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Date: 3/13/2019
WEST SPRINGFIELD – On March 20, the Community and Family Engagement of West Springfield will host its first Community Multicultural Festival. The group seeks to bring together people of all cultures in the community including representation by Belarus, Ukraine, India, Turkey, Iraq, Former Soviet Union, Ireland, Bosnia, Lebanon, Russia, Puerto Rico, Jordan/Palestine, Pakistan, Egypt and more.
Tables representing each country will be displayed inside of the Community Room at the West Springfield Public Library. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit each table to learn about each country and their culture. Activities at the event include a slideshow, music, food samples, children’s craft activities and free books while supplies last. Children will be provided with a passport that will be stamped as they visit each table.
Rebecca Burgos, CFCE Coordinator, said the Community and Family Engagement of West Springfield was inspired to host a Community Multicultural Festival in hopes of uniting everyone in West Springfield schools. “One of the goals of the school district’s improvement plan is to increase family, student and community engagement for English Language Learners in our schools. The multicultural festival is an opportunity not only for ELL families, but everyone in our schools, and for the community to come together and embrace West Springfield’s diversity,” Burgos said.
Burgos shared that she believes it is important for West Springfield to have a Community Multicultural Festival. “I believe that it is important to celebrate the diversity that exists in our schools and community. I think holding a multicultural festival will strengthen the relationship between families, schools and the community,” Burgos said.
Burgos continued, “We hope that it will help families and children to embrace their diversity and help create an environment of respect and appreciation for families in our schools and community.”
The Community and Family Engagement of West Springfield Community Multicultural Festival will take place at 6 p.m. The event is free to the public. The West Springfield Public Library is located at 200 Park St.
For more information on the Community and Family Engagement of West Springfield, visit www.wsps.org/families-community/community/community-and-family-engagement.