FAMU Alumni and Community Builders HDC Kwanzaa Celebration Kick-off in Liberty City [VIDEO]
Monday, December 28, 2009
The Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association in partnership with Community Builders Holistic Development Corporation, presented a magnificent celebration at the Blessed Catering Banquet Hall in Liberty City to kick-off The seven-day celebration, Kwanzaa.
This is the 20th year the Miami-Dade Chapter has celebrated Kwanzaa with the Greater Miami community. Understanding the importance of celebrating faith, family and culture, the organization's event has grown from a celebration in a member's home to public venues with feasts of various delicacies.
The event was very relaxed with audience participation from attendees of all ages and various ethnic groups. Thunderous African drums opened the event with the introduction of the Council of Elders and their permission to begin the program. The elders included: Her Royal Grace Iya Orite Olasowo-Adefunmi; Queen Mother Boatenma; William "DC" Clark; The Honorable Alix Desulme; Dr. George and Alvalia Ellis; James and Marge Fayson; Roni Goodrich; Rubye L. Howard; Mary Keller; Delores Lockett; Professor Joseph McNair; David and Edith Payen; Delma J. Rodriguez; Karen Tynes and Dr. Art and Mary Woodard.
The audience was treated to the local inaugural performance of the Osun's Village Cultural Troupe Featuring Prince Emmanuel Abiodun Aderele. Osun Village Cultural Troupe: Dancers: Chipo Chemoya, Kamili Nilata, ZenziandEngrid Boyd (Guest Dancer) Drummers: Michael Wilson, Baba Onayemi Ogunkoye, Rick Powell, Saidou and Robert Parrish. Other performers included soloists: Carolyn Rolle and Zenzi.
Other program participants included: Mary Woodard; Vanessa Woodard Byers; Ron Butler; Carisa Berkeley; Natasha Stubbs; Jada Rauls; Anthony Gregory; Althea Sample; Benjamin Dixon; Romania Wilson; Harlan Woodard; Professor Joseph McNair and Woodard Vaught. Chief Nathaniel Styles was the MC for the event; Vanessa Woodard Byers is president of the Miami-Dade Chapter.
One of the highlights of the evening was the $1,000 pledge to the Miami-Dade Chapter's scholarship fund by Alix Desulme, City Clerk for the City of North Miami. More than 150 people were present but a special shout out goes to Rose Reeder of RJR and Associates; Thomasina Turner-Diggs of the City of Fort Lauderdale CRA; and City of Miami District 5 Commission candidate Georges William. A special thank you to everyone who donated educational toys that will be distributed to children through the Overtown NET office.
The Kwanzaa Celebration Committee was comprised of Miami-Dade Chapter members and volunteers from the general public including: Keenan Austin; Carisa Berkeley; Frederick Bryant; Ron Butler; Denetra Collins; Gail Covington; Amy Dawkins; Benjamin Dixon; Anthony Gregory; Austin Monroe; Naha Nixon; Natacha Payen; Jada Rauls; Althea Sample; Natasha Stubbs; Nathaniel Styles, Jr.; Leon Ward; Jalesia Willis; Romania Wilson; Ronnie Wilson; Dr. Art E. Woodard; Harlan E. Woodard and Sterling Youmas.
Denise Ross-Layton, owner of Blessed Catering, has a gem of a business in the heart of Liberty City. She offers any catering, party planning and business meeting needs you desire. Check her out and practice the Kwanzaa principle Ujamaa [OO-JAH-MAH] (Cooperative Economics) by patronizing her business. Harambee'!
© 2009, Blogging Black Miami, www.bloggingblackmiami.com 
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