Today is Day 3 of Kwanzaa, Ujima [Oo-jee-mah], collective work and responsibility.
Collective Work and Responsibility reminds us of our obligation to the past, present and future, and that we have a role to play in the community, society, and world.
Local high school students in Project MPACT (Miami Partnership for Action in Communities Task Force) practiced Ujima by constructing a home for elderly Miami resident Jeanette Painson who had been scammed by a contractor who took her money and never built her home.
The students teamed up with Ario Lundy of Palmetto Homes of Miami and construction professionals to give Painson a new home. They worked for five months after school and her new Liberty City home is beautiful.
While the MPACT project allowed the students to earn money while they built the home, they were able to gain valuable skills and experience in construction. Equally, if not more important is the sense of pride the young men realized when looking at the finished product.
We are our brother and sister's keeper. We are obliged to revere our ancestors, be a positive role model and guide the next generation.
We are our community and our community is us. Habari gani!
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