The Zawadi Cultural Collective and Girl Scouts’ Zawadi Troop 3246 presented Black in the Valley’s Kwanzaa Marketplace and Celebration on Dec. 7, bringing the San Fernando Valley community together for a day filled with cultural pride, joy, and connection.
What began as an event for Zawadi Troop 3246, the largest Girl Scout troop in Los Angeles, has grown into a cherished tradition open to the public.
The celebration featured a robust schedule of activities, including line dancing, crafts for kids, and a special appearance by Santa, who handed out free toys to children aged 3 to 18. One of the event’s standout features was the Kwanzaa Village, hosted by the Girl Scout troop, which offered a scavenger hunt, creative crafts, and a program on the principles of Kwanzaa.
The festivities also included a fashion show, a variety of food vendors, and small business stalls showcasing local entrepreneurs. The event served as both a celebration and a platform for community engagement, highlighting the principles of unity, self-determination, and collective work and responsibility.
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“This is actually our ninth year doing this event,” shared Shania Accius, executive director and co-founder of Zawadi Cultural Collective.
“Initially, it was just a Girl Scouts troop event, but as the troop grew, we decided to open it up to the community. Now, we invite vendors and outside families, and it has turned into this big event.”
Zawadi Cultural Collective engages the Black community of the San Fernando Valley beyond Kwanzaa. Throughout the year, the organization hosts a variety of events.
In January, they will host a Vision Board women’s empowerment event, while February marks a particularly active month with events such as a Black business mixer held in partnership with the office of Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. The organization is also set to host a Black career fair in collaboration with Omega Psi Phi, which will feature a health fair.
In March, the collective organizes a Women’s History Tea, and June brings the highly anticipated Juneteenth celebration at Pierce College, an event that attracts over 100 vendors and more than 1,000 attendees. The Juneteenth celebration has been a cornerstone of the collective’s programming for about six years, held in partnership with Umoja at Pierce College. The organization also provides a food distribution service every Saturday morning at Christ Community Church.
Sponsors like Wells Fargo and other community contributors played a key role in making this event possible, from donating toys to supporting local entrepreneurs. A representative from Wells Fargo, stationed at a vendor table, distributed information on homeownership programs and a new down payment grant to benefit families.
“I’m passionate about bringing the community together. Seeing people from all walks of life at these events is so rewarding,” Shania continued.
“We’re here. There are Black people in the Valley, and we want to see this event grow and continue engaging our community.”
The collective’s mission is to provide culturally diverse programs and events that uplift the underserved Black community in the San Fernando Valley, creating spaces for empowerment, education, and unity.
“Everything we do is free to the community, and we rely on support—whether physical, financial, or spiritual. Pray for us; it’s a lot of work,” Shania added.
To get involved or stay informed, follow the organization on social media at @BlackintheValleySFV and @ZawadiCulturalCollective. A full event calendar for 2025 is available www.zawadiculturalcollective.com.
