The mission of the New Jersey Black Cultural and Heritage Initiative is to broaden, deepen and diversify participation in black arts, history and culture.
The foundation's core objectives are to:
- Articulate and effectively communicate the value of black arts, history and culture;
- Raise the visibility of organizations, entertainment venues, historic sites, artists and scholars who present and/or preserve black arts history and culture;
- Increase the quality, length and number of visits to New Jersey-based venues;
- Provide intellectual resources and services to support excellence in the field;
- Encourage the preservation of historical and cultural assets by making them economically productive;
- Promote economic growth and development within minority communities, (including new jobs and youth programs).
Programs and services of the foundation will include artist workshops, organizational development activities, entertainment and performing arts showcases, youth programs, special exhibitions, tourism programs, seminars, publications, documentaries, as well as marketing and fund development
activities.
A principal component of its initial work, will include the launch and ongoing development of the foundation's NJLivingColor.org website. The goal of the website is to become an essential resource for arts, history, culture and entertainment within the state of New Jersey (and abroad). Through creative design and user-friendly navigation, the NJLivingColor.org website will seek to be an essential resource for leisure activity planning, travel/tourism, education/research, dining, entertainment, community development, news and community networking. Specific outcome objectives of the website are to:
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Introduce new audiences and consumers to the digital marketplace;
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Broaden, deepen and diversify participation in black arts, history and culture;
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Establish an engaging cyber-community to encourage strategic partnerships and
promote best practices;
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Increase the quality, length and number of visits to New Jersey-based venues;
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Boost visitor spending.
Target organizations include historic sites, museums, art galleries, faith-based organizations, performing arts centers and other organizations that present and/or preserve programs and services related to people of African descent.
The Foundation will seek to fulfill its mission as direct services and in partnership with state and local entities identified in its organizing legislation, including the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, New Jersey Historical Commission, New Jersey Council of the Humanities, New Jersey Public Broadcasting Commission, the Department of Education, the Department of Travel and Tourism, the Department of
Community Affairs, The Amistad Commission, The New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, the Department of Transportation, as well as other local or national, corporate or community organization.
The New Jersey Black Cultural & Heritage Initiative is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization, and is registered as a charitable organization with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
The New Jersey Black Cultural & Heritage Initiative, Inc. and its programs and services are created to benefit and serve all New Jerseyans and visitors alike. The Foundation, its staff and programs officers do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran.
