The José Martí Alumni Association of New York was proud to march in the inaugural Jamaica Rising Day Parade on Saturday, August 8, 2026 — a historic celebration of Jamaican culture, heritage, and community pride that transformed the streets of Brooklyn into a vibrant display of black, green, and gold.
Representing JMAANY and José Martí Technical High School were Secretary Miss Simone Gardine and Assistant Secretary Miss Andrea Rowe, who carried the school’s 50th Anniversary banner along the parade route, joining fellow alumni, cultural groups, and diaspora organizations from across the tri-state area in a moving showcase of Jamaican identity across all generations.
Also in attendance were Mr. Courtney Francis, Chairman of the José Martí 50th Anniversary Committee and Past President of JMAANY, and Mrs. Christine Peters-Smith, former Secretary of JMAANY — a strong showing of both current and past JMAANY leadership on the historic day.
A Historic First for the United States
The Jamaica Rising Day Parade is the first parade in the United States dedicated exclusively to Jamaican heritage — a landmark moment for the Jamaican community and diaspora. Marching under the theme “Jamaica Rising: One People. One Legacy. One Future.”, the event drew thousands of Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica to Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood to celebrate 64 years of Jamaican independence.
The parade stepped off at 10 a.m. from the corner of Church Avenue and Ocean Avenue — an intersection long known as Bob Marley Boulevard — and continued north along Ocean Avenue, ending near Lincoln Road at Dr. Ronald McNair Park. Grand Marshals Nadine Sutherland, the legendary Jamaican singer, and Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke led the procession, with star DJ DJ Danglez turning the route into a full-on island celebration with reggae, dancehall, soca, and R&B.
A Moment with a Reggae Legend
One of the day’s highlights came when Jamaican reggae superstar Ms. Nadine Sutherland, serving as Grand Marshal, stopped to greet the JMAANY delegation and pose for a photo with Miss Simone Gardine and Mr. Courtney Francis. The moment was a memorable meeting between one of Jamaica’s most beloved musical icons and the alumni leadership of José Martí Technical High School — a small but powerful reminder that Jamaican pride cuts across every generation, every profession, and every borough of Brooklyn.
Building Toward JMTHS’s 50th Anniversary
For JMAANY, the parade was more than a cultural celebration — it was an opportunity to raise visibility for one of the most important milestones on our calendar: the 50th Anniversary of José Martí Technical High School, which will be commemorated January 9-16, 2027 under the banner “Together Forever for the Future.”
Miss Gardine and Miss Rowe carried the anniversary banner throughout the route, sparking conversations with fellow Jamaicans and inviting them to be part of the milestone celebration back home in St. Catherine. The banner featured the anniversary logo alongside acknowledgements to JMTHS’s alumni chapters, including SFPSJM, JMSCL, GPJM, JBR, and JMROB.
The timing was fitting — the parade itself is helping lay the groundwork for Jamaica’s 65th Anniversary of Independence in 2027, the same year JMTHS marks its own 50-year milestone.
Culture, Community, and Four Pillars
The parade brought Jamaican culture to life through reggae performances, traditional dishes like jerk chicken and curry goat, and three signature floats representing Jamaica’s historic counties — Cornwall, Middlesex, and Surrey. Alumni associations, cultural groups, professional networks, and community organizations from all 14 Jamaican parishes marched alongside them in what organizers described as a diaspora-centered celebration.
Organized by the Jamaica Rising Day Parade organization, the event was built around four core pillars that align closely with JMAANY’s own mission:
- Education — inspiring the next generation of Jamaican youth
- Cultural preservation — keeping our heritage alive across generations
- Community upliftment — strengthening bonds within the diaspora
- Economic advancement — promoting growth and opportunity for Jamaicans at home and abroad
Organizers say the Jamaica Rising Day Parade will become an annual tradition, timed each year to Jamaica’s “Emancipendence” season between Emancipation Day on August 1 and Independence Day on August 6.
Thank You to Our Representatives
JMAANY extends heartfelt thanks to Miss Simone Gardine, Miss Andrea Rowe, Mr. Courtney Francis, and Mrs. Christine Peters-Smith for representing our association and school with pride and enthusiasm on this historic day. Their presence on the parade route helped ensure that José Martí Technical High School was part of the very first chapter of what promises to become one of the most important celebrations of Jamaican culture in the diaspora.
To every alumnus, family member, and friend of JMAANY who joined us in Brooklyn — thank you for showing up. Let’s carry that same energy into 2027 as we celebrate 50 years of José Martí Technical High School alongside Jamaica’s 65th anniversary of independence.
Together forever for the future. 🇯🇲