Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 12 – December 2025

Posted on December 1, 2025December 12, 2025

NAVIGATION

KWANZAA’S VIBE: LIVING THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES IN VERMONT

by Clifford Genece

You’ve spent hours finding the perfect gifts. The kids are laughing, the old folks are smiling, and you’re somewhere in between—bridging generations, making sure everyone’s fed and happy.

Then, a relief: Christmas Day is over. What’s next?

I was born in Brooklyn, New York, but my blood is Haitian. I grew up hearing Kwanzaa songs—always described as an “African-American celebration.” And like many parts of my U.S. experience, it didn’t feel like it was meant for me. Yet somehow, as a kid, Christmas fit perfectly because for one day out of the year, everything was about me.

In 2020, a friend and I recorded a podcast episode about Black holiday specials in music, movies, and TV. That conversation led me to my first Kwanzaa celebration at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance in Denver, CO. Fela Kuti played through the speakers. Kids performed poems. The elders danced. It wasn’t just a celebration—it was a reset and a reminder.

Kwanzaa, founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, and beginning on December 26th, isn’t just an African-American holiday—it’s a philosophy on creativity, community, and collective growth.

It’s a call to embody practices that bring value to your life and loved ones, and your people.

This holiday season, embrace the seven principles of Kwanzaa—at home, in your community, and within yourself. Use each principle as a guidepost for renewal, healing, and action.

1. Umoja (Unity)

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

Unity starts with an invite—a text or phone call–a reminder that it’s been too long. Vermont has over 150 BIPOC-owned restaurants and cafes—grab coffee, tea, or lunch with a friend. Talk about your year—your struggles, wins, and hopes. Community and honest conversations are the best kind of therapy—free and healing.

2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)

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

On day 2, take a long quiet moment. No phone, TV, or conversations—just reflection. What did yesterday’s connections teach you? How can you make better choices to self-define and self-actualize? Determination begins with self-clarity.

3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)

To build and maintain our community together and make our community’s problems our problems—and solve them together.

Collaboration is every community’s strength. Where can you find spaces to collaborate? Is it a BIPOC-owned farm, center, or space for artists? Show up, see what happens, and find your role in communal progress.

4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)

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

How much money stayed within your community this year? Today and tomorrow, invest more into BIPOC businesses. The wealth will never be redistributed, so instead, redistribute your spend to empower your future.

5. Nia (Purpose)

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

Purpose moves action into meaning. Walk around your home or space and look at all of the time, talent, and money you invested. What no longer serves a purpose? What will bring you success?

6. Kuumba (Creativity)

To do always as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Art is the root of legacy. Whether through poetry, murals, or entrepreneurship, creativity gives you permanence. Visit a BIPOC-centered art gallery. Find new inspiration in visual, physical and vocal storytelling.

7. Imani (Faith)

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

Faith is fuel. In Abrahamic religions, God rested on the seventh day because of the faith in everything that was built. Believe in the future you’re building for yourself and your community. The world feels divisive, but faith connects and recharges your soul. 

Assimilation slowly washes over your heritage. Under my kinara, I place a Haitian flag to bridge Kwanzaa’s philosophy with the sacrifices of Haitians and African-Americans. Light the Kinara in your heart and within your community. Reconnect and rethink what celebration means at home.

About the Author

Born in Brooklyn, NY and rooted in Haiti, Clifford carries a deep responsibility to honor Haiti’s legacy while building a future that champions global Black excellence, sustainability, and innovation led by love.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

news FROM THE NETWORK

Other Resources
Closing December 10: Vermont Queer Health And Substance Use Survey	Are you queer and live in and around Vermont? If so, take this survey to help us get an idea of the health landscape for queer Vermonters!
Community Health Investment Fund Emerging Need Funding Application Fiscal Year 2026	University of Vermont Medical Center seeks to address the top community health priorities by investing in local organizations. Applicants for funding must be non-profit, municipal, or other government organizations. Projects must primarily support community members in UVM Medical Center’s Health Service Area (Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties) and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Visiting Teacher-Naturalist Program	Calling all teaching naturalists, ecologists, trackers, nature educators, outdoor accessibility advocates, and more! This program is designed to spotlight the expertise, knowledge, and skills of Black, Indigenous, POC, rural, immigrant, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. This program is designed to help us find experts who can represent identities missing from our current staff, thus broadening the perspectives shared with the NBNC community.

