As the year draws to a close, many communities will gather beginning December 26 to celebrate Kwanzaa, a weeklong reflection rooted in African heritage and the enduring principles that strengthen both individuals and communities.
Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday; it is a celebration of shared values — unity, self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. These seven principles, known as the Nguzo Saba, serve as more than cultural touchstones; they provide a timeless framework for organizational growth and capacity building.
Let’s briefly consider what these principles can mean for associations today:
- Umoja (Unity) – Associations thrive when they bring members, staff, and leaders together around a common purpose. Unity does not mean uniformity; it means belonging to something larger than oneself.
- Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) – Growth begins with a clear understanding of identity. Every organization must know who it is, whom it serves, and what it stands for — especially when external forces pull it in many directions.
- Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) – The success of an association is shared. When boards, executives, and volunteers engage in authentic collaboration, capacity multiplies.
- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) – Sustainable organizations invest in systems and relationships that circulate value — not just money, but trust, learning, and opportunity.
- Nia (Purpose) – Strategic plans fade without a clear “why.” Purpose fuels foresight, inspires innovation, and anchors growth through disruption.
- Kuumba (Creativity) – Associations that innovate, adapt, and experiment demonstrate the courage of creativity. Kuumba is the capacity to imagine new futures.
- Imani (Faith) – Not naive optimism, but a disciplined belief in the collective power of mission-driven people to create change.
Kwanzaa reminds us that growth is not just expansion — it’s evolution grounded in values. These principles align beautifully with the concept of Strategic Capacity: building the internal strength to act with clarity, adapt with integrity, and lead with vision.
As this year comes to a close, consider how your organization might embody these principles — not as a celebration of a single culture, but as a universal call to deepen purpose, partnership, and possibility.
May your closing days of the year be filled with unity, creativity, and faith in what your organization can become.
— Michael Butera
Association Activision | Helping Associations Shape What’s Next
#ASAE #StrategicCapacity #Innovation #Leadership #AssociationFutures #ShapeWhatsNext