KWANZAA CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS ANNOUNCED

December 6, 2008 (San Diego) — A series of events commemorating Kwanzaa have
been announced, including several in San Diego's eastern region. 

The 18th annual Pan-African Associations of America Umoja Day program will
take place December 26th at the Malcolm X Library located at 5148 Market Street
in San Diego.  This a day long event and includes an adult workshop
explaining how to observe Kwanzaa in the home and a children's arts and craft
workshop on Kwanzaa: 10am to noon.  A Youth/Hip Hop discussion on Kwanzaa
will take place from 1pm to 3 p.m. The traditional lighting of the  first
Kwanzaa candle will take place at 4:30 p.m. and includes a program of  words
of inspiration, spoken word, music, drumming and dance, African martial arts,
silent auction and vendors.  The program ends at 8pm.  All
events are free to the public.

December 27th will feature the PAAA 6th annual Kujichagulia African  Blessing  and
Naming ceremony at the Worldbeat Center located at 2100 Park Ave. in  Balboa
Park, San Diego.  Individuals in the community who have been selected  and
who want to take on African names will be given an African cultural blessing
and will receive their names after that blessing.  They will then  be
welcomed into the community with music, food and fellowship.  The  program
will begin with the lighting of the second Kwanzaa candle and an  explanation  will
be provided on how African names are given and why.  This program is  from
1p.m. to 4p.m.  The Worldbeat Center will also have another Kwanzaa program
that evening.

December 28th will feature the PAAA 5th annual Ujima Day Family Mixer
and Food Drive Celebration at the offices of the Black Contractors  Association,  Inc.
located at 6125 Imperial Ave. from 2pm to 5pm.  Participants are asked  to
bring a non-perishable food item that will be donated to families in need after
the holidays.  The third candle of Kwanzaa will be lit that day and will
be followed by information about the meaning of Kwanzaa and the principle of
Ujima, the work of the Black Contractors Association, music, raffles, food
and vendors will be on hand.

Finally the PAAA has launched its 2nd annual Ujima Food Drive from now
until December 28th.  Families are encouraged to purchase an extra
non-perishable food item to donate to the food drive in the spirit of the principle
Ujima, which is to make our brothers and sisters problems our problems, and
to  solve them together.  Food items can be dropped off at the following  locations: 

1. Harmonious
   Solutions, 5106 Federal Blvd., Suite 205, San  Diego, Ca. 92105
   (619) 266-1181;
2. Ebony Beauty Supply, 1665 Euclid Ave.,  San Diego,
   Ca. (619) 266-0366;
3. UAAMAC offices, 4185 Market St., San Diego, Ca.
   (619) 264-1213;
4. Black Contractors Association, Inc.
   6125 Imperial Ave., San Diego, Ca. (619) 263-9791.