Now through Nov. 15, five small South Florida arts organizations are vying for the Knight Arts Challenge People’s Choice Award, offering a $20,000 prize. Below, Jan Mapou talks about why the Mapou Cultural Center should get your vote. To see the other nominees and to text to vote, visit knightarts.org/peopleschoice. Q. Why should your group win the People’s Choice Award?

A. Mapou Cultural Center has been a staple of the Haitian Community for 28 years. Established in 1985, we are dedicated to preserving Haitian culture in the United States through education and arts and cultural presentations. Our mission is to preserve, perpetuate and present Haitian cultural performances and exhibitions to Creole and non-Creole speaking audiences. In support of that mission, Mapou Cultural Center presents and produces cultural programs that: increase awareness of Haitian people, their language, rituals and traditions, and their deep roots in the African continent; foster greater understanding between Haitian people and people of other diverse ethnicities, cultures and heritage; and foster respect for the arts and artists of Haiti and the Americas by raising awareness of their historical and artistic contributions to the national and international cultural landscape.

Mapou Cultural Center wants to educate and bring together different communities through the vehicle of the Haitian-American Book Fair. What better way for bridging together writers from all over the Caribbean, U.S. and Canada to share ideas, inspire future writers and gather cultures together. In utilizing the Haitian-American Book fair, we will be able to expand to the larger population to showcase what Caribbean culture has to offer.

Q. What would you do with the $20,000 prize?

A. The Haitian American Book Fair would flourish with the winning prize. The $20,000would help us bring authors all over the Caribbean, U.S. and Canada and bring very accomplished writers to discuss their works and give workshops to other aspiring writers and patrons of the arts. The Book Fair would be able to incorporate more activities for children and for families to have educational and cultural experience in Miami. We will be able to transport people to a different world and to open their eyes to worlds they may never know about.

Q. What’s the best part of being an artist in South Florida?

A. The best part of being an artist in South Florida is that we have a variety of artists who venture out in the beauty of Miami and the world outside. Just the fact that we can collaborate with many cultures and learn from one another enhances Miami as a community. Also, the growing awareness of Miami to the arts, being that we are bringing in major international festivals such as Art Basel is cultivating the openness to the arts in the community and bringing a fever to the arts. It is wonderful to be a part of the dialogue and growing with Miami in the artistic and cultural manner.

To vote for the Mapou Cultural Center, text ARTS2 to 22333.