director's message

Celebrating 30 Years of Service

By Charmaine Jefferson Executive Director, California African American Museum

Chartered into existence by the California State Legislature in September 1977, we leave 2007 and glide into calendar year 2008 gleeful that the Califoria African American Museum has reached 30 years of public service.  We continue to honor our initial mission to research, collect, preserve and interpret for public enrichment, the history, art and culture of African Americans. Celebrating Black history, art and culture 365 days a year (366 in leap year!), we remain steadfast in our commitment to provide thought-provoking, artistically stimulating, historically relevant, and culturally-significant programming for people of all ages and backgrounds.  It is a delight to open our doors, allowing people of color to know their own excellence and to share that excellence with others as an institution of which you can be proud.

During 2007, we ushered in some terrific advances.  We experienced our highest attendance level to date, our fundraising and a highly successful gala An Artful Evening at CAAM set new standards.  Our dynamic team of curators, educators and administrators presented a thrilling array of activities and programs while touring our own exhibitions to other museums around the country, and producing first class documentary catalogs.  Of course, there is always room to grow, to surpass expectations, and to deliver our vital message to a wider audience.  Originally housed in the California Museum of Science and Industry, we moved into our own building in 1984, and have since grown by leaps and bounds.  With a variety of innovative exhibitions, programs and workshops, two very energized boards of directors, a loyal team of volunteers, and a staff dedicated to expanding our physical plant, strengthening our collection of artifacts and art, and further diversifying our range of exhibitions and educational offerings, there is no doubt that CAAM is growing roots deep enough to sustain us for the next 30 years...and you are a critical part of that root system that keeps us grounded!

Stay tuned for what CAAM has in store during 2008.  From January's Cake for King honoring Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, to our statewide recognition of the founding of Allensworth, to illuminating our African Presence in Mexico, to intimate but enlightening Conversations at CAAM, to building partnerships with other art and culture organizations around the city, to the presentation of contemporary art, and the continuation of our free live Target Sundays at CAAM performances, to the December Kwanzaa ceremonies, 2007-2008 marks a time to celebrate 30 years and growing!  We hope to see you often at the California African American Museum, and bring a friend!