Under the baobab: State College celebrates its diverse, multicultural community
“… Audacious. Sunlight casts defiance at their feet.” —Maya Angelou
If you have been feeling lethargic and lost, bogged down in our political quagmires, there was a recent panacea for your doldrums. Last Saturday, instead of cursing diversity and inclusion, the State College Area School District and WPSU celebrated it. They held their annual Multicultural Children’s Festival at State College Area High School. Over 1,000 participants, mostly young people, played games and music, danced and enjoyed creative engagement.
Over 35 tables had representatives from five continents and dozens of countries: Iran, Italy, India, Philippines, Ukraine, Korea, China, Japan, Chile, Romania, Mexico and several West African countries. In addition, the Print Factory from Bellefonte, State College police, the Girl Scouts, Penn State Sustainability, Kish Bank, Arts Alliance, CenClear, Centre Helps, the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State and other nonprofit organizations provided educational and entertaining exhibits.
Live performances were provided by North by Southwest, Black Cat Belly Dance, Dance 4 Joy, Penn State Asian Classical Music Group, and a Chinese dance troupe. With all the nonsense of jingoistic cacophony blasting about us, it is easy to forget we are blessed by living in a diverse, multicultural community that exposes our children to the cultural treasures of the wide world.
Elsewhere around town
Congrats to the Penn State wrestling team for winning its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship, 12 of the last 14 contested tournaments and 13th title overall. PSU broke the tournament record with 177 points. All ten wrestlers on the team were crowned all Americans and Carter Starocci became the first person to ever to win five NCAA national championships. Mitchell Mesenbrink was also crowned an NCAA Champion at 165 lbs. The dynasty continues.
In preparation for the annual Penn State Powwow to be held on Saturday and Sunday, a “celebration of flavors and indigenous culture” was held Thursday at the Bellisario Media Center. About 100 attendees listened to Prof. Bronwen Powell and Kayla Cwalina, a senior from the Cheyenne River Lakota community, speak on the Pawpaw project; Asst. Dean Gary Abdullah Jr. honored the Bellisario College and Powwow connection; and Associate Dean Victoria Sanchez from EMS along with Patrick Littlewolf Brooks of the Tuscarora Nation spoke on the PSU Powwow history and significance. Attendees were treated to a sampling of pawpaw ice cream made from the local indigenous plant.
Also on Thursday, the Center for Performing Arts presented the Tony Award-winning “Dear Evan Hansen” at Eisenhower Auditorium. It is the first musical to take a groundbreaking look at suicide from the point of view of both the parents and young people in our complex, interconnected and social media-filled lives.
Elaine Meder Wilgus, local theater artist, owner of Webster’s Bookstore Cafe and vegan chef exemplar, sponsored a Twilight Dinner fundraiser for Centre Safe with a Speakeasy theme and a fabulous four-course feast. Executive Director Jennifer Pencek discussed the mission of the organization “to empower survivors of sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking and to work toward the elimination of such violence.”
The Gallery Shop in Lemont is exhibiting “Black and White Plus One” until the end of the month. Artists are producing work under the constraint that is must be in black and white with only one other color. HUB-Robeson Galleries is presenting “nosegay,” an exhibition of textile-based sculpture by Philadelphia-based fiber artist Caitlin McCormack. It is on view through June 1.
As tough as the road may seem, Lucille Clifton reminds us of those who walked it before:
“won’t you celebrate with me?
…born in Babylon, both nonwhite and woman, what did i see to be, except myself? i made it up here on this bridge between starshine and clay,my one hand holding tight my other hand;
come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed.”