[BakerButlerMatters] Community Cultural Celebration

[Thomas Pajewski]

Community Cultural Celebration Set for January 15

Free Event Features Performances, Demonstrations and Workshops
 
To recognize Albemarle County¹s community diversity, a cultural celebration
will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2008.  The event will be held at
Sutherland Middle School from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and features performances,
demonstrations and workshops related to the many cultures in the area. The
free event is open to the community.
 
The evening will include a variety of fun events put on by community
members.  Some highlights of the evening include international food
tastings, interactive workshops, information galleries, cultural activities
and dance performances. Among the cultures represented at the event are
African-American, Japanese-American, Jewish and Latin.  Winners from the
Albemarle County Public Schools¹ poster, essay, poetry, community service
project and report contests will be announced and displayed.
 
Organized by Baker-Butler and Hollymead Elementary Schools, Sutherland
Middle School and the School Division¹s Office of Community Engagement, the
celebration will help to promote diversity and appreciate the contributions
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The event also draws upon King¹s themes of
³a beloved community² and working together.
 
³Last year, these schools and the division held four community forums to
create conversations and public engagement about an often difficult topic
called diversity.  This event is a response to the community¹s suggestions
as to what we can do as a school system and community to improve awareness
and respect for all of our differences,² said Dr. Bernard Hairston,
executive director of community engagement and strategic planning.

Hairston said suggestions from past forums include: continuing to address
student attitudes and skills by teaching them to embrace and appreciate
differences and not fear them; involving the community in shared teaching
and learning experiences and by providing multi-cultural events like the
January 15 celebration.
 
Selena Cozart, School Division equity and diversity coordinator, said
community cooperation made the event possible. ³This is a full community
event only made possible by the generosity of community citizens and
businesses. We want to give particular recognition to the parent teacher
organizations of Baker-Butler and Hollymead Elementary Schools (represented
by Michelle Sandow and Pam Lockhart, respectively) for their efforts in
bringing this all together,² she said.
 
 
Event highlights include the following:
 
* Interactive workshops by:
> * Darryl Rose (Drumming)
> * Gwen Reynolds and the Albemarle High School Step Team (Step)
> * Edwin Roa of Zabor Dance (Latin Social Dances)
> * Hiroko Schierman and Japanese Cultural Group (Judo)
 
* Demonstrations and performances by:
> * The Wilson School of Dance Group
> * Greg Thomas and the Albemarle High School Jazz Ensemble
> * Traditional Indian Dance
 
* An information gallery with displays by such groups as:
> * The African American Genealogy Group
> * Hallmark Corp. 
> * ZaborDance 
 
* Featured activities include:
> * Multi-grade choral performance
> * Presentation of winning participants in the writing and visual arts contests
> * Presentation of winner of the service award
> * Japanese calligraphy
> * Origami 
> * Cultural presentations by students and families
> * Cultural games and traditional dress 

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