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🕯️ Celebrating Kwanzaa: A Season of Community and Culture 🌟 Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration honoring African American heritage, culture, and shared values. Observed from December 26 to January 1, this holiday was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga as a way to reaffirm African American identity and unity during the civil rights movement. Its name comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits,” symbolizing harvest celebrations rooted in African traditions. ✨ At the heart of Kwanzaa are the Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba), which inspire reflection, connection, and collective progress: 🖤 Umoja (Unity): Striving for and maintaining unity in family, community, and race. 💡 Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): Defining, naming, creating, and speaking for ourselves. 🤝 Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): Building and maintaining our community together. 💵 Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): Supporting and building businesses that uplift the community. 🌱 Nia (Purpose): Committing to restoring greatness to our community. 🎨 Kuumba (Creativity): Leaving our community better and more beautiful for future generations. 🙏 Imani (Faith): Believing in ourselves, our people, and the righteousness of our journey. As we strive to promote cultural competency, we honor the African American legacy of resilience and community building that Kwanzaa represents. ✨ How do you reflect on the values of Kwanzaa during this season? Share your thoughts below! ✨ #Kwanzaa #CulturalCompetency #AfricanAmericanHeritage #Community #SevenPrinciples #SevaGlobal

Happy Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration that honors African heritage. It's a time for reflection, family, and community. Here are the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja (Unity): Strive for and maintain unity among the people. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): Define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): 1 Build and maintain our community together. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): Build and maintain our own stores, shops, and businesses and own them together. Nia (Purpose): Make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community. Kuumba (Creativity): Do always as much as we can, in ways as beautiful as we can. Imani (Faith): Believe in the victory of our people. Learn more > https://lnkd.in/gkCegmiJ

Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration that honors African heritage and culture. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of African studies, as a way to bring African Americans together and reconnect them with their African roots. Kwanzaa takes place from December 26th to January 1st each year. The name "Kwanzaa" is derived from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits." During the celebration, seven core principles, known as the Nguzo Saba, are emphasized: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). Kwanzaa is observed through various rituals and customs, including lighting the kinara (a candleholder with seven candles), performing traditional dances and songs, storytelling, and feasting on traditional African foods. Each day of Kwanzaa focuses on one of the seven principles, with families and communities coming together to reflect on these values and their significance. Hashtags for Kwanzaa: 1. #Kwanzaa 2. #AfricanHeritage 3. #NguzoSaba 4. #Unity 5. #CulturalCelebration 6. #Community 7. #AfricanDiaspora 8. #SelfDetermination 9. #CooperativeEconomics 10. #FaithAndPurpose

🌍 A Belated Homage to World Indigenous Day: Reflecting on Inclusivity and Cultural Preservation On January 9, 1913, a significant event unfolded in the Otomi town of Ndongu Xiquipilco—a deity, likely Otontecuhtli, the protector god of the Otomi people, was secretly taken from its place of worship. The piece, accompanied by municipal authorities, religious leaders, and a devout group of Catholics, was moved to Temoaya and then to Mexico City. Sadly, like many indigenous artifacts, it was lost, likely stored away and forgotten, a silent testimony to the marginalization of Indigenous cultures. This story is a stark reminder of the long history of cultural erasure and the neglect of Indigenous heritage. As we reflect on World Indigenous Day, we must acknowledge that we are still far behind in fostering an inclusive approach that truly respects and uplifts Indigenous communities. In the humanitarian sector, we have a responsibility to do better. Our work should not just include Indigenous peoples as beneficiaries but should actively involve them in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are protected. We must seek more inclusive approaches in all our interventions, striving to co-create a future that honors and preserves Indigenous cultures and knowledge. As we continue our work, we should commit to learning from the past and making tangible efforts to support and empower Indigenous communities in a meaningful and respectful way. #IndigenousRights #CulturalPreservation #HumanitarianAction #WorldIndigenousDay

Why do we celebrate Kwanzaa? Have you asked yourself this question, or has someone ever asked you it? For a great answer, check out my blog article entitled Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Heritage That Connects Us All. https://lnkd.in/gyWnDaWR #kwanzaacelebration #kwanzaa2024 #kwanzaacountdown #Dec26-Jan1

Your culture should follow you everywhere

From paving the way for action sports to breaking barriers in Congress, the #AANHPI communities continue to break barriers! 🏄🏽♂️ Tell us down below what’s something new you’ve learned about #AANHPI history and read more about it on our blog! Follow the 🔗 in our bio. #asianamerican #pacificislander #nativehawaiian #celebration #education #history #hawaii #representation #innovatingleaders

Thursday 14th November 2024 was an important day in New Zealand's history. The Treaty Principles Bill 2024 (TPB) passed it's first reading in the House of Parliament. A bill that seeks to clarify the constitutonal interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document. A Treaty which belongs to all New Zealanders. A similar previous law passed in 1975 also instructed the government how to interpret and enact the Treaty however since then the interpretation has changed and evolved through case law. It is important for all government departments and laws to have a consistent interpretation of the Treaty for the proper functioning of society. I applaud David Seymour for his bravery and honor in presenting the bill and for those MPs who voted to pass it to it's second reading. For those who want to be more informed on the issues being debated, the Treaty Principles Bill can be read here: https://lnkd.in/gcHpZTnV - it us just 6 pages long. The official wording of the Treaty of Waitangi can be read here: https://lnkd.in/gM4vGqEB - this is also only a few pages

Did you know that the Igbo people made up the majority of Africans brought to the New World from the Bight of Biafra during the 400-year transatlantic slave trade? In fact, many Caribbean nations, such as Jamaica and Barbados, have a substantial Igbo descent population. Even celebrities like Rihanna claim Igbo heritage! The demand for light-skinned Igbo slaves was so high in the Caribbean and tropical North America that African slavers referred to Europeans, as well as all light-skinned Africans as "Oyibo," a term originally meaning "Ónyè Igbo" (Igbo person). It is a term still in use in Nigerian Pidgin English today. In Jamaican Patois, light-skinned Africans are still referred to as “Red Eboe (Igbo)” Let's shed light on these untold stories and celebrate our rich African history! All of these rich but unexplored facts of the transatlantic slave trade are beautifully incorporated in the storytelling of my debut novel “Tales of Jideofor” #TalesOfJideofor2D🌕 #AfricanHistory #IgboAmaka #BlackExcellence #DiversityAndInclusion #HiddenHistories #TransatlanticSlaveTrade #CaribbeanHeritage #AfricanDiaspora

Celebrating 3 Years of Sapan (Southasia Peace Action Network)! This month marks a significant milestone for Sapan as we turn three! As we embark on this journey of celebration, it's crucial to take a moment to reflect on the vision that sparked it all - the vision of our mentors and leaders. Sapan is more than just an organization; it's a beacon of hope, unity, and solidarity across the South Asian region and its diaspora. Our founders envisioned a platform that transcends borders - be it caste, class, religion, nationality, or politics - to advocate for a common agenda: peace in Southasia. For three years, Sapan stood firm in upholding human rights and dignity, fostering collaboration in every aspect of our work. Most importantly, Sapan believes in the power of regional solidarity. We strive to cultivate harmonious relationships among the diverse nations and peoples of Southasia. Because now, more than ever, we need peace - for the sake of the people of our region, and beyond. As we celebrate our journey thus far, let's honor the visionaries who laid the foundation for Sapan. Their unwavering dedication and foresight continue to inspire us every day. Here's to three years of advocating for peace, unity, and progress. Here's to Sapan - may our light shine even brighter in the years to come! #SapanTurns3 #SouthasiaPeace #UnityInDiversity