director's message

Dreams and Wishes

By Charmaine Jefferson Executive Director, California African American Museum

Spring blossoms fading into summer heat means it's time to reflect on CAAM's past.  It is the start of my seventh year as CAAM's Director, and I am still humbled by the priivilege of being able to work with a tireless staff and board, devoted volunteers, enthusiastic consultants, and a continually growing number of supportive members and generous donors.  Thank you.

This past year alone we capitalized on this energy and engaged in programmatic and exhibit collaborations with four different institutions.  We generated great ideas, shared business synergy and tremendous giving across organizational boundaries.  In these economic times this wasn't easy, so what we can truly point to is CAAM's ability to pull rabbits out of a hat...even when there was seemingly no hat!  On a combined budget of a little more than $3.1M and a combined full-time staff of only 22, CAAM and our Friends Foundation are delivering free to the public, nine to 13 exhibitions and no less than 53 public and school-age education programs annually.  Since 2003, CAAM has directly organized 27 exhibitions, and since 2005 produced nine exhibition catalogs.

Though the economy has slowed our plans to create an acquisition fund, we still managed to grow our collection with purchases of three  major works, and private donations that have increased our collection with a variety of 256 objects of art, historical documents, artifacts, photographs  and other  memorabilia.  Even though the State's resources for our capital expansion project have been frozen, since 2006 we have installed a great new sign, completed the exterior landscaping, added shade covering on our terrace---and even managed to successfully complete our preliminary plans by means of a two-thirds/one-third partnership between the State of California and our Friends Foundation---and we brought the project in under budget.

Expansion may have slowed, but our progress is not stalled, and we keep delivering the African American perspective, Black history, art and culture, 365 days a year.

We offer educational programming and outreach to a wide spectrum of ages and backgrounds.  We know that our free attendance policy is a valuable asset for many belt-tightening families.  So much of our active public service is only made possible by your sustained attendance, donations and membership.  You are the ones that keep our mutual dreams for broadening cultural awareness at the forefront of all we do.  But let's face it, it is a dream that costs---your continued financial contributions of $25, $50, or $100 ensure that we can keep going.  We still believe that we can reach one million in gifts through the contributions of hundreds of friends, giving whatever you can.  Please donate today.  Help us continue CAAM's tradition of making magic for you and all of our friends.