The African American Fire Fighter Museum (AAFFM) located in the National Historical Landmark Fire Station 30 (Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument no. 298) on Central Avenue, is proud to announce that it is the recipient of a Museum Grant for African American History and Culture awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This prestigious award recognizes AAFFM as an institution making significant efforts to secure its collection, maintain and grow connections with its constituency and strengthen its position as a stakeholder in the local and national cultural community. The project to reimagine the permanent collection exhibition and develop a sound collections management program is spearheaded by Interim Board President David Spence in formal partnership with curator Dr. Jill Moniz, who will steward the one year long endeavor. Spence, a Los Angeles Fire Fighter and founding board member of AAFFM believes that this is the beginning of many improvements to the museum as well as an opportunity to increase awareness and engagement of the museum and its rich cultural history. Moniz, formerly head curator for visual arts at the California African American Museum (CAAM), selected her colleague Lisa Henry to conduct an analysis of the AAFFM collectin and exhibition to determine how to best preserve and display the artifacts that demonstrate the complex and timely narrative of racial discrimination and the collective tenacity to overcome it. AAFFM houses the stories and ephemera that highlight how the sacrifices, struggles and triumphs of individuals working together changed the cultural climate of greater Los Angeles, particularly its willingness to integrate an all white, all male fire fighting force. Lisa Henry has a strong curatorial background beginning with her Masters in Museum Studies from UCLA to her distinguished national career as a curator, including the highly received 2007 exhibition Blacks In and Out of the Box with co-curator moniz at CAAM. Together these professionals will ensure that the African American Firefighter Museum follows best practices to increase sustainability of the artifacts and the institution
Interim Board President Spence is looking forward to the project that will help AAFFM develop new exhibitions, secure the collection, and welcome new items as well as stakeholders into the AAFFM community. Spence has received congratulations from US Congress member Xavier Becerra as well as local officials and community leaders. The AAFFM opened in 1997, whilst celebrating 100 years of service to the city of Los Angeles. The museum represents the culmination of efforts to ensure that the little known but vital heart of Los Angeles history would be preserved and celebrated. AAFFM houses a collection of artifacts that illustrate the challenging journey of exceptional courage and perseverance for equality taken by African American men and women who became fire fighters.
WE HAVE BELOW THREE PRIMARY CONSULTANTS OVERSEEING THE IMSLA GRANT
JILL MONIZ, M.A.
Jill Moniz works with an ad hoc consortium of artists, curators and others dedicated to manifesting creative ideas into viable and beautiful actions and solutions for the critical problems that face our generation, from the disassociation of art from life to the dislocation of peoples, resources and possibilities. Since becoming an independent curator, jill has curated exhibitions of Los Angeles based artists, created public art projects and installations, written for and about artists including Betye Saar and Mark Bradford, and lectured about art in Los Angeles and Europe. She is currently editing with Dr. Lizzetta LeFalle Collins the volume 85 Years of BLACK Art in LA, with contributions from Tavis Smiley, Drs. Joe Lewis and Bridgette Cooks, among others. She lives in Culver City, California with her sons.
Lisa Henry, PhD
An independent curator based in Riverside, California, Henry was formerly Assistant Curator for American Art at the Newark Museum. Since 2004 she has worked as a guest curator for numerous museums and galleries including The Amistad Center at The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, The High Museum of Art, The California African American Museum, Leica Gallery New York, Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco & New York, The UCLA Hammer Museum, The MAK Center, Los Angeles, University Art Gallery at University California at San Diego, and The California Museum of Photography, Riverside. Henry is currently working with Riverside Art Museum and artist Charles Bibbs on the upcoming exhibition, The Visual Voice and hosting the Association of African American Museums Conference, August 2016.
Jamie Jackson, MBA
Creative nonprofit professional qualified in the areas of development and grant writing. Possesses a
distinctive blend of hands-on technical, project management, and entrepreneurial experience.
Proven leadership with a strength in successful fund raising activities, developing policies and
procedures, and strategic management agendas.
Strategic Planning Board Development
Project Planning & Management Development of Fund Raising Programs
Long Range Planning Programs Financial Management/Resource Planning
Grant Writing Expertise Team Building & Leadership
SIGNIFICENT
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Creativity in developing fund raising programs
• Instituted short term and long term strategic platforms
• Inspired Board of Directors’ greater involvement and commitment
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
Nonprofit Management Consultant Current
African American Firefighters Museum, Los Angeles, CA
• Developed process for accreditation
• Established sister organization called Friends of African American Firefighters Museum for
fundraising activities
• Established Two Year Strategic Plan
• Completed assessment of Board to identify gaps in knowledge and breadth of expertise
Nonprofit Management Consultant 2012 – Present
Curacao Inc., Los Angeles, CA
• Established academic Tutoring Program “Learn to Read, Read to Learn”
• Wrote presentation materials, action plans, and budget for tutoring program
• Created critical partnerships with Woodcraft Rangers and LAUSD expanding the academic
program
• Continued oversight of operational and transactional processes ensuring goals are maintained
Jamie Jackson, MBA Page 2
Grant Writer – Part Time 2011- 2013
AbilityFirst, Pasadena, CA
• Obtained grants between $1 – $10,000 from corporate and private grant institutions
• Assisted in augmenting programmatic budgets for grant submissions
• Researched and prepared prospective funders, compiled grant deliverables, and monitored
grant reports
African American History and Culture African American Firefighter Museum
• Arranged and conducted site visits
• Worked closely with prospective donors including community and corporate organization
Program Coordinator 2009 – 2011
The Early Childhood Parenting Center, Santa Monica, CA
• Financial management of $160,000 Budget
• Obtained 1st
• Advised Board of Directors regarding short and long term strategic planning programs for
fundraising and marketing programs
• Developed organizational policies and procedures
• Created a network of potential donors, future board members and new collaborative
opportunities within the community
Human Resources Manager 2007 – 2009
Child and Family Center, Santa Clarita, CA
• Responsible for organization of 172 employees in all aspects of Human Resources including
training platforms, recruitment initiatives, compensation programs and employee relations
• Handled regulatory reporting
• Planned and coordinated community fundraising events
Time grant of $60,000
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
Supervisory and Management Experience 1994 – 2007
Healthcare Industry – Private Physician’s Office and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Managed day-to-day operations in busy doctor’s office
• Managed billing activities ensuring timely accounting of receivables
• Provided direct supervision of eight employees in Emergency Room Registration
EDUCATION
The Grantsmanship Center – Certification in Grant writing
California State University, Northridge – Certification in Human Resources Management
University of Judaism – Masters of Business Administration – Non-Profit Management and Leadership
Program
University of La Verne – Bachelor of Arts – Business Administration
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE AND
AFFILIATIONS
Gamble House, USC – Current Board Member for Friends of the Gamble House (FoGH) and Docent
Fire Family Foundation-Board Member
J. Paul Getty Center – Docent
City Club of Los Angeles – Current Member
The museum is open Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and is free to the public.