays, he assists with health home visits in the community. His normal occupation is farming but he enjoys volunteering with BMP because it gives him the opportunity to give back to his community.