For four decades, Better Family Life has allowed visitors to their annual Kwanzaa Holiday Expo to see a principle of the Afrocentric holiday in action. The event that has grown into a Black St. Louis cultural staple was born out of the fourth principle of the Nguzo Saba – Ujamaa – which reflects cooperative economics.
“It is an opportunity to bring people together in a festive environment that is culturally stimulating, that is visually engaging” said Deborah Ahmed, co-founder and Executive Director of Better Family Life. “It is a celebration of self and beauty of who we are, our greatness, and what we can do when we work together.”
The expo returns to the Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center this weekend (Sat., Dec. 14, 10 a.m. and Sun., December 15 at 12 noon). Aside from shopping opportunities, the expo will feature Kwanzaa educational opportunities and performances from the Spirit of Angela African Dance Company and Gentlemen of Vision.
For their milestone year, Better Family Life will celebrate with a commemorative tote bag promoting the anniversary and a new work readiness program entitled Sankofa Rising. This program is dedicated to those interested in working in the arts industry. Participants will take part in skill based training in fields like sewing and costume design, museum visitor service, and digital storytelling. For those that qualify, the program can result in a paid internship with prominent institutions within the St. Louis arts community.
The event is a “for us, by us” an opportunity to fellowship in the name of the Kwanzaa holiday, which is nearing its 60th anniversary. The annual celebration takes place from December 26 to January 1. First celebrated in 1966, the holiday was created by activist Maulana Karenga based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West, East and Southeast Africa. Karenga has delivered lectures as part of Better Family Life’s Kwanzaa Holiday Expo programming.
“For some, the Kwanzaa Holiday Expo introduces them to Kwanzaa, for others it reinforces what Kwanzaa is all about,” Ahmed said. “For some it introduces them to Black owned businesses, for others it reinforces their desire and need to support Black owned businesses”.
As an organization, Better Family Life was still in its infancy when it began presenting the event. In fact, the principle the expo demonstrates was at the core of the organization’s establishment. Malik and Deborah Ahmad founded Better Family Life in 1983 using the Nguzo Saba as its founding principle after witnessing the debilitating conditions of Black communities in St. Louis. “We established Better Family Life on a cultural foundation that would lead towards our advancement, our enhancement, our growth, and overall ability to take control of our existence,” Ahmed said.
Better Family Life has grown from meetings in the basement to providing avenues for success. The organization is divided into five departments: youth family and clinical services, charity engagement, cultural arts, housing and financial literacy, and workforce. Under these departments are over thirty different programs providing knowledge and history like with the Art and Empowerment Mural, the largest Black history mural in the State of Missouri, or neighborhood support through food drives and substance abuse programs, and community building through special events like the Kwanzaa Holiday Expo.
Ahmed feels that commitment to supporting Black owned businesses and building a Black economy are critical in order to improve Black communities and the people that live in them. “We cannot talk about community building if we don’t have a Black economic base,” Ahmed said.
“This holiday expo is just the opportunity to build that base and generate support for the Black owned businesses that we don’t know are out there.”
The Better Family Life 40th Anniversary Kwanzaa Holiday Expo will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 14 and at 12 noon on Sunday, December 15 at Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center, 5415 Page Blvd. For more information, visit betterfamilylife.org or call 314-367-3440.
Living It content is produced in partnership with Regional Arts Commission.
