Discussion On Jamaica’s 50th Year Of Independence And Cultural Quiz Bowl Highlight JAMCCAR’S Celebration Of Black History Month At Monthly Meeting On February 10, 2012

The Jamaican Civic and Cultural Association of Rockland, Inc. (JAMCCAR) is proud to announce that Dr. Winsome Downie-Rainford, Professor of Government at Manhattan College will lead an interactive presentation / discussion on Jamaica at 50: A Retrospective, at its monthly meeting on Friday, February 10, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.  The meeting will be held at the Spring Valley Youth Bureau, Louis Kurtz Civic Center, 9 North Main Street, Spring Valley, New York. This will be a continuation of JAMCCAR’s yearlong celebration of Jamaica’s 50th year of Independence and JAMCCAR’s 22nd year.  The evening will include the popular annual Quiz Bowl with impromptu teams of adults and youth testing their knowledge of African-American /African/Caribbean History and Culture, with a focus on the last 50 years, in a fun atmosphere. Prizes will be awarded to all participants.  Come and join a team or cheer one on.  There will also be sharing of exciting plans and ideas for Independence-related civic, social, and cultural activities during 2012 for both youth and adults. JAMCCAR’s annual membership drive will continue with prizes for both new members and renewals.  The evening will end with networking, fellowship and refreshments hosted by the Hospitality committee. 

Dr. Winsome Downie-Rainford has a  B.A., from Barnard College / Columbia University , and an M.A, M.Phil. and Ph.D degrees from Columbia University. She is the author of several articles on the politics of development in post-colonial Jamaica and the Caribbean and on women in politics in Jamaica, the U.S.A., the Caribbean, South Africa and other areas of Africa and the African Diaspora, and has completed a book manuscript on the Politics of Independent Jamaica. She currently serves on JAMCCAR’s Board as Parliamentarian and is also president of the Board of the Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center in Spring Valley, New York.

JAMCCAR’s President Millicent Johnson-James, said, “In January, we had a fantastic start to our yearlong celebration of Jamaica’s 50th and JAMCCAR’s 22nd year with Mr. Irwine Clare and Mr. Aubrey Campbell, our steel band, and our dramatist, Mrs. Stafford. We will continue in that same vein in February with our expert on Jamaican history and politics, Dr. Winsome Downie-Rainford and our always popular Quiz Bowl!  In the spirit of JAMCCAR’s motto of Jamaicans and  Friends Working Together, please share with everyone and come out for what will definitely be another informative, fun  and relaxing evening. In addition, identify the current heads of  government below and be eligible to win a prize at the meeting.”

JAMCCAR, Inc. is a non-profit, community organization with a mission of fostering good relations with Jamaican-Americans and friends in the metropolitan area, with the purpose of promoting the civic, economic, and cultural aspects of the Jamaican, Caribbean, and Pan-African cultures.