CHICOPEE, Mass. - The city of Chicopee officially celebrated Kwanzaa for the first time Thursday, hosting a proclamation to honor the holiday for people of African ancestry around the world.
The cultural holiday, which is observed the last week of December, celebrates African heritage and the seven ideologies including unity, self-determination, creativity and faith.
Mayor John Vieau joined with the Kwanzaa Collective of Western Mass and other members of the African American community to read the Kwanzaa proclamation outside of city hall to voice the cities efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.
Kwanzaa Collective Vice Chair Ayanna Crawford said Kwanzaa is about bringing communities together to grow both economically and spiritually, as well as having a forward-thinking agenda for the black community.
"We believe that Kwanzaa in its roots is universal," Crawford said. "And so we want to spread the love and the light to other communities. To see the richness of African people that live here in America."
Crawford said the celebration Kwanzaa will continue through January 1 with events all over Massachusetts.