Honoring our Roots. Inspiring our Future.
Read a message from our president
We are in pursuit of the highest quality of programs and service and are committed to the best outcomes.
We are providing members with the necessary support, authority, and opportunity to advance our mission .
Meeting and exceeding the needs of members, friends of the organization, and its benefactors and beneficiaries.
Demonstrating strong ethical or moral standards in conducting the business of the organization at all levels.
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Responsibly managing current assets and preparing for the future leadership and financial sustainability of the organization.
Collaborating with Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica from a wide range of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural backgrounds, and experiences.
Ensuring that everyone who is eligible has an equal chance at opportunities for programs and services offers by the organization.
Applying policies to ensure all people feel welcome and that leaders and members demonstrate behaviors that allow different perspectives, opinions, and experiences to be heard and recognized.
For 20 years, the Rochester Jamaican Organization has created impact in and throughout our community. Visit our impact page to learn more about our awards, scholarships, projects, initiatives, and more.
Learn more about our impact
RJO has uplifted Jamaican culture and strengthened communities across Rochester and in Jamaica for 20 years. Our impact is measured in lives changed and opportunities provided to individuals since our founding in 2006.
support 20 for 20For 20 years, RJO has uplifted Jamaican culture and strengthened communities across greater Rochester and in Jamaica. Our impact is measured in lives changed and opportunities provided to individuals since our founding in 2006.We celebrate the richness of Jamaican culture and recognize the contributions of Jamaicans across the diaspora in multiple fields and disciplines. The next 20 years begin now with a renewed commitment to educate, enlighten, and empower. Join us and contribute to honoring our roots, inspiring our future.
Join us for our annual gala and church service!
Winsome Carter was RJO’s first Advisory Board member, the inaugural host of Taste of Home (the reception that welcomes college students to the Rochester area), and received the RJO Community Leadership & Service Award in 2014. Retirement six years ago didn't mean slowing down for Winsome, who initially focused on guiding new small business owners as a mentor. Driven by a passion for growth, she recently teamed up with two partners to launch an exciting new AI company, Eastview.ai. This latest venture marks her dynamic return to the forefront of industry and innovation.
Driven by a vision sparked 21 years ago, Thalia and Livingston Walker have built Livie’s Jamaican Restaurant into a cornerstone of Rochester’s culinary scene. LJR shares a beautiful symmetry with RJO—mirroring their decades of service, their grassroots community networks, and a shared dedication to delivering vibrant Jamaican culture to Rochester under the principle of "each one, help one". A loyal champion of RJO initiatives like the Independence Gala, Mother’s Day Brunch, and Health Fair, Livie’s remains committed to the organization's longevity.
Terrence Brown Sr. is the President and CEO of Steel Tech Fabricators, a Jamaican-owned business celebrating 21 years of excellence. Terrence discovered RJO through family connections and was awarded the RJO Community Leadership & Service Award in 2018. Today, Steel Tech Fabricators is an indispensable partner to RJO, serving as a Platinum Sponsor and Scholarship Donor. Terrence is consistently inspired by RJO’s dedicated leadership and vital community advocacy, and he looks forward to seeing the organization expand its impact through its scholarship initiatives and local meal-delivery partnerships in Monroe County.
Linton Dixon is the owner of Dixon’s Barber Shop which has been serving the Rochester community since 1987. He salutes the many ways that RJO is involved in the community and is a supporter of the organization’s events.
Mr. Floyd Bayley is a founding member of RJO and has been the Chair of the membership committee since its inception. A retired Xerox engineer, he actively channels his professional skills and passion into community service. His volunteer work includes supporting a food cupboard, assisting with refugee resettlement, driving for the elderly, and serving on the outreach committee at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. In his remaining free time, he enjoys playing tennis, gardening, and collecting coins.
Khandece Green is RJO’s first scholarship recipient. In 2011, she enrolled at the University of Rochester from St. Jago High School in Jamaica. Since graduating, she returned to Jamaica where she taught high school for a while before pursuing studies in nursing. Khandece is now a Registered Nurse.
Since receiving the RJO scholarship in 2020, Lauren graduated cum laude in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and just earned her Master’s degree in Criminology from St. John’s University. She is currently studying and preparing to attend law school within the next year to launch her career in the legal field.
Nicolette Ferguson received the RJO Community Leadership and Service Award in 2022 and is currently Chair of the Dance Department at The Hochstein School in Rochester. Directing dance camps and choreographing for special community performances, she appears every now and then alongside her students like that of the recent RJO “Jammin for Jamaica” Hurricane Melissa Relief Fundraiser, Black History Month events and Genesee Baptist Church celebrations.
Beverley Lewis Bernard is a founding member of the Rochester Jamaican Organization. She was a driving force behind the establishment of RJO's annual Mother's Day Brunch, created Mother's Day gift baskets, assisted in the Organization's website, and handcrafted Ludo boards for the Organization's purposes.
Yvonne Lewis McDonald is a founding member of RJO and its first Treasurer. Each year Yvonne is privileged to present RJO's Deloris Asynthia Lewis Scholarship in honor of her mother who was RJO's first President. Yvonne recently retired from Thomson Reuters after 27 years where she held the position of Principal Attorney Editor and currently serves on the Baden Street Settlement Executive Board.
Whitney and Deloris Lewis are among the founders of the Rochester Jamaican Organization. Notably, Deloris Lewis was the driving force in bringing the founding members together and served as its first President. In recognition of her leadership and lasting impact, the Organization has named the Deloris Asynthia Lewis Scholarship in her honor.
Zanah Francis received the RJO scholarship in 2012. She graduated from Cornell University in 2016, then enrolled at the University of Rochester where she completed her Masters in 2018 and PhD in 2022. Following her doctoral studies, she served as a Health Policy & Research Fellow at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services where she supported the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB).
Rev. Dr. Peter Grinion received the 2013 Community Service award. He currently serves as pastor at the West Henrietta Baptist Church.
Founding members (left to right): Elaine Bell, Michelle Thompson-Taylor, Merlin Dobney, Lorraine Miller, Darnell Minot, and Velta Rouchon. These ladies are all retired (except Michelle) and have relocated from Rochester to North & South Carolina.
