Past Projects:
The Amistad Project (October 2006)
The Amistad Project 2006 was a collaborative project of The CEJJES Institute and The African American Historical Society of Rockland.
Kwanzaa Celebration (December 2006)
This celebration is held in collaboration with several community organizations. It is a family event organized to celebrate the culture and history of the African Diaspora
Voices from the African Diaspora Film Festival (February 2007)
The Voices from the African Diaspora Film Festival is a collaborative project of The African American History Month Committee of Rockland Community College and The CEJJES Institute collaborate to that will showcase contemporary films from Africa (Senegal and Darfur), Brazil, France and United States. Our goal is to present unique and quality cinema made by or about people of African descent in a festival atmosphere for the purpose of educating, inspiring and entertaining audiences. The films in this screening event range from powerful narratives to topical documentaries, and include familiar classics as well as cutting-edge works. The mission of the Voices from the African Diaspora Film Festival is to promote films made by independent filmmakers of the African Diaspora and films made about the peoples of the African Diaspora. Through the films shown, we hope to foster communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while at the same time, initiate dialogue on important issues.
Heritage Celebration (February 2007)
CEJJES joined with the village of Spring Valley, The NAACP and the Spring Valley Youth Bureau to celebrate the history and culture of the peoples of the African Diaspora. Music, dance and topical lectures complete the one day event.
College and Career Mentoring Program (July-August 2007)
The CEJJES Institute’s College and Career Mentoring Program for high school students began on July 7th and continued through August 18, 2007. Seven sessions were held on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the CEJJES Institute. The program is intended for students who have an interest in attending college and will be entering the 10th, 11th or 12th grades in the fall of 2007. The program limited to twenty students was free of charge funded by a grant from the Department of Family and Children’s Services.
Each session was designed to highlight a component critical to success in college. Experts in the fields of law, engineering, publishing, education, technology, finance and science visited the program and had in-depth conversations with the students regarding their particular field. Students were provided with books that were discussed over the course of program and were asked to develop an education and career plan by the end of the program. Students who successfully completed the program received an SAT study guide or another book of their choosing from a selection of books related to their intended major.
The African Diaspora Arts Festival
The African Diaspora Art Festival mission is to share with the audience the culture and heritage of people of African descent by focusing on storytelling, spoken word, dance, visual arts and music from throughout the Diaspora. Our goal is to provide a venue, in Rockland County, where the art of the African Diaspora can be explored and celebrated. Children engage themselves in fun-filled educational and craft activities that permit them to gain a greater understanding of the culture and history of the people of the African Diaspora. Local musicians, dancers, and poets provide the entertainment.