09/20/2026
Our hearts are full.
To every person who joined us for this year’s Celebration of Community, Diversity & Culture, thank you. You came as you are. You brought your children, families, friends, joy, curiosity, and openness. You showed up not only to be entertained, but to learn, connect, increase cultural awareness, and celebrate the extraordinary beauty and diversity of our community.
This celebration belongs to all of us, and its success was made possible by so many hands and hearts.
To our volunteers, thank you for generously gifting your time and energy. You stepped in wherever you were needed and helped bring this event to life.
To our Council and Board members, thank you for always rolling up your sleeves, showing up, and doing what it takes to turn vision into action.
To our vendors, thank you for sharing your food, art, products, services, and creativity with our community. To our entertainers, thank you for sharing your talent and culture so beautifully and giving us the opportunity to experience the richness of traditions represented throughout our region.
To our staff, thank you for the countless hours of planning, problem-solving, coordinating, and caring that happened long before the doors opened.
A huge and heartfelt thank-you to our Board member and event coordinator, Edward Sistrunk (Ed), whose leadership, attention to detail, and incredible ex*****on helped ensure that the entire celebration ran smoothly.
Thank you to the Benton County, WA Fairgrounds for providing a wonderful venue and a supportive team. Thank you to Tobaski Snipes for always coming through when we need you and keeping our celebrations moving as our DJ. Thank you to Asani Watson with @720 Vision for serving as our sound engineer and ensuring that every voice, performance, and moment could be heard. Thank you to for capturing the spirit of the day through videography and helping us preserve these memories. Thank you to our emcee, Anthony Chambers, for guiding us through the celebration, engaging our guests, and bringing warmth and energy to the day.
And to my Co-Executive Director, Clenesha Montgomery, affectionately known as CT Montgomery thank you for your partnership, your leadership, and your continued commitment to carrying forward the vision that began with our founding Board members and me. Your work helps that vision continue to grow, deepen, and reach more people.
We are also deeply grateful to everyone who joined us for the introduction of our new name:
We are now Ubuntu Rooted.
Ubuntu reminds us, I am because we are. Our lives, our healing, our joy, and our well-being are interconnected. We do not build strong communities alone. We build them together.
While our name has changed, what we do has not. We will continue to center community in everything we do, create spaces where people can live with dignity and care, and work toward a future where we all have the opportunity to thrive.
Learn more at Ubuntu-Rooted.org, and stay connected as we update our social media and share more about this next chapter.
This celebration was more than an event. It was a reflection of what becomes possible when we show up for one another.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We are because you are. We are Ubuntu Rooted. 🌱
💛Naima Chambers Leigh, Founder, Co-Executive Director
