SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The City of Springfield celebrated the first day of Kwanzaa Friday at city hall.

Springfield City Hall was the site a vibrant celebration of African American culture on Friday, as Mayor Domenic Sarno and the Kwanzaa Collective hosted their annual Kwanzaa Proclamation.

The event kicked off with Mayor Sarno issuing a special proclamation officially declaring the 26th the start of “Kwanzaa Week” and awarded members of the community who’ve helped grow their communities and have helped keep a positive enviroment, and positive influence on the younger generation.

“The city acknowledges this week because there’s so many different wonderful celebrations that are happening in western Mass. And so not only Springfield, but also Holyoke and Chicopee,” said Ayanna Crawford, the co-founder of the Kwanzaa Collective, “so it’s important that the municipal governments acknowledge Kwanzaa just like we acknowledge any other holidays or other cultural events that are happening in our city. And Kwanzaa is one of those.”

Among those who were awarded with the Kwanzaa Community Impact Award were Freda Malone and Donnie Wright. Wright, a prominent community figure in Springfield told Western Mass News that being honored today is of the highest value, “the principles of Kwanzaa teach you about yourself. It teaches you about your country, your heritage, your ethnicity, where you come from. If you don’t know who you are and where you come from, you don’t know where you’re going or what your purpose is in life, and life becomes a puzzle that you’re unable to put together without divine direction.”

Friday’s event is just a prelude to the Community Kwanzaa Festival on Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club Family Center on Acorn Street. The festival is open to people of all ages and will have vendors, live performances, and a keynote speaker.

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