Acting NJ Governor Establishes the New Jersey Black Cultural and Heritage Initiative Foundation
/NEW JERSEY - On March 21, 2005 Acting Governor Richard Codey signed
bill A1559 establishing the New Jersey Black Cultural and Heritage
Initiative Foundation. The goal of the foundation is to enhance
economic development and public participation in black arts, history
and culture.
The foundation will help share the unique artistic and cultural
experiences of the diverse black communities of New Jersey, including
historic sites, artifacts, cuisines, venues and activities that
authentically represent their heritage and stories of the past and
present.
The foundation will seek to fulfill this goal by strengthening
organizations who traditionally present and preserve black arts,
history and culture---in addition to assisting other organizations in
diversifying their program offerings and audiences. An essential goal
of the foundation is to: increase the quality, length and number of
visits to New Jersey-based venues; boost visitor spending; spur
economic growth, including new jobs; and encourage the preservation
of historical and cultural assets by making them economically
productive.
The foundation, also known as NJBCHI, has quietly been toiling in the
background seeking to establish itself as a key resource of New
Jersey. The planning team initially formed in February 2003 with
various members from the Department of State. The core force,
however, of the foundation remains Lawana Dykes, formerly of the NJ
State Council on the Arts.
After forming a Steering Committee of nearly thirty black leaders from
throughout New Jersey, NJBCHI set it sights on launching the foundation
on February 15, 2004. This date was historically significant for
it marked the 200th anniversary of New Jerseys gradual emancipation
from slavery act, making New Jersey the last northern state to commence
the ending of slavery in the United States.
Unfortunately, the planning team was unable to garner enough support to keep this historic date.
After several delays and set-backs, NJBCHI re-emerged with the signing
of bill A1559 in March 2005. It now awaits its official launch from the
Department of State.
The foundation will provide a unique public-private partnership for the
state of New Jersey that could potentially provide great social and
economic benefits. As one of the first initiatives of its
kind, the foundation is poised to serve as a national model.
Today, however, NJBCHI continues its behind-the-scenes toiling to be
noticed, supported and launched.
