“Cultural Connections ”
Arthur Dixon Elementary School

The concept of the “Cultural Connections ”African Marketplace & Bazaar was “born ”in March of 1998 to provide a unique cultural, entrepreneurial and educational experience for the students of the Arthur Dixon Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois.It was the brainchild of the late Mrs.Sandra R.Haynes, our Black Cultural Enrichment teacher, “mother" and dear friend to whom we will be eternally grateful for her unsel fish dedication to and love for Dixon School and our students.

Presently, the event is coordinated by Joan Dameron Crisler, principal, Sharon A. Dale, assistant principal and Annette “Malika ”Jackson, artist-in-residence –with tremendous support and volunteer assistance from our wonderful Dixon staff and our hardworking and enterprising cadre of student entrepreneurs who work in numerous capacities from valets to food vendors to video historians.

“Connections ”showcases the creativity, skill and business acumen of local and nationally-recognized artists, artisans, small business owners and entrepreneurs.It is a means by which to introduce or to increase the exposure of a product and/or service to the community and to local consumers. Sponsoring such an event in our school has afforded our students the opportunity to see successful, enterprising individuals of African descent, from around the country and around the world, making great economic strides “on their own.” “Cultural Connections” is the principle of UJAMAA (cooperative economics)in action.