Founder of KwanzaaMe: Empowering Cultural Connections Through Kwanzaa and Juneteenth Celebrations

Photo courtesy of Lawrielle West Lawrielle West is a dedicated content curator known for her exceptional work promoting meaningful celebrations of cultural heritage and history. She is the visionary founder and CEO of KwanzaaMe, a local entity that creates and curates content and products that honor and celebrate diverse cultural traditions. Her passion for bringing people together through commemoration and education has cemented her as a leading figure in the movement for cultural understanding and appreciation. Soon after West began incorporating Kwanzaa traditions into her household celebrations, she noticed a need for continued acknowledgment and support for the holiday in her community. Motivated to address this void, she embarked on a mission to raise awareness about Kwanzaa and create opportunities for her community to unite and honor the holiday’s principles and traditions through her kits. “I wanted to provide something handcrafted, something modern, updated, and engaging for people that want to connect with Kwanzaa because it’s the holiday that started in 1966, so it’s fairly new,” West said. West creates Kwanza kits that include instructions on celebrating, activities, and candles. West’s commitment to preserving the authenticity of Kwanzaa is evident in her handcrafting of kinaras, which are also included in...