EVENTS

Date	Event	Time	Location
Until Dec 7	Vermont Festival of Trees	Multiple	St. Albans
Until Jan 4	Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum	Multiple	Shelburne
Dec 2, 16	The Root Social Justice Center: Capoeira Sessions	5:30 PM – 7:30 PM	Brattleboro
Dec 2, 9, 16, 23, 30	Burlington Yoga Equity Project: BIPOC Affinity Space Classes	5:45 PM – 7:00 PM	Burlington
Dec 3, 10, 17	Jazz Night with The Ray Vega QuARTet	8:30 PM – 10:30 PM	Burlington
Dec 5, 6	Vermont Comedy Club Presents: Dulcé Sloan ($$)	6:30 PM, 8:30 PM	Burlington
Dec 5	Vermont Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Pops in Barre ($$)	7:30 PM	Barre
Dec 6, 7	6th Annual Vermont Holiday Market ($$)	10:00 AM – 5:00 PM	Essex Junction
Dec 6, 7	Winter Celebration on the Farm 2025 ($$)	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM	Woodstock
Dec 6	Vermont Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Pops in Burlington ($$)	7:30 PM	Burlington
Dec 7	Vermont Youth Orchestra Association – OrchestraPalooza ($$)	4:00 PM	Burlington
Dec 10	Vermont Womenpreneurs: Biz Buzz Burlington	9:45 AM – 11:15 AM	Burlington
Dec 10	Whole Health Connect: A Different Kind of Tasting Workshop	2:00 PM – 3:00 PM	Burlington
Dec 11	Vermont Womenpreneurs: 2nd Annual Brattleboro Holiday Party ($$)	6:00 PM – 9:00 PM	Brattleboro
Dec 12, 13	The BTV Winter Market	4:00 PM – 8:00 PM	Burlington
Dec 12, 13, 14	Wassail Weekend	Multiple	Woodstock
Dec 12, 13	St. J Sparkles! Holiday Weekend	Multiple	St. Johnsbury
Dec 14	The Root Social Justice Center: Youth & Adult D&D	4:00 PM – 5:30 PM	Brattleboro
Dec 20, 21	Vermont’s Own Nutcracker ($$)	Multiple	Burlington
Dec 31	Highlight 2025 ($$)	Multiple	Burlington
Dec 31	First Night North ($$)	4:00 PM	St. Johnsbury
Dec 31	Vermont Comedy Club Presents: Marina Franklin – New Year’s Eve! ($$)	8:00 PM, 10:30 PM	Burlington

trainings & professional development

Date	Workshop	Time	Location
All Month	Vermont Joblink: Interview Skills, Career Guidance, Resume Prep, Etc.	Multiple
Dec 9	CVOEO: Tenant Skills Workshop	12:00 PM – 1:30 PM	Virtual
Dec 16	CVOEO: Finding Housing Workshop	5:00 PM – 6:00 PM	Virtual
Dec 17	CVOEO: Sustaining the Rent Workshop	5:00 PM – 6:30 PM	Virtual

FUNDING & GRANTS

Due Date	Grant	Purpose
Dec 3	Haymarket People’s Fund: Sustaining Grants	Grant awards range up to $20,000 for grassroots, social change organizations that meet our funding criteria. Grant sizes are determined after carefully evaluating each proposal considering Haymarket’s criteria and commitment to strengthening anti-racist movement building in New England. We fund both start-up groups (emerging) and more established groups (movement building).
Dec 9	Farmer Grant Program Call for 2026 Proposals	The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program offers competitive grants to farmers, educators, service providers, researchers, nonprofit staff, graduate students and others to address key issues affecting the sustainability of agriculture throughout our region.
Rolling	Haymarket People’s Fund: Urgent Response Grants	Up to $5,000 to help grassroots social change organizations respond quickly to unforeseen crises or opportunities that critically affect your organization and constituency. Includes unexpected events, political crises, or organizing opportunities. Grants are NOT to be used for ongoing program work (including expenses the organization should have anticipated), for financial crises, a projected funding shortfall, or because the group missed a funding deadline.
Rolling	Nonprofit Enhanced Rebate	For eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits to purchase qualifying equipment or complete a custom project.
Rolling	Vermont Humanities Rapid Response Grants	Quick turn-around small grants for humanities-focused community projects. Awards up to $1,000.
Rolling	Grassroots Fund: Seed Grants	Support for community groups who represent a broad range of voices in their community and who are not being reached by other funders.
Rolling	New England Presenter Travel Fund	Supports travel costs associated with researching artistic work that may eventually be presented in New England.
Rolling	Community Action Team	Offers general or project support within the broad guidelines and funding provided by the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation.
Rolling	USDA Small Business Cost Share Program	Businesses with fewer than 50 employees and gross profit under $1,000,000 are eligible.
Rolling	Social Equity: Vermont Cannabis Control Board	Individuals determined to meet social equity status by the Vermont Cannabis Control Board may be eligible.

NEWS