THE ATLANTA JAMAICAN ASSOCIATION, INC. (AJA)

It’s an honor to continue to serve as the President of The Atlanta Jamaican Association, Inc. (AJA) for 2023. I’m pleased to announce the members of the 2023 Board of Directors as follows:

• Rev. Dr. Maxine Osbourne Foster, President

• Evette Taylor-Reynolds, MBA, Vice President

• Leighton Salmon, MS, MBA, Treasurer

• Nadine Ellis, BBA, Assistant Treasurer

• Secretary, Vacant

• Nadine Dixon, MBA, Assistant Secretary

• Karlene Sears, MBA, Parliamentarian

• Alton Clarke, Trustee

• Fabean James, Trustee

Last year was a tremendous year as we celebrated Jamaica’s 60th year as an independent nation and saw many folks emerging from the pandemic opting to have a great time. As I continue to lead the AJA this year, the Board of Directors will continue to focus on community building, increasing membership, and empowerment of our people through systemic development in areas of education, culture, and economic advancement, the pillars of our vision.

The AJA embarked on several “Rep Yuh Parish” projects in many of the parishes in Jamaica.  Over forty ($40,000) thousand dollars were received in donations with more than eighty percent spent on completed projects. Some of the projects included:

• Clarendon: Adopted the Halse Hall Clinic (3-year project).

• Kingston and St Andrew:  August Town Primary School (tablets); Maxfield Park children’s home (bedding/supplies); Adonijah Group of Schools; and Disabled Jamaican soldiers (Medical Equipment).

• Manchester:  Mt. Olivet Boys home (repaired greenhouse).

• St. Ann/St. Mary:  St. Ann’s Bay Hospital (purchased State-of-The-Art Colposcope System for the Maternity ward).

• St. Thomas: Morant Bay Women’s Center (donated items/supplies to teen mothers and children).

• Westmoreland:  Savanna-la-Mar Infirmary (donated items/supplies).

• St. Elizabeth:  Manning’s Boys Home, Top Hill primary and Black River hospital (in progress)

• Portland:  Primary Schools - uniforms, shoes, and lunches for children (in progress).

• Hanover:  Kingsvale community: school supplies, refurbish playgrounds (in progress).

The AJA continues to be impactful through its annual scholarship program for college bound students. Seventeen ($17,000) thousand dollars were awarded to students both in metro Atlanta and in Jamaica. We were very pleased that our biggest Sponsor, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport saw us awarding one of our scholarships to an aviation student. General Manager, Mr. Balram Bheodari was at our Independence Ball and made the presentation to recipient Ta-Merry Harrison. This year, we will continue to impact our young people through higher education.

 

Our sincere gratitude and thanks to our members, sponsors, advertisers, and friends of the AJA for your continued support.

 

One love! God’s continued blessings to all as we go forward, together in harmony!

 

Rev. Dr. Maxine Osbourne Foster