Linah Alsberry and her family have only been living in Flossmoor for roughly a year, but she said they have felt incredibly welcomed ever since moving.
“We’re so happy to be here in Flossmoor,” Alsberry said. “We couldn’t have picked a better community to move to.”
While the family is relatively new in town, the Alsberrys have some good friends who have lived in Flossmoor for years. And they recently got a text from Kimberly and Fredric Mitchell, whose family lit the community kinara on the second night of Kwanzaa, suggesting they join the seven-day celebration.
“We jumped on it,” Alsberry said.
They lit the candles the fifth evening of Kwanzaa, Friday, Dec. 30, and shared the principle of Nia (purpose), with those in attendance. Alsberry explained that purpose is about making their collective vocation the building and development of the community.
Alsberry also shared an article she found about how the pandemic impacted everyone’s purpose. And while that came with notable negative consequences, it also gave people purpose in life outside of their careers, be it reading books, watching movies, education, history, or short- and long-term goal-setting “for a more intentional and purpose-driven life,” Alsberry explained.
Alsberry said that growing up, she celebrated Kwanzaa with extended family and friends. She and her husband, Vernard Alsberry III, have celebrated in the past, too, but it has been a while. And the celebration in Flossmoor Park was the first time since their children were born that they have celebrated the holiday.
“This means a lot,” she said. “It’s really nice to be able to share that experience with my children. … This is something we’re going to continue to participate in.”
