Chicago Defender Reports: How Malcolm X College Shares the Principles of Kwanzaa for Every Day Living with the community with Monique Roberson

Watch the full interview with Malcolm X College President David Sanders and Dean Barbara Meschino on YouTube

In this special conversation, Coach Mo sits down with leadership from Malcolm X College to explore the deeper meaning of Kwanzaa and how its Seven Principles can be lived every day, not just celebrated once a year. President David Sanders and Dean Barbara Meschino reflect on the college’s Annual Kwanzaa Celebration, a tradition that has existed for decades and predates President Sanders’ nearly ten year tenure. Together, they discuss how principles like unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith naturally align with education, leadership, and community building. As one of the colleges within the City Colleges of Chicago, Malcolm X College serves a diverse student body representing all 77 wards of Chicago. Located centrally on the West Side, the campus functions as a cultural and educational hub where community, collaboration, and opportunity intersect. This conversation also highlights the details of the college’s Annual Kwanzaa Celebration, which takes place from December 26 through January 1 and includes daily drum calls, an open vendor market, space for cultural connection and special activities for young people.