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Toledo Kwanzaa House Holds Annual Holiday Celebration
Sojourner’s Truth Staff
The Toledo Kwanzaa
Committee hosted the annual holiday celebration at the
Frederick Douglass Community Association from December 26 to
29 with a series of programs designed to foster
understanding of African American culture and the principles
that are at the core of Kwanzaa.
The seven principles
celebrated each year are Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia
(Self-determination); Ujima (Collective work and
responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia
(Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith).
This is the 52th
year of Kwanzaa, a holiday created by Maulana Karenga in
1966 as an African-American holiday. For decades now,
Toledoans have carried forth the tradition. The current
Kwanzaa Committee includes: Diane Gordon, Donald Lynn, Rev.
Kenneth Peterson, Oscar Shaheer, Rolita Noble, Washington
Muhammad and Alisha Smith.
Joining the celebration
this year were the international students of American
Cultural Exchange Service (ACES).
ACES is a non-profit
organization dedicated to global education through secondary
level exchange and is designated by the Office of
Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. State
Department. The students visit Toledo for one academic year,
living with host families, attending school and becoming
involved in extracurricular and community activities.
ACES has a relationship
with more than 86 countries and the local international
coordinator is Tracee Ellis who encourages a diversity of
American host families to experience the opportunity,
particularly minority families.
Ellis can be reached at
TraceeEllis.goglobal@aol.com or 419-450-0631. The ACES
website is exploretheworld.org.
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Fatuma Ahmed
from Kenya, Mohamed Abdullah from Egypt, Mohammed Tariq from
Pakistan, Ashrat Khumis from Tanzania
Diane Gordon
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