Celebrating the first night of Kwanzaa together with Ile Omode, Wo’se, City of Refuge was a testament to Umoja. Unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Our first night of Kwanzaa “Umoja” celebration shares every Kwanzaa principle of the season. Wo’se Community’s Minister Mallie Kofi Latham shares the meaning of Kwanza and its principles with our community. Umoja Night “families” were well represented in the space provided by City Of Refuge “Community”. We highlighted Black businesses with Ile Omode parents and Wo’se members vendor representation “Ujamaa” Cooperative Economics to include for the first time our Ile Omode Middle School Students who made and brought natural products to market. Coming together to share a meal “Karamu” with our Women of Wo’se blessing and greeting while serving families in the City of Refuge Social Hall. We were having conversations of how we take care of our community, networking, sharing space and time, seeing those whom we have not seen since the pandemic or reuniting with our students home from college, families visiting from afar, loving and caring for each other making plans for the future of how we move forward in the coming year. The pouring of Libation “Nia” giving purpose as to why paying homage to our ancestors whose shoulders we stand and giving respect to those who has gone before us, sharing of family experiences with our children now and those yet to come the lessons of why we call the spirit of our ancestors to come and be with us in celebration of Imani. Our babies born through the period of COVID19 to now were introduced to our community in ceremony to make the commitment of raising our children, according to the needs of our nation, with discipline, devotion and courage was the commitment to Ujima. Our students of Ile Omode shared culture led by Baba Nimely Napla drum and dance to include our preschool “Kuumba” and Baba Ajamu Stewart led our children in the Black National Anthem Life Every Voice and Sing. Our Ile Omode Alums – “The 5 Diamonds and A Princess” Kujichagulia speaks to the creativity of our young people culturally expressing and defining themselves. As we celebrate the season of Kwanzaa and all 7 days, lighting the 7 candles which represents the 7 principles in which we make our commitment to continue to uplift our family, community, nation and race, it is my prayer that all is well and we make our stumbling blocks our stepping stones to reach the goals and aspirations to which our family and community can be enriched and encouraged to grow and prosper. Ha Ram Be Blessing Mama Pam Williams, Ile Omode School 
