Global Nobel Teacher Prize Recipient Jamaican-born Keishia Thorpe to Deliver Keynote at the Atlanta Jamaican Association Annual Independence Ball and Scholarship Awards

The Atlanta Jamaican Association, Inc. (AJA) and the AJ Cultural and Educational Fund Inc. (AJCEF) present the Annual Independence Ball and Scholarship Awards 2024 on Saturday, August 10, 2024. The event will take place at the Atlanta Marriott Gateway Hotel, 2020 Convention Center Concourse, Atlanta, from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

The highlight of the evening will be the keynote address by Jamaican-born Keishia Thorpe, the 2021 Global Nobel Teacher Prize recipient and 2024 inductee in the USA National Teachers Hall of Fame. Thorpe, a Nobel Prize Educator and Licensed Principal in Prince George’s County Public Schools, redesigned the 12th grade English curriculum to better serve immigrants and refugees. With 20 years of teaching experience, she has a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Master’s in Education, specializing in Global Competence and Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching. Her work has earned her global recognition, including a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joe Biden.

The event will also celebrate Jamaican culture and 62 years of independence, with 11 scholarships being awarded to outstanding students from Jamaica and the metro Atlanta area. Additionally, 2024 scholarship winners and past recipients who have successfully completed their college degrees will be recognized.

The evening will feature performances by the Swatt Band, known for collaborations with Burning Spear, and Roy Rayon, a four-time Jamaican Festival Song winner. Entertainment will also include Mikey Sparkle Production and DJ Cold Rice, offering a blend of classic reggae and contemporary music.

The event is sponsored by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with additional support from Couples Resorts, PNC Bank, JN Money, Jamaica Tourist Board, GB Roofing, Golden Krust, and Barry Bennett Foundation/MME.

Tickets are priced at $145 and can be purchased online.

About the AJA: Established in 1977, the AJA has been dedicated to social welfare and community support within the Jamaican diaspora in metro Atlanta. The AJA Cultural and Educational Fund, Inc. (AJCEF), founded in 1995, furthers these philanthropic and educational efforts. Currently, the organization is focusing on its “Rep yuh parish” program, which provides services and funding to selected communities in Jamaican parishes.