Our History
Marla Fitzwater, Founder and Executive Director of ACE, arrived on the island in 1988 coordinating short-term mission teams to work in Jamaica. Her work began to form what is now ACE. During the early years, Marla quickly observed that those receiving the primary benefit from volunteer efforts were actually the people and organizations who were serving. These visitors were touched by the experience and inspired to continue serving others upon returning home. Ironically, the local community had not experienced any long lasting change.
Despite the projects and improvements, the community inevitably returned to a poverty state physically, mentally and most of all, spiritually. She also learned that poor healthcare and lack of education was a reality and that without improvements in those two basic areas, people just wouldn’t have a chance to grow and flourish the way God intended. Through these tough lessons, the strategy for ACE’s outreach was born. To this day, our ministry focuses in four main areas of Impact: education, healthcare, enterprise, and discipleship.
Our Mission
We are a Christ-based outreach ministry dedicated to community transformation in the parish of St.Mary, Jamaica through strategic initiatives in education, enterprise, healthcare, and discipleship.
Our Values
We believe all Christians should live for Christ and not for themselves. By obedience to the Word of God and daily yielding to the Spirit of God, every believer should mature and be conformed to the image of Christ.
American Caribbean Experience - What We Do
ACE enables volunteers to join in its outreach through a variety of hands-on experiences. Individuals and groups from all over the world come to volunteer their talents and know-how, which helps provide self-sustaining solutions to local problems, and in turn, empowers the people of St. Mary, Jamaica.
