THE Ashe Company launched its 30th anniversary celebrations with a thanksgiving and gratitude service at the Universal Centre of Truth for Better Living in Kingston on Sunday.

“The thanksgiving service was very well received by our patrons and guests as we reflected on and gave thanks for the last 30 years of our contribution to the nation in the creative and performing arts and social development industries, all while announcing and looking forward to this year’s celebration activities and the next 30 years,” Faybian Grizzle, communications coordinator of the group, told the Jamaica Observer.

“In attendance we had several representatives from several of our partners and donors such as Richard Amenyah, UNAIDS multi-country director for the Caribbean; Dr Alisha Robb-Allen, acting senior medical officer HIV/STI/Tb Unit in the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW); Simone Spence, director in health promotion and protection branch in the MOHW; Ivan Cruickshank, executive director of Caribbean Vulnerable Communities; Althea Spence, project management specialist in the Office of Health and Environment, USAID Jamaica; Jumoke Patrick, executive director for Jamaica Network of Seropositives; Kandasi Levermore, executive director for Jamaica AIDS Support for Life; Marlon Simms, artistic director for the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica; Barbara McDaniel, artistic director for Dance Theatre Xaymaca; and Damion Crawford, senator and shadow minister of education and training in People’s National Party, among many other guests and members of the congregation of the Universal Centre of Truth for Better Living.

Unfortunately, there was no representative from ]the] Government as they were engaged with a church service for the launch of Reggae Month, but they sent their well wishes and congratulations,” he continued.

The milestone is being celebrated under the theme ‘One Jamaica, One Love’. The group will also be launching four main ventures, beginning with an island tour, ‘The One Jamaica, One Love Tour’; the season two premier of The CHILL Series; the donation and fund-raising drive; and the end-of-year gala and concert.

Grizzle added that Ashe has contributed significantly to the island’s development over three decades.

“We’d like to think our commitment to keeping cultural and performing arts alive in Jamaica is what has carried us this far, in addition to our drive for providing excellence and innovation in everything we do. Ashe has contributed greatly to the performing arts industry and beyond. Ashe has contributed extensively towards the push for Jamaica to achieve its sustainable development goals. In the area of health, Ashe has been instrumental in the fight against HIV/AIDS and has allowed the creativity that runs through the heart of Ashe to change the lives of Jamaicans. Ashe has also been impactful by way of the arts in the tourism sector, youth empowerment and education, culture, and the fight against inequality for all humans,” he said.

The Ashe Company was started in 1993 by Paulette Bellamy and Joseph Robinson.