Mission and Background
Background:
The African-American/Caribbean Education Association, Inc, also known as AACEAINC, was founded in 1997 by Rosalind O’Neal, who brought together teachers of African-American and Caribbean heritage to address, and bring resolve to, educational issues impacting teachers, students, and parents in the Southeast Queens Community. Under the leadership of Ms. O’Neal, the first years mushroomed from a small committee of teacher-advocates to a base of stakeholders interested in making a difference in the education of our children. In 2001, this group known as the African-American/Caribbean Education Association, whose cause is educational excellence, became chartered by the New York State Education Department and incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. AACEAINC is a 501 (C) 3 organization. While AACEAINC’s operations are based in Southeast Queens, its support extends to the five boroughs and beyond, in its services to parents, students, families, and education stakeholders.
Mission Statement:
The mission of the African-American/Caribbean Education Association is to: “Provide a vehicle by which educators, parents, politicians, community, and media, may be informed about issues relevant to our children’s educational growth and development, thereby, fostering a teaching and learning environ- ment conducive to our students meeting the standards to compete and achieve in today’s evolving technological society”.
Vision
We at AACEAINC envision a new place in history where our children “excel” in all aspects of the American experience. It is our belief, that as a People, we have a moral and civic obligation to strengthen educational services and quality of life issues –to make a difference change must first start with us, and we must know what we are willing to contribute to this effort. Our vision embraces the success of all our children, the low achieving, the high risk, the children with special needs, and the children that are gifted and talented. We envision an organization supportive of high quality experiences, and programs, that foster leadership. We see our role as catalysts, leading the way to the fulfillment of hopes and dreams, which will mutually benefit every one of us.
Accomplishments
Since AACEAINC’s inception the organization is proud to have provided the following services to the community:
- Academic Essay Contest 2021-2022
- Inaugural Speech and Debate Series
- AACEAINC SCHOLARSHIP FUND / Scholarship Program
- The AACEAINC Lifetime Achievement Award
- AACEAINC City-Wide Poetry Contest
- Co-sponsor College Fair: “A Showcase of CUNY Colleges”
- Co-sponsor Education Forum: “Working to Build a Better Future for Our Children
- Co-sponsor College Seminar and Keeping Our Children Safe Safety Forum
- Information on the New Regents Standards (early 2000s)
- Voter Registration
- Community Health Fair
- School Safety Community Forum
- Juneteenth Celebration and Essay Contest-the early days in 1997
- Community Civic Service Program
- Jazz/Poetry Slam
- A voice in Immigrant Education and Literacy Needs
- Black Literature Series with a Historical Genre
- Parent Empowerment Workshop Series
- Making Education a Top Priority Series
- Newsletter
- Adopt a School Program
- Cultural Sponsorship Program for Students
- Providing support as a community based organization in the application of the U.S. Department of Education Smaller Learning Communities Grant, which was successfully awarded to the Southeast Queens Community in 2002.
- Endorser of the National Center for Schools & Communities at Fordham University’s Task Force 2009: Working for Human Rights in NYC Public Schools