Annual Cultural Festival Celebrates Diversity
By Rachel Fortier | Observer Contributor
Photo courtesy of MWCC
Lisa Williams, Assistant Director of Strategic Enrollment and Chair of the Diversity Committee, expressed what she believes is the true definition of diversity leading up to the Cultural Festival.
“A lot of people see diversity as just race,” said Williams. “But it’s not – it’s culture. It’s how you live, people themselves; it embraces so many things.”
This will be the fifth annual Cultural Festival and Williams’ third year running the event. About twenty students pick something they think represents diversity and make a display. The fair is set up in booths like a science fair.
There is music, food, and a variety of displays. Student are allowed to walk through the festival and talk to the people running the booths.
Last year they had barbers come in to give free haircuts to students. This year there will be a live band with some “excellent drummers,” Williams stated.
To sign up to run a booth, students must visit Williams and explain to her what they plan on doing. Each student will be assigned a table where their work will be on display.
In the past, students designed their displays by representing the culture of a country of their choosing. “I tell the students to think outside the box. I want to see something different,” stated Williams.
“The reason I love diversity so much is because it’s celebrating the differences in all of us,” said Williams. “We learn from the differences among us. If everyone was the same, it would be too boring.”
The next diversity event is the President’s Diversity Award competition in the fall. It’s a scholastic achievement award. This award provides a student with a free class if they write a paper or make anything creative to express diversity.
“I would love to see some sort of a Diversity Counselor at this school, someone to be here for the students with any issues they may have no matter race, culture, or gender,” said Williams.
The Cultural Festival will be held on April 30 in the South Cafeteria.
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