DIRECTIONS to the UFJ meeting
From the North of Atlanta :
. Take 85 or 75 South to 85/75
. Come off at North Avenue, Turn left (or east) and follow until you get to Moreland/Briarcliff
. Turn Right on Moreland (or south) and follow until Euclid Avenue (heart of little Five Points)
. Follow Euclid to the second light which should be Austin Avenue
. Turn Left on Austin and you should see what looks like a three story school on the right.
. Park in front of the building on the opposite side of Austin from the building
. Enter building up the steps on Austin side and go to room 105
From the South of Atlanta :
. Take 85 or 75 North to 85/75
. Go I-20 East to Moreland Avenue going North (the second of 2 Moreland exits)
. Follow Moreland Avenue north go under a bridge and the next big intersection should be Euclid Avenue (Heart of Little Five Points)
. Turn Left on Euclid Avenue
. Follow Euclid to the second light which should be Austin Avenue
. Turn Left on Austin and you should see what looks like a three story school on the right.
. Park in front of the building on the opposite side of Austin from the building
. Enter building up the steps on Austin side and go to room 105
From the East Of Atlanta
. Jump on I-20 going west until you get to Moreland Avenue
. Turn Right on Moreland Avenue
. Follow Moreland Avenue north go under a bridge and the next big intersection should be Euclid Avenue (Heart of Little Five Points)
. Turn Left on Euclid Avenue
. Follow Euclid to the second light which should be Austin Avenue
. Turn Left on Austin and you should see what looks like a three story school on the right.
. Park in front of the building on the opposite side of Austin from the building
. Enter building up the steps on Austin side and go to room 105
From West of Atlanta
. Take I-20 East to Moreland Avenue
. Exit Moreland Avenue going North (the second of 2 Moreland exits)
. Follow Moreland Avenue north go under a bridge and the next big intersection should be Euclid Avenue (Heart of Little Five Points)
. Turn Left on Euclid Avenue
. Follow Euclid to the second light which should be Austin Avenue
. Turn Left on Austin and you should see what looks like a three story school on the right.
. Park in front of the building on the opposite side of Austin from the building
. Enter building up the steps on Austin side and go to room 105
By Marta
. Get on the East / West Train line
. Get off at Edgewood Candler Park Station
. Take the number 3 bus
. Ask the bus driver to drop you at the bus stop closest to Austin Avenue and Euclid Avenue
. Tell him to show you where exactly Austin Avenue is
. And the building will be sitting on the corner of Euclid and Austin
FABULOUS WITH A CAUSE
By Akilah Richards
Fabulous wines, chic fabrics, original designs and catered Afro-Caribbean food varieties to please any palate -- that's what you missed if you weren't among the list of guests at Ladies of Now (NOW) and United for Jamaica's (UFJ) first collaborative fundraiser, entitled United in Culture: A World Event.
Hosted by Ladies of NOW president Melody Udoinyon and UFJ president Jason Walker, this affair had all the elements of an upscale event well worth dressing up for! The setting -- De Fine Art Gallery, a swank art haven located in Norcross, Georgia. Gallery manager Rob Harris graciously allowed the non-profits to host the event at De Fine Art, and gallery affiliate Danielle was present at the event and pitched in all night, doing everything from directing guests to cleaning up. "We are very fortunate and grateful to have the support of De Fine Art," noted UFJ Vice President Christopher Stewart. In typical UFJ fashion, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and attendees mingled and exchanged business cards, ideas and smiles while live music cascaded around the beautiful artwork that graced the gallery's walls. "It's wonderful! Great venue, great entertainment," chimed attendee Ronda Price who donned her must-have "little black dress" perfect for the event. Co-host Melody could be seen at any moment hugging guests and making sure everyone was at ease.
