Four Pillars

NIA is a Swahili word meaning "purpose." One of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, NIA refers to the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Our purpose is to be a safe space where we acknowledge historical injustices against families, communities and cultures. But we also look ahead to a bright future that is informed by an understanding of the past and shaped by community action in the present. Here we are able to gather, speak, listen and share as we inspire, build, transform and connect all people of all ages.

Inspire

We inspire a positive Black experience. We create leaders and believe in the power of storytelling and peer-to-peer collaboration to dismantle barriers to success for communities of color. Using art as a catalyst for change, we support those with a talent to share and a gift to unwrap, creating ripples in our communities that will challenge the narrative of what it means to be a person of color in America.

Build

We build safe spaces for the presentation, preservation, celebration and emancipation of African American culture. We strive to be the very best destination and resource for cultural torchbearers in Grand Rapids by offering support to artists, investing in local students, highlighting minority businesses and focusing our programming and events with equity in mind.

Connect

We connect with organizations in Grand Rapids to understand what our communities need and how we can deliver. We connect our audience to local and national experts in art, culture, health care and entrepreneurship to promote a holistic approach to cultural needs, strengths and goals.