Come out Tonight for "Nubian Lights"

Roxbury Main Streets, Long Bay Management, and the Roxbury Cultural District are joining local businesses and other organizations to mark Christmas and Kwanzaa with the first annual Holiday Festival of Lights in Nubian Square. The inaugural lighting with music and refreshments takes place outside at 4:30pm on Monday, December 20th in front of 2343 Washington Street directly across from the bus terminal. (It’s called the “bank building” because two banks are located on the first floor.)

Leonard Lee serves on the board of the Roxbury Cultural District and is producing the “Nubian Holiday Lights” event. He said, “When we brainstormed this celebration, we were concerned about the lack of business traffic stopping in Nubian Square – especially during the holiday season. And, we wanted to honor the spirit of Christmas and Kwanzaa and bring the community together.” Lee also serves on the boards of Central Boston Elder Services and the Community Development Corporation which are among the event sponsors.

Dr. Carrie Guscott is President of Long Bay Management which owns 2343 Washington Street. She said, “We are hosting Nubian Lights to help to activate Nubian Square and promote economic viability in this area - rather than the disability we are currently suffering. This is just the start of a series of special events to drive feet to the street to support Nubian Square businesses. We need to make sure that the continuous car "brigade" that uses our streets to come and go daily will stop and shop.”

Robert George, Executive Director of Roxbury Main Streets, said, “It's important for us to celebrate the holidays in Nubian Square. The business community has experienced a significant loss of revenues as a result of the Pandemic and continues to struggle to keep their doors open. The families in the community are equally affected in these challenging times. The goal of Nubian Lights is to restore hope for and celebrate our community.”

Kwanzaa Celebration

From December 26th – January 1st, the African American Kwanzaa celebration will take place at the same location with drumming and the lighting of the “kinara” or candle holder to symbolize the seven principles of Kwanzaa:

-Umoja (unity)

-Kujichaguila (self determination)

-Ujima (collective work and responsibility)

-Ujamaa (cooperative economics)

-Nia (purpose)

-Kuumba (creativity)

-Imani (faith)

Sponsors of the event include Richard Taylor, developer of the Nubian Square Ascends project, Central Boston Elder Services, Jimmy Dilday of the Community Development Corporation of Boston and Clayton Turnbull of the Waldwin Group.