MISSION

The Jamaica Cultural Alliance (JCA) is a Los Angeles public affairs organization with the objective of expanding and enriching American knowledge and awareness of Jamaican culture and heritage. Further, JCA is programmatically structured to facilitate the development of literature, education, music as well as the visual and performing arts - all of which have their roots in both Jamaican and Los Angeles communities. The general goal of the Jamaican Cultural Alliance is to promote the best of Jamaica - its people and their multi-faceted lifestyles - in order to clarify and enhance the image of Jamaica and the Caribbean at large.

VISION

JCA exists to maximize cultural exchange between Jamaica and the US. Strategically, Los Angeles has been chosen as the venue in which to initiate alliance efforts with Jamaica because strong correlation actually exists between the Californian and Jamaican physical environments, demographics, and diverse populations. For example, the motto for Jamaicans is "Out of many one people". As printed on the Jamaican monetary medium of exchange, it indicates the successful and harmonious blending of many ethnicities and cultures into one. U.S. currency also proudly displays "EPLURIBUS UNUM" which means "Out of many, one". Even the Los Angeles slogan "Together, we're the best - LA" expresses this sentiment but actualizing the concept presents a daily challenge for us all. JCA envisions tremendous opportunities for establishing numerous ongoing and productive inter-cultural alliances. Schools, cultural and art organizations, in both Jamaica and Los Angeles, will be afforded greater growth advantages and increased outlets of expression.

BACKGROUND

The founders of JCA reside on the West Coast in Los Angeles. They came together because individually each had become concerned with the lack of local outlets for Jamaican arts and culture. They perceived Californians as having a stereotyped and often incomplete or inaccurate perception of Jamaica and its people. And although the Jamaican Tourist Board and other organizations continue to effectively promote this small but dynamic country, until now these efforts have been largely concentrated on the East Coast and directed toward markets that were closer to Jamaica. JCA affirms that it is time the image of Jamaica and Jamaicans be expanded in depth and breadth.

The JCA objective is to galvanize the Jamaican nationals in Los Angeles, along with other residents and communities, in order to create a conduit of cultural exchange and a platform for positive expression. In order to accomplish this task, JCA's activities focus on four strategic areas of development; I. Education and Literature; II Performing Arts and Music; III Visual Arts & Technology; IV Heritage and Resource Development.

Cities such as Miami, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; and New York City, New York have traditionally been target markets for Jamaican migration. However, the greater Los Angeles area is estimated to have in excess of 30,000 persons who are Jamaican nationals or of Jamaican heritage. (An estimate based upon California 1990 census figures)