A Year in Review: How You Helped Jakmel Ekspresyon

 

The supporters and Administration of Jakmel Ekspresyon have raised $5,800 towards rent. We have $700 to go in order to meet our goal of $6,500 by June 1st. Help us today so that we can continue to provide resources where they are needed.

The past six months have been monumental for Jakmel Ekspresyon. Let’s look back at all of the amazing events that have taken place at or for Jakmel Ekspresyon since December of 2011.

December 2011

• Jakmel Ekspresyon Rented a New Building
• Jakmel Ekspresyon Started an IndieGoGo Campaign and raised $3000 from 44 funders
• Kwochè Ayiti Workshops at Jakmel Ekspresyon
• Caroline Paquita Sold Art to Benefit JE

January 2012

• JE Hosted Knitting Workshops
• JE Finished A Successful IndieGoGo Fundraiser
• Had Classes at JE 6 Days a Week
• Spare Change Theater (Resident Theater Program at JE) Website is Live

February 2012

• Hosted Kaleidoscope at Phyllis’ Musical Inn With Amazing Performances 
• Held Even More Classes Six Days a Week at Jakmel Ekspresyon

March 2012

• Saw the Amazing Film Makers For a Cause Video of JE
• Hosted Classes at JE 7 Days a Week!
• Spare Change Graduated A Class of Actors and Actresses

April 2012 

• Held Ra Ra Yo! A Fundraiser at Martyr’s 
• Got Invited to Verge Art Fair in NYC

May 2012

• Held Our First Concert at JE 
• Exhibited at Verge Art Fair NYC

On June 2nd, Jakmel Ekspresyon along with our neighbors – the dance troupe Explosion, will shut down our block for an epic dance party. We’re happy to be a part of our community and are glad to open our doors to the world!

Nou te fè yon bon pati nan Chicago!

Mesamis, mwen te gen bon nouvèl jodi a!

Nou te gen bèl pati nan Chicago pou ede òganizasyon nou yo. Nou gen apeprè 10 pousan nan pri lwaye pou bati kay nou yo. Tout moun Jakmel ta renmen mizik la ak danse. jodi a. Mwen espere pou foto byento.

My friends, I’ve got good news today. We had a nice party in Chicago for aiding our organization. We got about 10 percent of rent for our building. All Jakmel people would have liked the music and dancing. I hope for photos soon.

Benefit Success!

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Thank you everyone for coming out and enjoying all the talented artists last Saturday. It was an amazing night. We raised over $500 which is a months operational costs. If you missed the event and still want to support JE please visit our Donate page.

The last month was a big month for us. The center ran workshops six days a week. The workshops included dance, theater, painting, fire spinning and a film club. The majority of the workshops were run by local established Haitian artists! In the US we met with our new pro-bono lawyer. With one more step to solidify this new relationship we will be on our way to establishing ourselves as a legal non-profit.

So many people have contacted the Administration to find out more about JE and how the can help. Our network just keeps growing. This is an exciting time and filled with opportunities to grow. If anyone is interested in helping by donating time and talents, please contact the Co-Director, Sue Frame, at jakmelekspresyon@gmail.com.

Kaleidoscope- Benefit for Jakmel Ekspresyon in Chicago, February 18th!

If you are in Chicago, please join us on February 18th at Phyllis’ Musical Inn (1800 W Division in Wicker Park)  for Kaleidoscope.

This benefit for us features Megitza Quartet, Honey & Buffalo, Diane Christiansen & Steve Dawson, Cynthia Plaster Caster, Katherine Chronis, Mike O’Flaherty, and Ashley Thornton.

It starts at 8pm, and is just $15 at the door. What a deal!

See you there!

Jakmel Ekspresyon Classes Taking Place 6 Days A Week

Did you know that Jakmel Ekspresyon Art Center has events 6 nights a week? We now have ballroom dancing for kids and adults, film club, painting, poi (fire dance) and Spare Change Theater! Thanks for helping us make these amazing classes a reality!

Indiegogo Video

Want to find out more about Jakmel Ekspresyon and our IndieGogo Campaign? Watch the Jakmel Ekspresyon YouTube video and go to our campaign homepage: http://bitl.ly/jakmelgogo

New Building for 2012 Rented!

We successfully negotiated with the landlord of our preferred building. He has agreed to splitting the rent into 3 payments. We signed a lease and made our first payment today. The members helped to move the furniture in this afternoon and workshops will begin by Thursday. This is very exciting for us because of the amount of projects that are happening right now. Thank you everyone that helped us to reach this point. YEAH!!!!!!!  MES AMIS!!!!!!! Help us reach our next goal at JE by donating. Every dollar will get us closer to the next payment at the end of January. For more info go to:

Spare Change Theater Program is starting round three of workshops.

Spare Change theater was founded by JE’s Administrator, Aaron Funk. In the first two rounds the members learned improv theater, character development, theater lighting and more. In the new round the members hope to continue more of the same. Pictures to come.

NOV 23rd Homonomixxx VIVE HAITI! Verdi Club, San Francisco benefit a huge success!

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Last night’s benefit for Jakmel Ekspresyon and JE’s Ghetto Biennale project was a huge success with

over 100 people in attendance throughout the night at SF’s historic Verdi Club. Over 50 people were in attendance for the incredible 5-course Caribbean inspired meal prepared by the fabulous Tessa Maria and her crew of excellent prep cooks.

The Verdi Club was transformed by the larger than life decor of Finley, Brutus and Gayle, draping the walls with multi-colored fabric, ornaments and Finley’s beautiful tapestries. Finley set up a live photobooth where she snapped dinner attendees’ photos and printed them out with their choice of psychedelically-themed frames she digitally created. The dinner was served family-style at 4 long rows of tables where friends and strangers had the opportunity to meet and talk.

Homonomixxx crew donning their best,fabulous fashion, bustled in and out of the kitchen serving the delicious vegan and gluten-free dishes. After dinner, the crowd warmly received the debut of SF’s Glimmer, a sibling duo made up by Li and Jonas Pastora. Glimmer’s set  was followed by a short presentation about JE by Ivy Jeanne and Aaron Funk and concluded by Ivy Jeanne and Haitian American artist Militza Jean-Felix talking about their upcoming Ghetto Biennale projects in Port-au-Prince this December.

The festivities continued with bumbin’ soul and tropicales sets by Hard French DJs Brown Amy and WamBamAshleyanne and Queer Cumbia/ Party Hole DJ Jiggles.

At the end of the night, we raised roughly $1300 after our total expenses!

Huge thanks to the following for making the benefit possible:

Denny Palmer and The Verdi Club, Homonomixxx, Tessa Maria, Glimmer, DJ Jiggles, Hard French DJs Brown Amy and Wam Bam Ashleyanne, Rainbow Grocery, several Bay Area farmers at the Ferry Building farmer’s market and Alemany farmer’s market,The Free Farm, and the Bay Area community who came out to support this event.

Thanks!

Ivy Jeanne

Check out our great donor gifts.

We have listed here all the awesome perks are for participating in our online fundraising campaign at Indie Go Go.