Fwd: Happy Kwanzaa, Community, and other Resources

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Daniel Koroma

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Dec 26, 2024, 4:58:37 PM12/26/24
to Koroma Daniel, Hawkins, Frederick
FYI -- please see community information below. 

--
Thanks
Daniel Koroma, M.Eng
Vice President
Montgomery County Board of Elections
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/elections
"Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Hawkins, Frederick <Frederic...@montgomerycountymd.gov>


Happy Holidays, 

I hope everyone is enjoying quality time with family and loved ones. This is a great time to reflect on how far we’ve come, rest and re-center as we prepare for a new year. 

Community is not just a feel-good term but it’s an embodiment of all that we are, all we have been through and believe, and all that we can be. Protecting our community also looks like building community. So let’s be intentional about that as we go into the days ahead.  

Even among the brutal backdrop of past and contemporary history, our communities still find reasons for joy. We laugh, we cook, play games, hug, cry, love, accomplish, and work forward towards a better future, no matter what. In recent months we have seen this community come together and communicate with and for each other. I have been honored to see the different people and organizations within our county organize and/or speak up for our collective goals. Thank you all for setting a great example. In the remainder of this holiday season, we have many reasons to celebrate and embrace each other.
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Today is the start of Kwanzaa. 

What is Kwanzaa:
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration (December 26 through January 1) that honors African American heritage and culture. Each day there is a suggested reading and song. For example, for Imani (Faith), Margaret Walker’s poem, “For My People” is the suggested reading, and “Keep Your Head to the Sky” by Earth, Wind, & Fire is the suggested song, or Ujima, “Optimistic” by Sounds of Blackness is the suggested song and “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson is the suggested reading for the day. For more suggested readings, activities, and more: Kwanzaa | National Museum of African American History and Culture

Candles: 
Each day of Kwanzaa, families light one of the black, red, or green candles in the Kinara to represent one of the principles. The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from the struggle. The black candle is lit first on the first day of the celebration, and the remaining candles are lit afterwards from left to right on the following days.”

Principles: 
Day 1. Umoja (Unity)
Umoja focuses on striving for and maintaining “unity in the family, community, nation, and race.”
Day 2. Kujichagulia (Self-determination)
The day of self-determination requires participants “to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.” 
Day 3. Ujima (Collective work and responsibility)
Set aside “to build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together,”. Ujima is “also recognition and respect for the fact that without collective work and struggle, progress is impossible and liberation unthinkable.” 
Day 4. Ujamaa (Cooperative economics)
Those participating in the holiday should use this day “to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.” Ujamaa means “familyhood,” which is why the principle urges Black people to work together in order to build themselves up economically.  
Day 5. Nia (Purpose)
Nia, meaning purpose, is designated “to make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.” 
Day 6. Kuumba (Creativity)
In alignment with its preceding principle, Nia, Kuumba asks participants “to always do as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.” 
Day 7. Imani (Faith)
The seventh and final principle of Kwanzaa is Imani, which means faith. The final day asks participants “to believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.”
Spread the word, celebrate our culture and heritage, and Happy Kwanzaa to all!

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No Room for Racism

There is no place for anti-Black racism of any kind. Racist hate crimes should be called out immediately. This tool was created to simplify the reporting of hate and bias incidents. It aims to better support our diverse community. Your safety and voices matter; please call out hate to help keep everyone in our community safe.

Additional resources for assistance:

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There are many great resources the county has to offer. As we move forward our connection to the resources around us is critical. Below is information and resources to be shared and used for the growth and support of our collective communities. Check it out! 


Founders Equity Fund 
About the Founders Fund
The $3 million Founders Fund offers grants of up to $100,000 to early-stage entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented communities who face systemic barriers to accessing capital. Eligible applicants must demonstrate how their proposed commercialization project will drive their business growth. 
Eligibility for the Founders Fund will be assessed using Montgomery Planning’s Community Equity Index, Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprise via Maryland DOT—Certification Management System and Veteran Owned Business Enterprise Program, and the Certified as a Women or Veteran-owned Business by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Women or Veteran-owned certification tools. apigateway.agilitypr.com/distributions/history/e5f24d29-1959-4a82-a54d-ee78321660d3?recipientId=3c3436cf-cd8d-4372-ad92-8c467b5685f8
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MOVE Grant Program
About the program
The updated MOVE grant program helps businesses that are signing their first commercial lease or expanding their existing lease by at least 500 square feet in office space in Montgomery County. All MOVE grant awards will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis based on the date of receipt of submitting all required documentation and subject to the availability of funding.
Completed applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.
If you have questions about this grant program, qualifications, or need assistance, please contact the Montgomery County Business Center at Busines...@Montgomerycountymd.gov. A Business Center staff will follow up with you in two business days.
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Montgomery County Business Resources 
 
Montgomery County offers funding and incentive programs designed to empower businesses and stimulate growth. By tapping in, businesses can expand operations, create jobs, and reinvest. Programs like the MOVE Grant, the Small Business Assistance Program, and Montgomery County Economic Development Fund Grants provide critical support for entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to establish or grow their ventures.
 
Please take a closer look at the wonderful programs available: 

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Black/African American Business Database/s for Montgomery County 
 
These resources highlight the entrepreneurial excellence right here within our community, and it offers you the opportunity to connect and spend intentionally and meaningfully. Thank you again to the Montgomery County Black Collective and the Black Business Council for this resource. 
 
Montgomery County Black Business Database: https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/

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Gilchrist Immigration Resource Center.
 
For another source of resources and services for all communities, here in Montgomery County, please visit Gilchrist Immigration Resource Center. All are welcome!  

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Montgomery County
Resources Available for Individuals and Families:

Housing:

Food:

Links to Latest Information:
Department of Public Libraries https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library
Department of Recreation https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec
Department of Permitting Services https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dps
Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center https://montgomerycountymd.gov/gilchrist/
Planning Department https://montgomeryplanning.org/
Department of Health and Human Services www.montgomerycountymd.gov/hhs



Community is our most valuable resource. Though I'm sure many of us are still working through this holiday season, I'm looking forward to working with you in 2025!



Frederick Hawkins
African American Community Liaison and Outreach Manager
Office of Community Partnerships, Community Engagement Cluster
21 Maryland Ave, 3rd floor, Suite 330
Rockville MD 20852
240-501-7398 (mobile)

 



For more helpful Cybersecurity Resources, visit: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cybersecurity

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