The UMOJA club hosted a “Culture Feast” for LBCC students and staff members to bring the cultural clubs of the college together, uniting them with food from different ethnic backgrounds.
“This gives us a chance to reunite all the clubs on campus-It also shades the love of Black, brown and queered centered clubs bring togetherness post -election,”the President of UMOJA, Kyshia Hearns said.
The menu consists of many different ethical foods on the menu such as tamales, fried chicken, banana pudding, Thai chili, stuffed bacon wrapped jalapenos, and Kool-aid.
Arkesha Sturdivant, an LBCC student and student worker served the guests and helped set up the event.
“I always love to participate and if it wasn’t for Umoja I would be taking a break from school,”— “It’s my support system,” Studivant said.
Studivant is also a member of Umoja and says that she is dedicated to the club too.
Umoja means unity in Swahili and is a Black based club, however anyone of any ethnicity can be an Umoja club member.
Manalo Montoya is a proud member of Umoja and holds the position of Sergeant of Arms for the club and had a lot of great things to say about it.
“My job is to keep the peace and order,”… “It’s good to be a part of a group that is like a family, Umoja gives me something to do and I feel like I have a purpose here, ” Montoya said.
Umoja is a student-run club that helps with student resources like education plans and counseling.
Umoja member and student Lexus Woodward said, “Umoja has contributed to my experience here at LBCC and every time I’ve been to an Umoja event I always felt welcomed.”
“Not just me but my son as well. We always enjoy ourselves.”
Umoja hosts a lot of events on campus and all LBCC students are all invited, non-members and even their families.
Chrishaad Moye, a counselor for the Umoja center said, “Some of our members don’t have families and this gives them a chance to connect to their student families to celebrate different cultures around the holidays. Also to keep the good vibe energy going on the campus because the friends you make in college are the ones you keep in life.”
April Brown has been an Umoja member for two years and is also the student success coach for the club.
“I just help out where I can and it’s all about unity,” Brown said.
The music wasn’t the only thing playing as cards were being shuffled alongside other games such as Jenga and uno.
LBCC student and Umoja member Kaleb Brown said, “I wish they had more events like this to keep us engaged , strong, and make us better.”
Brown wasn’t the only one who had good things to say, Umoja member Arlena Ellis said, “I’m having fun and it’s a good place to give you support.”
Asb member Samuel Perez had stopped in, grabbed a plate and said, “It’s family time with Umoja, I love the connection, the ambiance and you always get to smile that makes you feel welcomed.”
Good food and a lot of laughs were in the room and someone yelled “I got the itis,” a slang term meaning that a person is tired after a good meal, similar to a food coma.
That saying was followed with a chuckle from the whole room.
The event ended with a group picture that everyone participated in and held their fist high in the air, as the unity hit its peak.
Umoja is hosting a Kwanzaa celebration around December 5th at LBCC’s Liberal art Campus.