December 26, 1966 marked the beginning of an African centered cultural celebration known as Kwanzaa. The name “Kwanzaa” is derived from the communal celebrations that occur during traditional African harvests and it is also a Kiswahili term, which means “first fruits”. Dr. Maulana Karenga, a respected scholar and professor of Pan- African Studies, created Kwanzaa to blend traditional African practices with African American realties which gave the Black Community a suitable way to celebrate heritage, purpose and progress.

Although Kwanzaa is observed collectively from December 26-January1, those who celebrate Kwanzaa often align their values and belief systems with the Seven Principles: Nguzo Saba) for the balance of the year. For more than forty years, Kwanzaa celebrations around the world continued to grow- over 40 million people of African descent celebrate Kwanzaa.

While it is true that Kwanzaa pays homage to our ancestors who paved the way, Kwanzaa is… also about advancing individually and collectively today. Therefore, Kwanzaa is… far more than a simple gathering of like-minded people- Kwanzaa is…an opportunity to come together  to celebrate,  to discuss pressing issues and to pause to create solutions that are culturally  and socially relevant.

Join us this year… share your successes, failures, dreams and plans during Kwanzaa ‘08!