"At the time, the only festival in the South Bay was Juneteenth, and it was floundering," Cooper says.

The Kwanzaa festival has not floundered but grown. Attendance has increased steadily over the years, forcing organizers to change venues several times. This year's festival is set for Dec. 4 at Mission College, marking the first time the event has been held at the same venue two years running.

Kwanzaa, a non-religious African American holiday, is based on African harvest celebrations. Its name is derived from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," or "first fruits."

Families celebrate Kwanzaa Dec. 26-Jan. 1 with songs, stories poetry, music and a large traditional meal. The festival stays true to this weeklong celebration with jazz and gospel music, African drumming and spoken-word performance.

"It's targeted to a multicultural audience but based on African tradition," Cooper says. "My thought was why not let other cultures see another side of ours?"

Kwanzaa celebrations also include discussion of the seven principles, values designed to build and reinforce community among African Americans.

A major focus of the festival is the "Seven Principles of Kwanzaa" awards ceremony, honoring community members whose contributions exemplify these principles.

Sunnyvale resident Geraldine Forte will receive this year's nia, or purpose, award. Forte, author of several books on African American culture, wrote that "to have purpose in life opposes all major declines."

The other principles of Kwanzaa are umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith).

Cooper had to take it on faith that that the festival would attract its target audience.

"We had to get it started and convince people it was worth their time," she says. "We're at that point."

Now that festival attendance has hit its stride, Cooper says she'd like to see more community involvement on the organizational side.

"I'd like kids to see role models" in the organization, she adds. "When you have a volunteer board that comes and goes, you have to have positive feedback to go on to the next year."

Cooper says the community gives her the feedback she needs to keep the festival going and to continue her organization's school outreach program, which teaches students about Kwanzaa.

"They like that kids of all races are learning about our culture," she adds. "It's a reaffirmation of community."

The Santa Clara City Kwanzaa Festival is set for Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at Mission College, 3000 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara.

The festival will include food, entertainment and more than 30 vendors selling art, jewelry, clothing, books and more. Beer and wine will be on sale. All proceeds will go to scholarships for African American students at Mission College.

Admission and parking are free.

For more information, visit www.kwanzaafestival.net.