Three-year old Caelan Purvy was at Houston Hall to help out, as was 70-year-old Philadelphia resident Henry Roberson. With over 150 people in the audience for the finale of the Kwanzaa 2000 celebration last night, all ages turned out for the ceremony and feast. UMOJA and the Greenfield Intercultural Center sponsored this year's week-long Kwanzaa activities. "We love doing it," GIC Associate Director Karlene Burrell-McRae said. "We get to educate folks who don't know that much about Kwanzaa, and we get to celebrate with folks who do know something." The size of the audience, as well as its diversity, demonstrated the strength of community at Penn, according to organizers. With traditional ceremonies, speeches, artistic performances and -- of course -- food, the purpose of the night was to rejoice in the festivities, but also to teach. Kwanzaa, which means "the first fruit of the harvest" in the Kiswahili language, is normally celebrated from December 26 to January 1. The non-religious holiday emphasizes the values of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. According to Wharton sophomore and event coordinator Nicole Andrewin, this year's celebration was the first to span an entire week, with various activities such as performing arts shows and workshops. "I'm very excited that this year there was a whole week," said Andrewin, who was also the opening speaker. "It allowed everyone to really concentrate on one principle a day." Andrewin said that one of the purposes of Kwanzaa is to emphasize the importance of elders in the community, who have "seen and been through it all." "They are the cornerstones of the African-American community," Andrewin added. Six elders, chosen from both the Penn campus and the surrounding community, presided over the celebration. A community leader performed a libation, while children ceremonially set the table and other participants lit the kinara, or candelabra. Penn students from a variety of African-American student groups formally described each of the seven principles. For example, Wharton junior Randall Sawyer talked about the value of ujamaa, or cooperative economics. "It's not about someone else failing [in business] for you to be successful," Sawyer said. "True happiness is about coming together and celebrating together." Although traditionally an African-American celebration, students of all races were encouraged to attend. College senior Michael Hartwyk was one of those in attendance who was not a member of the African-American community. "I came to be educated, and to have fun," he said. "It's amazing, the energy and creativity of [the celebration] every year."
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