The Black Student Commission, Black Student Union and Ethnic Cultural Center came together to host the UW’s annual Kwanzaa Celebration in Kane Hall, Dec. 6.
Faculty, staff, and students attended the event held in commemoration of the African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community, and culture from Dec. 26-Jan. 1. The Walker Ames room was decorated in black, red, and green representing the colors of the Kwanzaa flag.
Black Student Commission Director Shaquella Perine opened the program by singing the Black National Anthem, followed by welcome remarks from Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange, UW Vice President for Minority Affairs and Vice Provost for Diversity. A Kwanzaa ceremony was held, led by Marcia Tate-Arunga who presented the history and symbolism of the holiday.
Jo-Nathan Thomas, OMA&D academic counselor, and Zynovia Hetherington, program director and lecturer in the School of Social Work, announced that a second study-abroad trip to Ghana (Sankofa II) will take place this summer. Ashley Lipford, a senior majoring in Law, Societies, and Justice, shared a short video about her study abroad experience during the first trip to Ghana last summer.
The work of notable staff and students in the African-American community at UW was also recognized including students Melat Abraham, Caroline Deurwarder, Jordan Dacres-Wong, Kayla Huddleston, Lipford, Simone Pajama and Shange Purnell, and OMA&D staff member Jessica Hunnicutt.
An online photo gallery of the event is available here.
Photos by Emile Pitre