Hey Elevate Fam,

The holidays are officially here, and we’re ready to sleigh this season with community, connection, and a little extra sparkle. As we close out the year, we’re reminded that Elevate Diversity thrives because of the people who show up, support, and believe in our mission. Your involvement is what keeps our work alive and our impact growing.

This month, we’ve got a few special moments lined up to help us finish 2025 strong. From our Kendra Scott Gives Back shopping event, to our End-of-Year Holiday Karaoke party, to our ongoing monthly food distribution with The Just One Project, December is filled with opportunities to come together, give back, and support one another.

Each event contributes to the heart of who we are: a community that shows up for each other, celebrates together, and invests in making a difference. Your support ensures we can keep creating these meaningful experiences for years to come.

So grab your holiday cheer and get ready! There’s a lot of magic packed into this month’s newsletter. 💛✨

Support Elevate Diversity at Kendra Scott!

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for that jewelry lover? Shop Kendra Scott and give back to Elevate Diversity!

We’re partnering with Kendra Scott at Downtown Summerlin for an in-store giveback event you won’t want to miss! Come shop your favorite pieces, treat yourself or a friend, and support our mission at the same time.
📍 Kendra Scott – Downtown Summerlin
📅 Saturday, December 13th
⏰ Shop anytime between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM!
Just mention Elevate Diversity at checkout and 20% of your purchase will go directly toward supporting our community efforts. 💛

Can’t make it in person? You can still support from home!
🛍️ Online Giveback: December 13–14
Use code GIVEBACK-JLAFM at checkout to have 20% donated back to us.
Come shop, mingle, and kick off the holiday season with some sparkle! ✨💛

Holiday Karaoke Party!

Join us for a night filled with eating, drinking, karaoke, and holiday fun!

📅 Saturday, December 13th
⏰ 7–10 PM
📍 Aloha Kitchen & Bar | 2605 S Decatur Blvd

Get ready for a night of singing, sipping, and serious holiday cheer! Join Elevate Diversity for our annual Holiday Karaoke Party, where the vibes are festive, the music is loud, and the memories are guaranteed.

✨ What to Expect:
• No cover charge! Just bring your holiday spirit.
• A full menu of food and drinks available for purchase.
• Holiday karaoke all night long — classic carols, pop hits, and everything in between.
• A warm, inclusive space to celebrate the season with community.
• Festive attire encouraged! Ugly sweaters, sparkles, pajamas… bring the fun.

Whether you’re hitting the high notes or cheering from the crowd, this is the perfect way to kick off the holidays. Bring friends, bring family, or come solo and meet some amazing people!

🎁 Join us for a joyful night of community, celebration, and karaoke magic!

Food Distribution with The Just One Project!💪

✨ Start your Saturday with purpose! Join Elevate Diversity & The Just One Project every 3rd Saturday of the month in 2025 for a morning of impact and connection. We'll be at JD Smith Middle School to help unload food pallets and distribute them to those in need. Whether you’re assisting with client check-ins or helping with food distribution, your efforts will make a real difference in the community. 💛

Did you know?
🍽 1 in 7 Southern Nevadans faces hunger? That’s over 341,000 people.
🌍 Communities of color are hit hardest due to ongoing social and economic barriers.
Your helping hands can make a real difference!

📅 Saturday, December 20th
⏰7:30 AM – 10:30 AM
📍JD Smith Middle School, 1880 E Stanley Ave, North Las Vegas, NV 89030

👟 What to bring: comfy clothes, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, and your best smile! 🌞
🔗 30 spots available each month. Register now to lock in your spot! (No need to select a specific date)

Let’s show up and #VolunteerLikeABoss 💪

Must RSVP through Elevate Diveristy and the Just one Project!

Register with The Just One Project Here!

Highlights from our November Events!

🕎Understanding Hanukkah

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that honors the resilience of the Jewish people and the enduring power of faith and freedom.

🌎 A Brief History

Hanukkah commemorates events dating back over 2,000 years to the Maccabean Revolt, when a small group of Jewish rebels reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem from oppressive rule. When they went to rededicate the temple, they found only enough oil to light the menorah for one night, yet the flame miraculously burned for eight. This “miracle of the oil” is the heart of the celebration.

💬 Why It Matters

Hanukkah is a reminder of perseverance in the face of oppression, the importance of religious freedom, and the power of community to keep hope alive. It celebrates cultural identity and honors the strength of a people who refused to let their light be extinguished.

✨ How It’s Celebrated

Today, Jewish families mark Hanukkah by:

• Lighting the menorah each night for eight nights

• Enjoying traditional foods such as latkes and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts)

• Playing dreidel, a spinning-top game rooted in historical symbolism

• Exchanging small gifts

• Spending time in community, reflection, and joy

Hanukkah is a celebration of light, both literal and symbolic, carried through generations.

🟩⬛🟥 Understand Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration honoring African heritage, community, and culture. Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, it was established during the civil rights movement as a way to uplift African American identity, unity, and pride.

🌍 A Brief History

Rooted in African harvest festival traditions, Kwanzaa draws on cultural practices from across the African continent. It was created as a means to reconnect African Americans with ancestral heritage, empower community building, and celebrate shared values.

💬 Why It Matters

Kwanzaa centers on Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. These principles highlight the importance of community care, cultural grounding, and generational strength.

Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday; it’s a cultural one, making it accessible to people of all faiths who identify with or want to uplift African heritage.

✨ How It’s Celebrated

Kwanzaa celebrations often include:

• Lighting the kinara, a candle holder symbolizing the Seven Principles

• Sharing meals featuring African and African-American dishes

• Gathering for storytelling, music, dance, and reflection

• Honoring ancestors and celebrating community achievements

• Gift-giving rooted in creativity and meaning, not consumerism

Kwanzaa is a celebration of pride, purpose, and connection, an affirmation of identity and the strength of community. We should recognize all holidays this season, not just the one celebrated in our households.

Happy holidays, everyone! See you next month!

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