ELLICOTT CITY – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and the Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity (OHRE) invite the community to participate virtually in the 2021 Kwanzaa Celebration on December 28, 2021 beginning at 6:00 p.m. The celebration will be broadcast live on the OHRE Facebook page from the Owen Brown Interfaith Center. This year, the celebration is co-sponsored by the County Executive, OHRE, and the county Department of Recreation & Parks.
“Kwanzaa reminds us to honor family, culture, and community," said Ball. "Sharing in the seven principles of Kwanzaa provides guidance for all our lives and celebrates that diversity and inclusion make us a stronger, united community. I look forward to honoring the spirit of this holiday with thoughtful speeches and meaningful performances.”
“The official theme for Kwanzaa is ‘Ensuring the Well-Being of the World.,” says Kwanzaa Committee Co-Chair, Claudia Allen. “I cannot help but feel that holding this event virtually honors that. Together, we will still recommit ourselves to ensuring the well-being of the world and our communities through a celebration of African American culture.”
The celebration features inspirational speeches and performances exploring the seven principles of Kwanzaa - unity, creativity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose and faith. The virtual event highlights speeches from:
- Howard County NAACP President Willie Flowers;
- Equity & Restorative Practices Manager, Dr. Denise Boston;
- Morgan State University Students;
- Zhion Perkins and Allen Dixon; and
- Kori Jones, Recreation Supervisor, Howard County Recreation & Parks
Attendees also will be entertained by special performances from Paul Thompson, Janssen Evelyn, Denée Barr, and the Celebration Liturgical Dance Ministry.
For more information about this year’s Kwanzaa Celebration check out the Office of Human Rights & Equity’s website. You can also reach out to Co-Chairs Claudia Allen or Kori Jones at 410-313-6430 or email ohreoutreach@howardcountymd.gov.