HOLYOKE — The City of Holyoke will host an observance of Kwanzaa on Saturday, December 28, at 10 a.m. at City Hall.
Kwanzaa, which is observed annually the last week of December, celebrates African heritage and Kwanzaa’s seven principles: Umoja (Unity) To strive for unity in the family, community, nation, and race; Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves; Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and solve problems together; Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together; Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community; Kuumba (Creativity) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it; Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Holyoke’s observance, a partnership with Kwanzaa Collective in the Valley with Ayanna Crawford and Theresa Cooper-Gordon of Holyoke, will include a candle-lighting ceremony, recognition of two community leaders, remarks by Professor H. Zahar Caldwell, an educator and cultural historian at Westfield State University who teaches in the fields of History, Black Studies, and Women’s Studies, and the reading of a proclamation by Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia designating December 26 through January 1 Kwanzaa Week in Holyoke.
The Kwanzaa observance is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Information: Holyoke Mayor’s Office, 413-561-1600 or Theresa Cooper-Gordon, 413-218-6842.