#21 Charmaine Jefferson Executive Director CAAM (2x06)

Host Kinte K. Fergerson
Guests: Charmaine Jefferson
Web Address: http://www.wunpn.com
Live Listener call in #: (909) 362-8242

Charmaine Jefferson
Executive Director, California African American Museum

Ms. Jefferson was appointed by then Governor Gray Davis as Executive Director of the California African American Museum (CAAM), a State agency, in June 2003. Housed in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park in a 44,000 sq ft. facility containing 5 galleries, and an exhibition courtyard, CAAM's mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and present for public enrichment the art, history, and culture of African Americans. CAAM’s collection exceeds 3,800 objects of art, artifacts and historical memorabilia and a research library of over 20,000 volumes of books, magazines, journals and videos. Ms. Jefferson also serves as Executive Vice President of Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum (Friends Foundation), the 501(c)(3) non-profit partner organized to provide CAAM with financial and human resource support. On a combined budget of $3.1M, CAAM and Friends deliver free, 9 to 13 exhibitions and 53 public and school-age education programs annually. Between 2008 – 2009, CAAM published 5 catalogs and continued its Mentoring Generations initiative with Young Docents (high school employment and training) Docents & Buses (free transportation for school field trips); Conversations at CAAM (community leaders); and monthly performances and support for “Artpreneurs” through Target Sundays at CAAM.


M.A. degree in Dance Education from New York University
B.A. in Dance from the University of California, Los Angeles
J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center