A Message from Karyn

Happy Holidays Everyone! 

We hope this month's newsletter finds you well as we all prepare to gather with family and loved ones and celebrate our many milestones of 2019. 

As this marks our last newsletter of 2019, we would also like to say "thank you" for your continuous support this year. We've been working to bring Sweet Blackberry into more schools and communities and wouldn't be able to do so without all of you. 

As you make your way through this month's newsletter be sure to check out our annual home holiday guide providing DIY activities, recipes and movie suggestions for you and the little ones. 

Wishing you all the best in 2020!

Karyn
Need a fun activity to do at home this holiday season? Be sure to check out Sweet Blackberry's Holiday entertainment Guide filled with movies available to stream, DIY crafts and snack ideas. 

Click here to check out our 2019 guide. 

What is K w a n z a a?

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday for the week between December 26th and January 1st each year. 

Established in 1966 by Dr. Maulan Karenga, a professor of chairman and Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, Kwanzaa was established to help African Americans remember their heritage by combining several different harvest celebrations such as those of the Ashanti and Zulu to form it's basis. 

Watch the video below to see how one family celebrates Kwanzaa. Can you guess who the little boys are in this video? We will give you a hint - they are up and coming actors today. 



Sesame Street: Kwanzaa
Sesame Street: Kwanzaa

You may also read more about the history and celebration of Kwanzaa here. 
Support Sweet Blackberry
This Holiday Season with AmazonSmile



Did you know that you can support Sweet Blackberry while knocking out your holiday shopping when you purchase items through  Amazon .com? 

AmazonSmile is Amazon's charity program that  donates a portion of the purchase to your favorite charity organization. That's right! This month, we are continuing to encourage you to register Sweet Blackberry as your charity of choice for simple charitable giving at the click of a button. 

Simply register here: https://smile.amazon.com/ 


Book of the Month: 
I Got The Christmas Spirit
By: Connie Schofield-Morrison   

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and a mother and daughter are enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season. The little girl hears sleigh bells ringing and carolers singing. She smells chestnuts roasting--CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!--and sees the flashing lights of the department store windows--BLING! BLING! BLING! She spreads the spirit of giving wherever she goes. And when she reaches Santa, she tells him her Christmas wish--for peace and love everywhere, all the days of the year.

Check it out here. 
What  We're R eading 

Today - Meet the first African American star of New York City Ballet's 'Nutcracker'

The New York Times - Overlooked No More: Bessie Coleman, Pioneering African-American Aviatrix


#SweetBlackHistory
Some may call me the queen of Christmas 
I have a 5 octave vocal range 
Mirage was my high school nickname because I often skipped class

Who am I? 
Tweet your answer to  @SwtBlackberry  for a shout out in next month's newsletter! 

The answer to last month's trivia was Edward Brooke. 
STAY CONNECTED: