About Us
Dedicated to Uniting and Empowering the Jamaican Community with the World
At the Midwest Jamaica Corps (MIJAC), just like in Jamaica (West Indies), we embrace the Jamaican culture such as the food, sports, arts, music, business and, of course, the lifestyle. Jamaicans are an ethnically diverse society whose history can be traced to the the Arawak/Taíno Indians. MIJAC is founded to not only keep the Jamaican traditions and spirit alive in today’s modern world, but also share and teach our culture to the massive.
“Out of many – one people” is the Jamaican national slogan. Likewise, the MIJAC motto is “Out of many – one Midwest.” We strive to connect the Chicago Jamaican diaspora with opportunities to expand and grow with the various cultures that surrounds us. Joined together by a group of medical and business professionals, attorneys, educational mentors, and more as well as our founder, the Honorable Lloyd L. Hyde, MIJAC looks forward to working together to build a Cultural Center that will service the Chicagoland area. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, MIJAC welcomes donations, gifts, endowments and grants as avenues to raise awareness and funds to support its goals and missions while providing much needed resources to the community it serves.
Meet Our Officers
President – Ms. Shelley Lopez
Vice President – Ms. Michelle Absolam
Secretary – Mr. Leslie Williams, Jr.
Treasurer – Ms. Beulah Cohen
Founder/Advisor – Mr. Lloyd L. Hyde
Board Members
Mr. Franz Mullings, Chair
Ms. Katherine Dawkins, Secretary
Rev. Fitz Barclay
Mrs. Cornelia Forrester
Mrs. Sharon Louis Harris
Ms. Fay Peters
Dr. Donald Pettis
Mr. Michael Pettis
Dr. Clement Rose
Mr. Clato Smalling
Dr. Lisa Young