A great man is one who collects knowledge the way a bee collects honey and uses it to help people overcome the difficulties they endure - hunger, ignorance and disease!
- Nikola Tesla

Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.
- Franklin Roosevelt

While their territory has been devastated and their homes despoiled, the spirit of the Serbian people has not been broken.
- Woodrow Wilson

All Roads Lead to Jackson

Serbian American Contributions in Amador County, California, since the Gold Rush
Milina Jovanović offers a unique compilation of individual and family immigration stories that include enormous contributions to the development of California and significant community involvement. In this version of people’s history she chronicles how Serbian Americans have strengthened community, region, state, and country through the endeavors and struggles of 150 years. This book also focuses on women’s contributions that are too often overlooked. Ms. Jovanović’s study reveals that Jackson not only remains an original and symbolic home to Serbian Americans and Serbian Orthodox religion, but also an oasis where the Serbian community has preserved its positive reputation and social influence.

.

Here is a book that gives us an accurate and engaging picture of the Serbs, an intelligent, tolerant, and democratic people. Here we can see how Serbian-Americans helped lead the way in the development of a viable and valuable society in California from Gold Rush days to modern times.
- Michael Parenti, author of "The Face of Imperialism", "To Kill a Nation: The Attack on Yugoslavia" and many other books

Every ethnic group in America deserves as fine a study as this about its contributions to the United States, but none more so than Serbian-Americans, whose achievements until this book have remained largely in the shadow of obscurity and discrimination resulting from a one-sided view of the Balkan wars of the 1990s.
- Joe Lauria, journalist and author of "Political Odyssey"

Jackson, California has long held a special place in the Serbian American community. In the deeply researched All Roads Lead to Jackson Milina Jovanović tells that story, expertly weaving together oral history with sociological and historical analysis. Here is the beautifully told account of an immigrant community that reaches back to the Gold Rush days.
- Greg Elich, Balkan expert, author of "Strange Liberators"

"All Roads Lead To Jackson" is a must read for anyone who is interested in learning about the positive impact that Serbs have played in this community and how, even today, Serbs still flock to Jackson on a regular basis to remember the sacrifices our fellow Serbs made and to continue building life-long friendships that have spanned generations.  As a former camper who went to St. Sava Camp, it was very nostalgic to read about many of the key players, especially the women of the KSS (Kolo Srpskih Sestara), who worked diligently to preserve the Serbian religion, heritage and culture, while trying to create a better life for their families. It is refreshing to read how the residents of Jackson still value and appreciate the important role that Serbians have played, and continue to play, in the growth and development of Jackson.
- Bill Davidovich


SA

 

People Directory

Svetlana Meritt

Svetlana Meritt is a modern-day pilgrim. Twelve years ago, she left her career as a journalist, and with her late husband and mentor, Dwight Johnson, embarked on a journey of self-discovery through the continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

During her career as an American correspondent for a high-profile Serbian magazine – Illustrated Politics – Svetlana interviewed the Dalai Lama, Lawrence Eagleburger, Jon Voight, Laura Huxley, Yoko Ono, and Allan Ginsberg. On assignment to cover the Academy Awards, she interviewed Kevin Costner, Sophia Loren, and Giorgio Armani. She also wrote extensively about American life and society, and frequently published travel articles. She was the recipient of the Talented Young Journalist award in her native Belgrade. Svetlana has written one novel in English, Legacy of the Future (2002).

Read more ...

Publishing

All Roads Lead to Jackson

Serbian American Contributions in Amador County, California, since the Gold Rush
Milina Jovanović offers a unique compilation of individual and family immigration stories that include enormous contributions to the development of California and significant community involvement. In this version of people’s history she chronicles how Serbian Americans have strengthened community, region, state, and country through the endeavors and struggles of 150 years. This book also focuses on women’s contributions that are too often overlooked. Ms. Jovanović’s study reveals that Jackson not only remains an original and symbolic home to Serbian Americans and Serbian Orthodox religion, but also an oasis where the Serbian community has preserved its positive reputation and social influence.

Read more ...