{"id":18227,"date":"2026-01-08T18:01:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T18:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=18227"},"modified":"2026-01-08T18:01:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T18:01:59","slug":"padua-center-hosts-annual-kwanzaa-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/08\/padua-center-hosts-annual-kwanzaa-celebration\/","title":{"rendered":"Padua Center Hosts Annual Kwanzaa Celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sister Virginia Welsh, Executive Director of the Padua Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Dawn Scotland<\/em>
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/em><\/p>\n

On Monday, December 29 at 3 p.m. at The Padua Center, the Kwanzaa Park Neighbors celebrated the Fourth Night of Kwanzaa, focusing on the Principle Ujamaa. The free event was open to all and featured the traditional Kwanzaa ritual and Karamu (traditional feast).<\/p>\n

The fourth night of Kwanzaa \u201cUjamaa\u201d (cooperative economics) is celebrated by lighting the second red candle on the Kinara and coming together in support for black-owned businesses, with emphasis on maintenance and operations. Monday night participants engaged in an interactive celebration discussing the Kwanzaa principle led by Brother Washington Muhammad of The Community Solidarity Response Network.<\/p>\n

The event focused on the idea of pooling resources together in unity to benefit the entire community. Emphasis was placed upon support of local businesses and Black Owned businesses where available.\u00a0 The Padua Center hosts Kwanzaa every year since the center\u2019s inception and utilizes the principles in its programming year round.<\/p>\n

The mission of Padua Center is to be a Christian community-based presence empowering people at all stages of life to achieve their maximum potential through education, counseling, support and community involvement.<\/p>\n

To learn more visit: paduacenter.org<\/p>\n