Kwanzaa 2024 - 2025

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Celebrating Unity, Creativity, and Community Through the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa with VOCA!

Hello! I’m Michelle Banks - Artistic Director of VOCA - Visionaries of the Creative Arts.

We are approaching the end of 2024 and eagerly looking forward to the exciting things that 2025 will bring! First, we want to thank you for your continued support and contributions to VOCA throughout the year. Our overall programming would not have been possible without your charity. So thank you!

VOCA is celebrating Kwanzaa and its seven principles, which our mission is deeply aligned with. As a community-based organization, we are committed to supporting the work of our Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, and hearing BIPOC artists, who significantly represent our culture, language, and community.

We have a fantastic group of community members who will sign how VOCA aligns with each principle. So, please join us in celebrating Kwanzaa by viewing their remarks about the principles. Happy Holidays! See you in 2025!

VOCA Artistic Director,

Michelle Banks

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What is Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is observed annually from December 26th to January 1st and is based on seven guiding principles known as the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles). These principles emphasize values that contribute to community, self-determination, and cultural identity. Each day of Kwanzaa highlights one of the principles:

Umoja (Unity) - December 26th

Meaning: To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

We are dedicated to fostering unity across all BIPOC D/deaf, hard-of-hearing (HoH) communities. Our programs and performances bring together people of all BIPOC backgrounds, to increase awareness of intersectionality in the D/deaf, HoH, hearing ally communities by artistically collaborating and celebrating the authenticity of our human experiences together.

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) - December 27th

Meaning: To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

We empower individuals to provide in-depth training programs for people from all walks of life who want to master in one or more creative arts discipline(s) including but not limited to acting, theatrical interpreting, dance, music, ASL poetry and filmmaking and prepare them for employment opportunities in the entertainment industry and theater.

Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) - December 28th

Meaning: To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together.

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Whether creating theatrical productions in multi sign languages such as American Sign Language (ASL), Black American Sign Language (BASL), and Spoken English. Also partnering with organizations and businesses worldwide, we work collectively to uplift the stories and voices of the D/deaf and multicultural communities.

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) - December 29th

Meaning: To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

We believe in building sustainable opportunities within the creative arts. To strengthen nationwide and global partnerships with other organizations, businesses, and individuals by participating in the creation of new work or the adaptation of theatrical pieces focusing on deaf-centered themes, Deaf multicultural/cross-cultures, and the art of sign language.

Nia (Purpose) - December 30th

Meaning: To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Our purpose is clear: supporting the works of the DeafBlind, Deaf Plus, and HoH artists all together locally and nationwide. The Deaf/HoH BIPOC community and its artists have been overlooked and underrepresented in mainstream and Deaf culture, a form of social injustice that VOCA stands to redress.

Kuumba (Creativity)- December 31st

Meaning: To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Creativity drives our mission and fuels our connection to one another. From innovative theatrical productions to interactive ASL workshops for families, children, and youth, we celebrate the limitless potential of the arts to transform and inspire.

Imani (Faith) - January 1st

Meaning: To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Faith in our collective power sustains us. We believe in the strength of our communities to create meaningful change and in the transformative power of art to connect us all. VOCA's vision is to be a global leader in providing equitable access and opportunities for BIPOC Deaf, DeafBlind, and HoH artists in the creative and performing arts arena.