Celebrate Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa Opening Celebration

Umoja (Unity) | Thursday, December 26, 2024 at 12PM

Storyteller and griot Mama Ayo will open the week-long celebration with a traditional candle-lighting ceremony, pouring of the libation paying homage to our ancestors, and sharing on the history of Kwanzaa. She will talk about the first principle of Kwanzaa, Umoja (unity), and the importance of unity in our families and communities.

Enjoy performances by the Taratibu Youth Association, which provides a transformative experience through the performing arts, for youth of the African diaspora. Taratibu's vision is to cultivate socially responsible change agents healing and transforming people of the Pan-African community, seven generations forward and backward.

Registration is requested. 

Celebrating Kujichagalia with the Culture Queen

 Kujichagalia (Self-Determination) | Friday, December 27, 2024 at 12PM

On the second day of Kwanzaa, the Culture Queen will conduct a family workshop that incorporates Kujichagulia. Her presentation will discuss the importance of self-determination and a belief in self to conquer one’s dreams and visions for their lives. It will be stoked in affirmations, song, dance, and hands-on activities for the whole family. 

Jessica “Culture Queen” Hebron is a Grammy-nominated teaching artist, children’s musician, author, and arts manager, who creates empowering entertainment for children!

Registration is requested.  

Honoring Our Village with Verbal Gymnastics

Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility)  Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024 at 12pm

Join us as we celebrate Ujima (collective work and responsibility) in a workshop that will honor those who have inspired our lives. We are here because of the work of many before us. Who do you consider your heroes? Come share your story of those who have poured into your life.  Verbal Gymnastics theatre company will honor your story and play it back with a group of talented actors and musicians.

Verbal Gymnastics is an interactive theatre company where storytelling meets community. Their belief is that our stories embody who we are just like DNA. Through the use of live interactive storytelling called Playback Theatre, the community will share stories with one another and birth stronger community connections. Verbal Gymnastics is under the leadership of creative John Johnson.

Registration is requested. 

Creating Family Memory Boxes

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) | Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 at 12PM

Artist Tamara Thomas will conduct an arts and crafts workshop on the fourth day of Kwanzaa where families can create their own family memory box. Together they will decorate their memory box and decide what family memories to preserve, and which items to go in the box. Participants are encouraged to bring family and/or photos or trinkets. 

Ms. Thomas will also engage participants in an Ujamaa (cooperative economics) vision board project to discuss what is needed in their communities and create a business model to fit that need. Participants would also list the benefits of having a family or community business. We are more powerful working together than in silos.

Registration is recommended. 

African Dance Workshop with Khepera Wellness

Nia (Purpose) | Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 at 12PM

Khepera Wellness will conduct an African Dance Workshop where we will celebrate Nia (purpose). In African cultures there is a purpose behind every dance form from rites of passage, to communing with the spirit world, to celebrations of life. African dance is an outward expression connecting one’s body, mind, spirit, and soul. The drums are a call to worship and each movement is a response to that call that reflects communal values and tribal heritage.

Registration is recommended. 

Creating Family Kwanzaa Bags

Kuumba (Creativity) | Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 at 12PM

Join the Artist Rain as she leads families into an arts and crafts workshop celebrating the sixth principle of Kwanzaa, Kuumba (creativity). Participants will be encouraged to allow their creativity to flow as they create and decorate their family Kwanzaa bags. These bags can be used for a variety of purposes including carrying hand-made Kwanzaa gifts or the fruits of the harvest.

Registration is recommended. 

Mime & Spiritual Dance Workshop with Crazee Praize

Imani (Faith) | Monday, Jan. 1, 2025 at 12PM

We will kick off the new year with the seventh and last principle of Kwanzaa, Imani (Faith). Crazee Praize will give a powerful inspirational performance and conduct a workshop on miming and liturgical dance. Landle and Antoinette Jones will discuss how the art form has charged their faith time after time and invite participants to share what gifts and talents has helped them to continue to be inspired and remain hopeful despite the many challenges of life and chaos in the world.

Registration is recommended.