African American Catholic youth from around the diocese gathered at Springville Camp from March 24-26 for the annual Kujenga leadership conference. The three-day Lenten conference is based on the seven principles of Kwanza: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamma (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). The goal of the weekend is to nourish and assist in the development of the necessary skills to become leaders in their family, church, school, and community.

This year, the conference chose “Gracefully Broken” as the theme. To be gracefully broken is to surrender everything to God so that He can position you, promote you, and put you in a place where you can develop a new level of character, or experience a new blessing.

Kujenga is sponsored by the diocesan Office of Black Catholic Ministry and was started in 1987 by Sister Rita Washington.