Today, on the third day of Kwanzaa, we celebrate Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility) which is to build & maintain our community together & make our brothers’ & sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together.
Today’s reflection on Ujima comes from our community partner at Dior Sunset Foundation, LaTreasha Nolen.
As a Compton native and mom, I have a passion to create a safe and clean space for the children in my community. One way that I practice Ujima is by getting involved to take care of our public spaces like my local park.
At Dior Sunset, we partner with The Bright Lights of Compton to host a monthly clean up each month on the third Saturday of the month at Lueders Park. Local residents and volunteers from all over come to Compton and clean up and beautify the park.
If you and your family are in the Los Angeles area and would like to be a part of a clean up please send an email to Info@diorsunset.com or sign up on justdogood.org to volunteer. We’d love to have you!
This Ujima, we invite you to reflect on the following:
- What makes my community great?
- What is my community missing?
- What is my unique contribution to my community?
- Who else can I work with to make my community better?
To practice Ujima as a family, we invite you to get involved in your community!
You can start by identifying the things you feel passionate about in your community. Whether it’s a park clean-up day, planting native flowers, or organizing a drive for free books or meals, you have the power to make your community a space for connection and possibility!