The One Family Junkanoo & Community Organization

Mission Statement

Our mission is to build the Bahamian community through Junkanoo To nurture the creation of economic and social opportunities through Junkanoo To revere and protect our cultural heritage And to celebrate our cultural uniqueness

The One Family Junkanoo and Community Organization was formed in 1993 in Nassau, Bahamas, by a group of cultural artists who see the powerful and tremendous potential of Junkanoo. We believe that Junkanoo is far more than annual parades. Junkanoo is an industry that embodies the creativity that will drive the Bahamian economy well into the 21st century. Junkanoo must be seen as the ‘raw material’ of the future. Further, the magnetic qualities of Junkanoo and its appeal to all Bahamians regardless of superficial differences, makes Junkanoo a powerful vehicle for social change, particularly among the youth of our nation.

Name

The name One Family goes beyond the Junkanoo parades and promotes the spirit of family and those family values that have been the hallmark of Bahamian culture.

Aims And Objectives

§ To contribute to the positive growth and development of our community through service. § To inspire and assist our youth in becoming productive citizens of our society. § To promote the Bahamian cultural experience in general, and Junkanoo in particular, both within the Bahamas, and internationally; to strive for the recognition of Junkanoo as

 the national festival of the Bahamas and Junkanoo music as the official music. 

§ To provide a central body responsible for protecting and promoting the interest of all members. § To establish rules and regulations for the management and conduct of members and activities. § To provide opportunities for new members to be introduced to the arts of Junkanoo. § To foster the development of the arts and skills of Junkanoo into a world respected industry.

Motto

"WARRIORS FOR EXCELLENCE"

Biblical Reference

'Go to the ANT, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise'. Proverbs 6:6

Group Organization

The administration of One Family is set out in the Group’s Constitution. The Group is administered by a Steering Team, which is comprised of the administrative core, representatives of all sections of the Group, and the chairmen of the Sub-Teams.

Chairman: Darren Bastian Vice-Chairman: Rory Saunders Treasurer: Gurth Ford Secretary: Arlene Ferguson Chairman, Community Outreach: Cheryl Ford

One Family Record Of Community Outreach Projects 1993-2001

§ 1993-Present Participation as a public service at numerous community events, including the Cancer Society’s march in 1994 and the British American Christmas party for underprivileged children.
§ 1994 Sponsorship of the highly successful book fair ‘Rush to Read’ in 1994 in support of the Ministry of Education’s ‘Let’s Read Bahamas’.
§ 1996 The donation of prize money to four charity organizations in 1996: Unity House, Morris House, the Ranfurly Home for Children, and the Children's Emergency Hostel.
§ 1997 Sponsorship of the well received ‘Health A-Fair’ [‘Rush to Live’] in July of 1997, in support of the Ministry of Health’s ‘Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccination Campaign’.
§ 1998 The introduction of the first weekly live radio talk show devoted entirely to the promotion and celebration of Junkanoo. The show is heard every Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. on MORE 94.9 FM.
§ 1999 The donation of an Intel Pentium Computer to the Southern Public Library, February 1999, in honour of Mrs. Lillian Coakley, former librarian. Group members raised the money from donations.
§ 1999 The sponsorship of a six-week Junkanoo Studies Program for students of the Simpson C. Penn Centre for Boys, and the Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls, March 1999.
§ 2000 Presentation of six bullet-proof vests to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, in conjunction with the British Colonial Hilton Hotel [major sponsor]
§ 1998-2004 Annual sponsorship of the highly acclaimed summer camp 'Rush To Learn' which hosts 75 children from the Grant's Town area for two weeks, and acquaints them with the Junkanoo Arts.

Highlights Of One Family's Participation In The Annual Junkanoo Parades

One Family boasts unbroken participation in the Junkanoo Parades from Boxing Day 1993 to the present

Notable Achievements:

§ Boxing Day 1995 2nd Place: Myths, Monsters and Mysteries of the Deep
§ New Year’s Day 1996 1st Place: African Spirits Rejoice
§ Boxing Day 1998 2nd Place: To God Be The Glory: Angels On High
§ New Year’s Day 1999 2nd Place: Down Home
§ Boxing Day 1999 1st Place: Hello, Hello, Africa: Cradle of Civilization
§ New Year’s Day 2000 2nd Place: A Whole New World
§ Boxing Day 2000 2nd. Place: The Bahamas: Jewels in a Crown of 700 Islands
§ Boxing Day 2001 2nd Place: The Great Pow Wow
§ Boxing Day 2002 1st Place: Love Thy Neighbour: Celebrate the Spirit of America
§ New Year's Day 2003 1st Place: The Great Home Going
§ Boxing Day 2004 2nd Place: Asia: A Magical, Mystical Tour