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Hello Michael! Happy Kwanzaa from The Blackyard CollectiveUMOJA (unity) KUJICHAGULIA (self-determination) UJIMA (collective work and responsibility) UJAMAA (cooperative economics) NIA (purpose) KUUMBA (creativity) IMANI (faith) As 2024 comes to a close, The Blackyard Collective is grateful to have completed our first full-year as a bonafide non-profit that seeks to build and sustain a community of care grounded in self-love and mutual respect. As a Black-led, Black-centered community, we are rooted and grounded in the seven principles of Kwanzaa, which means “first fruits.” When we launched, the principle of UMOJU (unity) was our primary concern. In February of 2024, The BYC Board gathered in Washington D.C. for our first-ever leadership retreat with the goal of connecting to ourselves, our mission, and one another. We learned that unless and until each individual feels connected to the larger mission, we cannot move forward toward our full potential. Along with shared meals, collective story-telling, and visiting local recovery meetings, we ended our time together with a visit to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture. Of the many faces of our complex history, I am reminded of the life of Olaudah Equiano, who was born a free African in the Benin region of western Africa, kidnapped from his homeland, and sold into slavery. Equiano secured his freedom and went on to write a compelling personal account of his life. He writes, “I still look back with pleasure on the first scenes of my life, though that pleasure has been for the most part mingled with sorrow.” These words capture the essence of The Blackyard Collective. We are just the latest manifestation of a complex history of people who are striving to make sense of ourselves and our community — with pleasure for the most part mingled with sorrow. On this first day of Kwanzaa, may we find UMOJA (unity) in knowing that we are not alone. Both our pleasures and our sorrows are bond together in our community of ancestors and our current community of care. Amen, Ashe, May It Be So! HAPPY KWANZAA …Merry Christmas …and Happy Hanukkah to all! Love,
Michael
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