When: Friday, December 27, 2024 from 4:30-7:00 PM
Where: Padua Center / 1416 Nebraska Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43607
Contact: Sr Virginia Welsh (419) 241-4544 or (419) 460-3071

Padua Center will host one evening of Kwanzaa in Kwanzaa Park. This cultural festival will be held with a candle lighting ceremony. Fellowship will continue at Padua Center until 7:00 PM. Members of the community, as well as the city, are invited.

Oscar Shaheer

Annette Hannibal of the Kwanzaa Park Neighbors, will welcome guests. Diane Gordon of Kwanzaa House will lead the celebration. Brother Washington Muhammad will give the presentation on the Nguzo Saba (seven principles). The “Emerging Young Ladies” and the “Becoming Young Ladies” Groups of Padua Center will be present and assist with the presentation of the Seven Principles. Kwanzaa, a cultural celebration, is composed of a Libation Ceremony in honor of ancestors, the lighting of the Kinara, education, family activities and food to share.

The Kwanzaa Park Neighborhood is bordered by Dorr, Brown, Klondike and Hawley Streets. Members of Kwanzaa Park Neighbors meet monthly at Padua Center to investigate ways to work together (Ujima) and improve the neighborhood. The next community meeting is February 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Padua Center. (During February and March the Kwanzaa Park Neighbors’ meeting is held at 12:00 PM because of the darkness. Other months the meetings are on the First Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM).