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November 25, 2002

Kwanzaa celebration to take place at Black Cultural Center

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Kwanzaa celebration, sponsored by the Women of Vision Young Adult Club, will take place at Purdue University's Black Cultural Center at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Dorothy Simpson-Taylor, Diversity Resource Office director at Purdue, will serve as the event's guest speaker. The celebration also will feature an African-American bazaar, at which African art, jewelry, hats, clothing and books will be sold.

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday that is celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. It is based upon Maulana Karenga's Kawaida Theory in which the Seven Principles of Blackness are outlined. They include umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith).

This is the Women of Vision's sixth annual Kwanzaa celebration.

"Purdue University and the Greater Lafayette community have embraced and supported this program," says Donna Hall, campus adviser for Women of Vision. "Through words and the lighting of candles, Kwanzaa offers a message to everyone. We look forward to reaffirming the Seven Basic Principles and sharing them with all participants."

The celebration is free and open to the public.

The Women of Vision Young Adult Club, which serves as the young adult section of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, was founded at Purdue in 1997. Its mission is to enrich others' lives through community service projects and activities.

CONTACT: Melanie Gatewood, program co-chairperson, (765) 497-2498, gatewoom@purdue.edu; Arial Burrus, program co-chair, (765) 448-9851, areneeb@msn.com; Donna Hall, (765) 494-3094, dmhall@purdue.edu.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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