What is Building Community...
Building community means creating an environment where people feel connected, supported, and empowered to grow together. It involves fostering relationships, encouraging collaboration, and making sure everyone has a sense of belonging and purpose.
We cannot continue this work without your support. Please consider making a donation today and help us uplift the community.
Building community means creating an environment where people feel connected, supported, and empowered to grow together. It involves fostering relationships, encouraging collaboration, and making sure everyone has a sense of belonging and purpose.
We cannot continue this work without your support. Please consider making a donation today and help us uplift the community.
Summer community celebration
Our Summer Community Celebration is a vibrant day of music, activities, and family fun—an opportunity for neighbors to connect and enjoy a relaxed, family-reunion–style atmosphere. Each year, more than 3,000 attendees gather to experience music, performances from local artists, and the Zawadi Community Awards, honoring the San Fernando Valley’s outstanding small business, community leader, and volunteer of the year. We also announce our high school scholarship recipients and showcase our bustling marketplace, featuring over 100 vendors offering food, goods, art, jewelry, clothing and services—representing some of the very best small businesses in the San Fernando Valley.
Date: June 20, 2026 Location: Pierce College 6201 Winnetka Ave Woodland Hills, CA. 91367 Time: 1pm - 6pm |
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Holiday celebration
a zawadi troop 3246 led program
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This Girl Scout–led event brings the holiday season to life, celebrating both Kwanzaa and Christmas through vibrant performances featuring drumming and live DJ music. The festivities include a Christmas fashion show and a special appearance by Santa Claus, who is available for photos with you and your family. He's also distributing free toys to children from toddlers to teens. Guests can also enjoy a festive marketplace with food and vendors offering gifts and goods just in time for the holidays.
Each year Zawadi serves over 200 families with much needed toys for kids of all ages. Coloring books, dolls, blocks for toddlers: legos, action figures games, remote controlled cars for youth: cameras, bluetooth speakers and phone accessories for teens. We have something for everyone.
Date: December 12, 2026
Location: TBD
Time: 1pm - 6pm
Each year Zawadi serves over 200 families with much needed toys for kids of all ages. Coloring books, dolls, blocks for toddlers: legos, action figures games, remote controlled cars for youth: cameras, bluetooth speakers and phone accessories for teens. We have something for everyone.
Date: December 12, 2026
Location: TBD
Time: 1pm - 6pm
black in the valley
a hub for resources and community engagement
Language of the cosmos
A family day in conjunction with NASA to educate youth about the wonders of space
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MISS JuneteenthMr. & Miss Juneteenth a honor given to two talented high school juniors
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Black in the Valley started as a private Facebook group created to foster connection, support, and synergy among Black residents of the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles. Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the group was designed as an information hub for all things related to Black life in the Valley—providing trusted recommendations for everything from doctors to hair stylists, and offering social support for those in need, including newcomers seeking housing or community resources.
Membership is by invite only and exclusively for San Fernando Valley residents, and the group quickly grew to more than 5,000 members. As the community expanded, Black in the Valley began hosting in-person meetups and events such as its annual Youth Volunteer Day, the Business Mixer, and Mr. & Mrs. Juneteenth — now featured as part of the Summer Community Celebration. Additional events, like the Business Scavenger Hunt, outdoor drive-in movie nights, and Language from the Cosmos, further strengthen community bonds.
Black in the Valley serves as a vibrant resource for nearly anything its members may need, continuing to uplift, inform, and unite the community.
Membership is by invite only and exclusively for San Fernando Valley residents, and the group quickly grew to more than 5,000 members. As the community expanded, Black in the Valley began hosting in-person meetups and events such as its annual Youth Volunteer Day, the Business Mixer, and Mr. & Mrs. Juneteenth — now featured as part of the Summer Community Celebration. Additional events, like the Business Scavenger Hunt, outdoor drive-in movie nights, and Language from the Cosmos, further strengthen community bonds.
Black in the Valley serves as a vibrant resource for nearly anything its members may need, continuing to uplift, inform, and unite the community.
Building a strong community is essential to Zawadi because it strengthens connections, uplifts families, and creates a supportive network where everyone can thrive. By fostering unity, shared purpose, and cultural pride, Zawadi helps ensure that community members have access to resources, opportunities, and meaningful relationships. A strong community empowers individuals, amplifies collective impact, and lays the foundation for long-term growth, equity, and well-being.
zawadi cultural collective
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