Singer and guitar player Marcel Gordon swooned the crowd with his mellow tunes as guests perused the art and shared opinions on the best wines. Chef Gotti's palate-pleasers were quite the hit with guests as shameless second rounds at the serving table were commonplace that night. Curried chicken, escovitch tofu, escovitch tilapia, vegetable rice, and a delectable bread pudding dessert were the perfect foods to make sure that the assortment of wines didn't leave anyone too giddy to behave. As the crowd mingled through various areas of the gallery, they were all drawn to center stage when Houston, Texas based Nigerian singer Etinyene Okon and dancer Rosaline Okon-Itrechio took the audience from mellow to energized with their spirited performance. Etinyene's voice commanded the attention of all as he chit-chatted with the audience, making the performance seem very informal and involving. Though attendees only witnessed a small part of the full Eti Cultural Dance Group experience, it was enough to raise the energy level of the room several notches, and would-be watchers became active participants, one particular guest was wearing stilettos, mind you, as they couldn't resist dancing with Rosaline and learning a few of her mesmerizing moves.
As if mellow tunes, cultural dance and song, and great food and wine weren't enough, Nadine Coombs of Poize Entertainment showcased a uniquely beautiful array of African-inspired designs, complete with head wraps and an assortment of brilliant colors. Fellow designer, Nicola Watson, with her fearless color palate and elegant designs, complemented Coombs’ designs rather well. Brittany, a native of Atlanta commented, "My sister is modeling in this show, and I didn't even know [the event] was going to have all this good stuff!"
Always bringing “vibes and niceness” the Reggae Coalition Band concluded the festivities with their hearty serenades. Couples danced lovingly and there wasn’t a non-swaying body in sight, save for those trying to get that last delicious bite of Chef Gotti’s creations.
Overall, this first (of many) collaborative efforts between Ladies of Now and United for Jamaica offered a welcomed reprieve from the usual Saturday night party. Live music, fabulous fashion, gorgeous models, and of course food and wine definitely created a formula for success that night.
Proceeds from ticket sales and donations will benefit both organizations’ community efforts both locally and in their respective countries.
UFJ would like to send a special thank you to Melody Udoinyon, who with the help of Christopher Stewart and other UFJ members, made this event a great success. The organization would like to thank WRFG radio 89.3FM, Caribbean Star Magazine, 1100 AM, Carib Life Central and other entities that helped to make this a success.
Keep your eyes to your emails and your ears to your local radio, because next year's event is a must-attend!
For more information on Eti Cultural Dance Group, visit www.africanplanet.com
For Reggae Coalition Band, visit http://www.myspace.com/thereggaecoalitionband
For Poize Entertainment visit http://www.myspace.com/mnproductions2
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Ladies of NOW, a registered 501(c) (3) non-profit organization in the state of Georgia, organized primarily to provide humanitarian assistance to the underprivileged in Nigeria, West Africa and the Diaspora. Since our inception in September 2005, we have undertaken numerous educational and philanthropic initiatives in Nigeria as well as the United States. www.ladiesofnow.org
United for Jamaica (UFJ), a registered non-profit 501(c)(3), is consistently involved in projects designed to inform and assist on issues related to local and international communities in need. Since its inception in 2004, UFJ has successfully conducted a series of hurricane relief and school supply drives, health and education forums, and business seminars, all to benefit the Caribbean communities in metro Atlanta as well as in their native countries. www.unitedforjamaica.org
SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE
Greetings fellow volunteers, activists, and friends
As the holiday season approaches, we all look forward to spending time with family and friends, both here and back home (wherever that may be). Many of us see the holidays as a time to share and to give. In the spirit of giving, members of United for Jamaica have answered the call to assist in the annual JamPact Christmas Treats program at various basic schools in economically challenged areas that have also been adversely affected by the recent storms that have passed through the Caribbean.
The students are in desperate need of school supplies, specifically notebooks, pens, pencils notebook paper, book bags, computers and folders. Last year your donations helped over 300 students, lets push that number to 1, 000.
We would appreciate ANYTHING that you can give from the list above. No amount is too small! contact me via phone 404 533 1248 or email info@unitedforjamaica.org for any additional information.
Thank you, in advance, for your kindness!
Jason Walker
President
