Educator Lardinois to keynote Kwanzaa this Saturday at UWGB

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, together with St. Norbert College and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, will host a Community Kwanzaa Celebration at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Phoenix Room of the University Union at UW-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive.

Keynote speaker for this year’s gathering is Margaret “Toni’ Lardinois, principal of Washington Middle School, Green Bay.

Kwanzaa is an African-American celebration based on the tradition of the African harvest festival, which emphasizes community and cultural pride. Attendees can enjoy music, African dancing and drumming, and food (the event at UW-Green Bay promises a taste of Carribean cuisine) while learning about the holiday’s origins, rites and symbols.

This year’s highlighted Kwanzaa principle, or theme, is Ujima, or collective focus on building and maintaining communities.

The event is free and open to the public. Questions about Saturday’s event may be directed to the UW-Green Bay Office of Student Life at (920) 465-2720, or diversity director Justin Mallett at Mallettj@uwgb.edu