The fifth day of Kwanzaa focuses on purpose which means "to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.”
On our kinara, light the middle, black candle, the red candle that sits next to the black candle on the left, the green candle that sits next to the black candle on the right, the red candle that sits in the middle of all three red candles and the green candle that sits in the middle of all three green candles.
Reflect on what you’ve done and what you plan to do to help uplift our community and make it better. What are your talents and skills? How have you used them to help others?
"I must do something" always solves more problems than "Something must be done." - Unknown
On the fourth day of Kwanzaa we focus on cooperative economics. According to the Nguzo Saba (seven principles), cooperative economics means: “to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.”
We must reignite the movement to support black-owned businesses and to support businesses in our community. If black businesses are not able to sustain themselves, the community will not move from expectations of charity from the government or financially wealthy individuals and organizations.
On our kinara, we light the middle, black candle, the red candle that sits next to the black candle on the left, the green candle that sits next to the black candle on the right and the red candle that sits in the middle of all three red candles.
“Economic depression cannot be cured by legislative action or executive pronouncement. Economic wounds must be healed by the action of the cells of the economic body - the producers and consumers themselves.” ~ Herbert Hoover
Leaders of several Florida civil rights and non-profit organizations including LULAC, the NAACP and the United Chinese Association are demanding that Gov. Rick Scott prove that the state is following all the federal rules and guidelines for supporting migrant education.
They want to make sure that Florida, which has more than 50,000 children eligible for the program, isn't in the same boat as Indiana — where newly appointed education commissioner Tony Bennett comes from — and that it won't ever be.
Today is the third day of Kwanzaa. The principle celebrated is ujima or collective work and responsibility. That means to build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
In our kinara, we light the middle, black candle, the red candle that sits next to the black candle on the left and the green candle that sits next to the black candle on the right. Again a statement about the third principle and its meaning might be made. Or possibly a passage or poem is spoken or read which relates to what the principle means and how it relates to their life. The family shares the Unity cup and the candles are extinguished.
“A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor’s.” ~ Richard Whately
South Florida based author, Geoffrey Philp and his daughter, Christina Philp, have published a new children’s E-book, The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby.
Set in the island of Jamaica, The Christmas Dutch Pot Babyis the story aboutJoe and Myriam Lumley, who find a baby in a Dutch pot on their doorstep. Without hesitating, the Lumleys take the child, whom they name Eleanor, into their home. But little do they know, Attaberra, Queen of the Zemis, who has watched over the island since it rose out of the sea, has been watching their every move. The Queen has also made a prediction about the child. Will her prediction come true?
"I love working with Christina” said Philp. "From the time she was in kindergarten, Christina and I have been creating Christmas cards, and The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby is the third book that we've worked on together. She's a gifted artist and I am lucky that she has collaborated with me on so many projects."
"The themes of family, hope, and redemption run through the book," said Philp. "It's what the Christmas story is all about."
Author Geoffrey Philp and daughter Christina Philp
The second day of Kwanzaa, the principle of self-determination, kuchijagulia, is celebrated. We affirm our determination to create, name and define our lives for ourselves, instead of allowing others to do this for us.
In our kinara, we light the middle, black candle again and the red candle that sits next to the black candle on the left. Again a statement about the second principle and its meaning might be made. Or possibly a passage or poem is spoken or read which relates to what the principle means and how it relates to their life. The family shares the Unity cup and the candles are extinguished.
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” - Coco Chanel
Today is the first day of the seven day celebration called Kwanzaa. The holiday was developed by Maulana Karenga (born Ron Everett) in 1966. Kwanzaa celebrates seven principles and uses seven symbols for uniting families and individuals.
Through Kwanzaa principles, if practiced throughout the year, we build strong families and communities. They teach respect for elders and a responsibility to prepare children to lead in the future.
Kwanzaa is not anti-Christmas as some folks would like to have others believe. Toys given to children during Kwanzaa are educational in nature. Kwanzaa purists frown upon the commercialization of the celebration. Most of the people I know that practice Kwanzaa principles also celebrate Christmas.
Some people speak negatively of the holiday because of its creator, Maulana Karenga, who was imprisoned for the torture of two women. Karenga accused the women of attempting to assassinate him but that was never proven.
Kwanzaa is non-religious and non-political. Its positive message overshadows its creator. If the black community practices: Unity; Self-determination; Collective work and responsibility; Cooperative economics; Purpose; Creativity and Faith.
Each day of the seven-day celebration a candle is lit. Each candle represents one of the Nguzo Saba (seven principles). The first day the black candle, in the center, is lit. It represents umoja or unity.
This has been a long and exhausting day! I hope everyone's christmas wishes came true. Most important, I pray that Jesus was somewhere in the mix since this is the day we celebrate his birthday. Be blessed.
The Miami Foundation raised more than $1.2 million during the inaugural Give Miami Day. Held on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, the 24-hour fundraising effort benefitted 300 nonprofit organizations that built searchable profiles on GiveMiamiDay.org. The public was able to browse the profiles, allowing almost 5,000 donors from 45 states and eight countries to see the mission, work and impact of each organization, then immediately make a charitable gift. Nonprofits connected with donors looking to support the important work they do in the community.
“Give Miami Day completely surpassed our expectations,” said Javier Alberto Soto, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “Our community’s generosity of spirit was on full display as we proved once again that, when given the right opportunity, Miamians will generously give to build a better community.”
Every donation between $25 and $10,000 received through GiveMiamiDay.org on December 12th will have 12.5 percent of it matched by $100,000 contributed by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and $100,000 contributed by The Miami Foundation. Additionally, the Marlins Foundation provided $15,000 in incentive prizes to nonprofits throughout the 24-hour event.
“This first Give Miami Day would not have been possible without the help and support of Knight Foundation and Marlins Foundation,” said Nancy Jones, vice president for development and communications at The Miami Foundation. “We are grateful to the community for their extraordinary outpouring of donations and also credit this great success to the nonprofit organizations that participated and promoted the event. This is their victory as well.”
Lead fundraisers for the event included Neat Stuff, Inc., a Miami-based nonprofit providing new clothing for abused and neglected children, which raised $45,875, and The Children’s Movement of Florida, which received the largest number of gifts, 252, and raised $41,951.
“The incredible success of this inaugural community building effort created a special Miami Moment that we should all feel proud of,” continued Soto. “It has demonstrated that America’s long tradition of philanthropy is alive and thriving in Miami. We hope that it also serves to further increase engagement and attachment to Miami on the part of all who call this place home.”
The Foundation is committed to making this an annual event and increasing its reach and impact each year. Planning for Give Miami Day 2013 is already underway.