The Atlanta Jamaican Association
Background:
The Atlanta Jamaican Association (AJA) is a non-profit organization
established to promote friendship, unity and understanding between Jamaicans
and the members of the greater Atlanta community. The organization was
founded in 1977 and incorporated on September 13, 1978 as a non-profit
organization with 501(c) (4) status under the Internal Revenue Service Code.
The Atlanta Jamaica Cultural and Educational Fund, Inc., The AJA’s cultural
and educational affiliate organization, enjoys 501(c) (3) non-profit status
with the Internal Revenue Service.
Based primarily on its range of services and how long it has been in
operation, it is undoubtedly the most experienced and probably the most
proficient Caribbean organization in Atlanta. Among its many functions, The
AJA provides an Atlanta forum for Jamaicans to discuss strategies for
improving their lives. The organization also assists the underserved both in
Jamaica and in Atlanta.
Monthly meetings are held every second Saturday. These often feature guest
speakers from all disciplines. Past guest speakers at association-sponsored
events or meetings include Sir Howard Cooke, the former governor general of
Jamaica; The Most Honorable P. J. Patterson, former prime minister of
Jamaica; Dr. Omer Thomas, executive director of the Jamaica Bureau of
Standards; Vernon Jones, CEO, DeKalb County; Ronnie Thwaites, noted Jamaican
Radio personality; Eddie Moodie, while he was the Chief of Police, DeKalb
County; and many, many others.
Leadership:
The AJA’s Board is made up of executives serving in the following capacities:
president, vice president, secretary, asst. secretary, treasurer, assistant
treasurer, parliamentarian, and as trustees (2). Elections are held annually
in October to fill all positions, with the exception of those for the
trustees. The two trustees are appointed by the president. The list of
current officers may be found on The AJA’s Web site at www.ajaatlanta.org .
Separate from the Board, The AJA is served by six standing committees:
membership, finance, education, family relations, building, and public
relations & marketing. The list of current committee chairs may be found at
The AJA’s Web site at www.ajaatlanta.org .
In addition, over the years, The AJA has enjoyed the undying commitment and
support of several past-presidents, a few of whom are AJA life members. Past
presidents include Ms. Cecilia Smith, Dr. Juan Reid, the late Michael
Mordecai, Professor Bernard Headley, Mr. Denzil Dixon (life member), Hon.
Vin Martin, Esq. (life member), Mr. Derrick Wright (life member), Dr. Noel
Erskine, Mr. Allan Alberga, Esq., Mr. Tony Winkler, Ms. Monica Pinnock, Mr.
Astley Leslie, Mr. Derrick Harvey, and Mr. Brian Carter, among others.
Programs:
The AJA has instituted a number of philanthropic, cultural and social
programs over the years. In fact, in many instances, these programs are
still active within the organization.
Listed below are just a few of the programs and activities that have been
part of The AJA over the years:
- Organized the annual Jamaican Independence & Emancipation Ball. Events at
the Ball include a scholarship awards program. Deserving Jamaican students
in Atlanta are offered scholarships to help in the pursuit of their
individual academic interest.
- Provided relief from natural disasters on an as-needed basis: In times of
need The AJA has always rallied to help those in Jamaica who may need
assistance from the ravages of flood and hurricane.
- Provided a network of support for Jamaicans living in metropolitan
Atlanta.
- Offered emergency financial relief to needy families through our emergency
relief fund.
- Promoted social events such as an annual family day picnic, as well as
civic, social and cultural functions.
- Sponsored (in years past) the Miss Jamaica-Atlanta talent and beauty
competitions which provided scholarships to winners.
- Hosted fund-raisers for the Jamaica Cancer Society and other service
organizations.
- Donated medical equipment and provided nursing support to hospitals at
UWI, (Mona), and in Savanna-la-Mar.
- Established the first day of “1,000 Lights” with the Mayor's Office of
Youth Services and the Atlanta Public School System.
The AJA’s NAJASO Membership:
In 2004 The AJA forged ties with the National Association of Jamaican and
Supportive Organization (NAJASO). As a NAJASO member organization, The AJA
now works with NAJASO on missions of international scope.
International Projects: A Report
The AJA and NAJASO pooled resources during the period June 2005 – May 2006
to serve and assist the poor and the underserved in designated communities
in the parishes of St. James and Westmoreland, Jamaica. The first of two key
missions was organized to benefit targeted students and residents in the
town community of Lilliput, St. James, while a second mission extended a
helping hand in Savanna-la-Mar (affectionately called Sav-la-Mar),
benefiting students in this bustling and promising city in the parish of
Westmoreland.
Organized in concert with the 2005 NAJASO Annual Convention, the first
outreach mission was held in June. The convention, held at Jamaica’s
luxurious Half Moon Hotel and Resort in Montego Bay, attracted, among other
dignitaries and supporters, an assembly of local and overseas business
executives, as well as a number of key Jamaican government representatives.
