Dr V. Elaine Carter

Dr V. Elaine Carter

The Mandeville-based educator, reading specialist and consultant is all about reading.

"I developed a love for reading from a very early age. My mother used to read stories to me. I also engaged in reading at Sunday school," she said. She feels the ability to read is essential as it is the basis for all other levels of learning.

"It (reading) has become a part of me and I want to share it with others," she said. She created history as the first black student to earn a PhD in reading and supporting emphases at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she used the opportunity to develop programmes to promote Jamaica. She was awarded the prestigious Chancellor's Citation for sharing her culture and expertise. Also, for over 40 years, she has shared her culture and her home with foreign visitors, promoting the island yet again.

But promoting the benefits of reading remains her biggest achievement. Back home, during her presidency of the Jamaica Reading Association, she organised the first residential national reading conference to enhance professional development. When the 17th World Congress of the International Reading Association was held in Jamaica, she became the first Caribbean native to chair the event.

She created the Central Jamaica Reading Council, a voluntary organisation promoting literacy. The group has established a reading area in the Mandeville Regional Hospital where incoming visitors, especially the children, have access to reading material.'

L'Antoinette Stines

L'Antoinette Stines

Dancing is in her genes and manifested itself from as early as she could remember.

L'Antoinette Stines, as artistic director of L'ACADCO - A United Caribbean Dance Force, has guided many dancers throughout the last quarter of a century. Her works often canvas poignant social and spiritual commentary, exchanging cultural expressions while forging historical bonds across the Caribbean, North and South America as well on the continent of Africa.

Her dance career began in Jamaica with Alma Mok Yen in 1965, continuing with Martha Graham School, the Pepsi Bethel Authentic Jazz Dance Company in 1975 and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in 1977. In 1978, Stines founded Miami's first, primarily black dance company, L'ACADCO. In 1994, after her return to Jamaica, she unveiled a new modern Caribbean dance technique called L'Anyah Reggae Technique, later known as L'ANTECH. This is a blend of classical ballet with several Caribbean folklore forms.

Regarded as an expert

Stines is regarded as an expert in popular and folkloric Jamaican dances, with a performance history spanning classical ballet to Yoruba 'Orisha' dance. She has also sung and acted in five Broadway plays in New York as well as worked in numerous capacities on television commercials, films, music videos and live events from Kingston to London, the Marley family to Shabba. Most recently, Stines was director of movement, in charge of Cricket World Cup's 2007 opening ceremony.

Her many honours include: Miami 'Citizen of the Day', for contributions to the Arts; 'Top Ten Women in Miami', for Contribution to Dance; Cultural Centre Havana, Florida Certificate for Presentation of Congolese Kumina as compared to Palo; Governors Award in London borough of Lewisham for Contribution to International Festival; Alpha Academy Alumnae Association Woman of Excellence Award; Caymanas Track Limited Outstanding Contribution to the Creative Arts (Dance), among many others.

She is a mother of three; Robert Stines, Aaron Obaofun and Amanyea Stines-Jones. Stines is presently preparing to celebrate L'ACADCO'S 25 years, from April 30- May 2, at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, UWI. As an author, Stines is in the final stages of completing her PhD at UWI's Faculty of Humanities and Education.