POPCORN KIDZ

ildren from succeeding.The P.O.P.C.O.R.N. Kidz is made up of children from surrounding communities, Newark, Irvington, East Orange, Montclair, Paterson and more. by F.A.I.T.H. , a grassroots organization that service families in urban communities. It is also affiliated with the People's Organization for Progress, a grassroots organization that is community based and works for racial, social, unity, and economic justice in the community. The mission of the P.O.P.C.O.R.N. Kidz is to focus on Black Studies, the culture of other races, and to give examples and explanations of how past events has and will affect their present and future relationships with people involving our social, justice, economic, and educational systems on all levels: locally; nationally; and internationally. This information will play a crucial role in helping to implement critical thinking in which our youth will be more equip with knowledge and the ability to analyze academic and social issues on a more intellectual level. With the help of Dr. Akil Khalfani, director of the Africana Institute of Essex County College located in Newark , NJ, Lawrence Hamm, state chairman of the People's Organization for Progress, ( P.O.P. ), and Jerry Fann of J&S Photography and Video Services helped to launch the Kidz first event which took place February 22, 2010, ( Meeting of the Minds, between the elders and youth ) at an Essex County College forum. Afterwards P.O.P.C.O.R.N. Kidz was involved in other socials events, which includes tickets to the baseballs games and toy drives with Minister Thomas Ellis of Enough Is Enough, family and community events with McDonalds of Irvington , NJ, Jessica and Celeste Quintana, Andre LePaul Speight, Helping Hands day Care,Cynthia Strickland's, Cee and Learn's Literacy Matters Walkathon, and many other community venues. The program is family-based and it primarily teaches elementary school age kids about Black History , different cultures, and historic events. These teachings are tied together by celebrating the birthdays of chosen leaders born in a certain month. The idea of the birthday parties were the brainchild of Zayid Muhammad a professor of Black Studies. The introduction of Black freedom fighters birthdays and their personal legacies are attached to the respected months in which they are borne. Each programs begins with libation, an age old African unity ritual which honors those who have gone before us, followed by singing the Black National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa and the importance of practicing these principles everyday in order to build a stronger community. The program is ended by discussing the life of the chosen freedom fighter and relevant occurrences for that month with a celebration of their life. Some of the celebrated were Claudeete Colvin, Miriam Makeba, Paul Robeson, and Nelson Mandela, whose celebration ended with the mailing of birthday cards to Africa.