Harambee Graduation and Open House Filled With Dance and Song
Harambee Christian Family Center and Preparatory School recently celebrated a successful school year with a graduation ceremony and final open house. Students performed special music at the graduation on June 12. Principal Glory Okeke distributed achievement awards to students and diplomas to graduating fifth graders. The principal thanked parent volunteers for their tireless dedication to the school over the course of the year. Principal Okeke stated, “I am proud of how much our students matured this year. The graduating fifth graders demonstrated great attitudes and academic growth throughout the year.”
The open house, held on May 31, was full of poems, dances and songs performed by Harambee students. College sophomore Keith Prater choreographed and taught a hip hop dance performed by third, fourth and fifth graders. Prater, a dance major and Northwest Pasadena native, attended Harambee Preparatory School from kindergarten through sixth grade and participated in Harambee’s youth programs when he was in high school. Prater stated, “Academically Harambee prepared me well, with good study habits, values and morals. My love for dance started with Harambee’s after school program. That led to a chance in the Sue B. Dance Company, which led to my current dance career.” Student Erick, age 9, danced in Prater’s production. Erick stated that he liked the dance because it was full of energy, and he liked working with Prater.
At the open house, parents expressed great satisfaction when Harlan Redmond was announced as the New Executive Director of Harambee Ministries, effective August 1, 2012. La Cañada Presbyterian Church provided food for the open house.
Harambee Ministries has been serving children in Northwest Pasadena for 30 years and is currently accepting applications for fall school enrollment for kindergarten through sixth grade. Harambee has a preschool and elementary school and after school, college prep, youth employment and other programs that promote indigenous community leadership and bright futures for children and youth. For more information please call 626-798-7431 or visit www.harambeeministries.org.