However, even with the typically opulent Half Moon backdrop and setting,
concerned AJA and NAJASO outreach committee members and conventioneers
maintained their focus on the plight of the underserved in certain local
Jamaican communities.
In that regard, AJA/NAJASO outreach committee member Derrick R. Wright
headed up a team of caring volunteers. The team members, representing
various NAJASO member organizations, reached out to students and
residents in Lilliput, St. James, a relatively small community located just
outside Montego Bay. The team sought to address specific needs, not only of
the students enrolled at the Lilliput Basic School, but also the needs of
the poor residents who visited the Lilliput clinic seeking free medical
screening and basic medical care.
The relief effort opened with a formal ceremony complete with speeches from
a number of local dignitaries and community leaders, and featuring student
performances and skits as the young, enrolled students dazzled the visiting
AJA/NAJASO delegation and local volunteers with their academic prowess and
artistic genius. Copeland Comrie, The AJA’s Family Relations Committee
Chair, treated those in attendance to cool and refreshing
“beat-the-June-heat” beverages and tasty culinary delights.
Meanwhile, Merthella Wright from the Atlanta delegation made several
personal contributions to the Lilliput Basic School. For one, the member
donated a number of new educational materials and supplies, including
reading books, activity books, crayons, pens, and other miscellaneous items.
In addition, the member donated several new toys to the Lilliput students,
and several packages of clinical bed pads (18 large bed pads per pack) for
use in the clinic. Several other NAJASO member organizations, from Hartford,
Connecticut and elsewhere, also donated various school supplies, including
pencils and crayons.
Key features of the week’s outreach program activities also included basic
medical screening and the subsequent provision of corresponding medical care
for hundreds of Basic School students and underserved community residents.
That aspect of the program was headed up by NAJASO representative and noted
Montego Bay philanthropist, Dr. Doris Channer-Watson.
On an intriguingly coincidental note, one of the volunteer medical
practitioners who had worked alongside Dr. Channer-Watson providing free
medical care at the Lilliput Clinic that week was a UWI-trained medical
doctor who was, himself, a past beneficiary of a separate, ongoing NAJASO
outreach initiative; he was a past recipient of a NAJASO academic
scholarship.
Needless to say, the medical component of the outreach program was well
received in the community. In fact, one community patient who was urgently
in need of medical attention was totally distraught when that patient
arrived at the clinic too late for treatment. However, the passion for
service was of such that the NAJASO outreach committee, upon learning that
Dr. Channer-Watson was not immediately available, afforded the patient the
urgent medical care. That care was provided in Montego Bay by Dr. L.
Jackson-Myers, the sister of a former AJA secretary. Dr. Jackson-Myers is
also the former medical officer of health for St. James.
Interestingly enough, the most critical need that had been identified for
the June 2005 outreach program centered on the expressed, urgent need to
expand the Lilliput school and clinical facilities. To meet that specific
need, several NAJASO member organizations pledged or donated cash
contributions amounting to US$2,000, the very amount that was needed to help
build an annex for the school and clinic. The annex had become necessary in
order for the clinic and school to meet a growing demand for services. Work
has been started on the construction of the annex, with completion expected
in the coming months.
Even so, a second outreach mission trip was undertaken in March 2006. NAJASO
Outreach Committee Representative Derrick R. Wright organized a relief
mission to the Hudson Street Early Childhood Basic School in Sav-la-Mar.
Committee team volunteers included Ms. Ethel Whitehead from Cincinnati,
Ohio, and Mr. Trevor Oldacre from The AJA.
Ms. Whitehead made several significant, personal contributions to both the
students and the school. Items she donated included an assortment of school
supplies, craftwork implements, school materials, toys, children’s shoes,
and many, many other items too numerous to mention at this time.
Separately, team leader Derrick R. Wright donated over 50 T-shirts and a
significant number of book bags to designated students, while Mr. Oldacre
donated several large boxes of stylish, contemporary clothing to area
residents.
As the team members wrapped up their mission trip they toured the Sav-la-Mar
Infirmary, a facility that houses poor and destitute residents. The team
plans follow-up relief tours on an ongoing basis to provide much-needed
assistance to the residents of that facility. The AJA has had a rich history
of stellar, benevolent service in the Sav-la-mar community in general.
Contact Information:
The AJA is always looking for hard-working, committed members who love
Jamaica and who are excellent team players. Prospective members may reach
The AJA by phone at 770-593-9290, or via the Web at www.ajaatlanta.org .
The official postal mailing address is:
The Atlanta Jamaican Association
P.O. Box 2207
Lithonia, GA 30058.
Meeting Particulars:
The Association meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month
starting at 7:00 p.m., and are open to the public.
Meeting Venue:
Fellowship Hall
Hillside Presbyterian Church
1879 Columbia Drive
Decatur, GA 30032
Church Phone: 404-289-3092.
AJA Phone: 770-593-9290 (for messages only).
Submitted by: Derrick R. Wright
AJA Life Member
Updated June 2007