African dance and drumming ensemble Nii Ardey and Ekomé perform at the annual Kwanzaa celebration at Tualatin Hills Athletic Center in Beaverton, Ore., on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. This is the fifth year of the event organized by the Beaverton Black People’s Union (BBPU).
Saskia Hatvany / OPB
The sound of drums, dancing and bouncing basketballs filled the gymnasium of Tualatin Hills Athletic Center in Beaverton, Oregon, on Saturday, where the annual Community Kwanzaa Celebration took place for the third year in a row.
The event is held by the Beaverton Black People’s Union (BBPU), and began as a small gathering out of the organization’s offices in 2021.
“We quickly realized that it was too small. It grew very quickly,” said Veronica Jones, executive director for BBPU. “It’s amazing. In the beginning we only had maybe 15 to 20 vendors and now we’ve doubled that number.”
This year’s event featured Kwanzaa storytelling, performances from local musicians, a line dancing tutorial and storytelling. The celebration took place on the second day of the seven-day Kwanzaa celebration, which honors the principle of self-determination.
Attendees were invited to participate in raffles and a pay-to-play basketball challenge, which raised money for scholarships that the organization awards to local students. Over 50 vendors also provided entertainment and crafted items.
“Our whole purpose as an organization is to create tradition here in Beaverton,” said Jones. “I’m not originally from here, so when I moved here, I felt isolated and I had two kids and I wanted to create community”
Durelle Singleton, who is a member of the board at BBPU, grew up in Northeast Portland and said that when he moved to Beaverton, he wanted to help bring more resources to the area.
“Sometimes just connecting with people who look like you and share common values is really important,” said Singleton, who also stressed that the Beaverton Kwanzaa celebration is for everyone. “We want to share this connection with folks.”
