James V. Burks, founder of the African Marketplace & Cultural Faire, Inc., was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities by the Trinity International University of Ambassadors (T.I.U.A), at the Honors of Distinction Ceremony in Braselton, Georgia on December 2.
T.I.U.A. Honorary Doctorate Degrees are awarded to those who have enriched the world through their entrepreneurial efforts and have served their communities and constituencies with distinction. The T.I.U.A. Degree Program selects nominees from a broad range of professional and academic backgrounds that possess strong civic administration and entrepreneurial leadership. T.I.U.A. also selects individuals who collaborate with international organizations that have a firm grounding in the field of foreign relations.
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“I dedicate the award and acknowledge the many colleagues, friends, staff, artists, family members, corporate sponsors, and leaders who supported and embraced the concept of a permanent year-round themed commercial, cultural, retail, and entertainment anchor in Black communities worldwide,” Burks said in response to receiving the honorary doctorate.
As founder and executive director of the International African Marketplace and Cultural Faire, Inc., Burks focused on building coalitions and collaborations to impact communities and nations of the African Diaspora. The African Marketplace became a template for a permanent, year-round cultural, retail and entertainment center. Burks pioneered the application for festivals sustainable year-round development as a destination for the tourist industry and community economic development for the creative arts industry.
The Los Angeles African Marketplace & Cultural Faire operated from 1985 – 2008, and provided an opportunity to consolidate struggling Black celebrations, festivals, and events, and take advantage of the $130 billion African American impact of domestic tourism. The African Marketplace provided a vehicle for the community to maximize the resources, conferences and conventions produced annually by thousands of black special interest groups.
Burks’ career in public arts management spans over 50 years in entertainment production, civic leadership, cultural engineering, planning, design and operation and advocacy. He has consulted with local, national and international partners including UNESCO, The Aspen Institute, The Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, AfricaUSA International Chamber of Commerce and cultural agencies in Jordan, Oman, England, Brazil, Trinidad Tobago, Germany, Cote Ivoire and South Africa. Burks was invited to represent the State of California at the 1996 White House Conference on Tourism.
“This is a wonderful recognition for years of hard work, and what we were able to achieve. Burks said. “More importantly, it validates the work so many have done to prove that the monetizing of culture, and the refocus of goals of non-profit organizations can be used for the benefit of stabilizing the economy of the Black communities.”
Burks’ work with local and national elected officials continues with such projects as Destination Crenshaw, LA Southwest College Foundation, Leimert Park Village, Inc., Leimert Park Village Theater Coalition and the National Black Theater Network.
