MY GIFT TO YOU—GET YOUR FREE EBOOK—“THE 5-DAY JOURNEY TO CULTURAL AWARENESS”!
I just received an email from the International Group that we started back in Pennsylvania a few years ago. It was my “Oasis of Cultures.” I miss that group of diverse and beautiful people from around the world!
The email included an invitation to an exciting, upcoming event in Somerset, PA. I am so jealous to not attend. It sounds like so much fun!
I love that it is exposing people to the world and raising their cultural awareness. It’s providing an intentional opportunity
This event is called the “Taste of the World Ethnic Food Festival,” and it’s taking place in a small rural, Pennsylvanian town called Somerset.
It reminded me of the story I wrote, “Is the World Sitting on Your Plate?” Yes, we can experience the world in many different ways, and
Wouldn’t it be exciting if these types of world events started popping up all over the globe? How could it change the world? Perhaps some of our cultural and language barriers would start crumbling to the ground? Perhaps our racial barriers would be broken and crushed underfoot?
Cultural Creativity
“Taste of the World” is a creative way to help the residents in a small town raise their cultural awareness, understanding, and appreciation.
If you live in the area of Somerset, PA, go and check it out! Guess what? It’s FREE, so finances can’t be an excuse to not go!
If you live in another state or on the other side the world, maybe you can glean some ideas and inspiration from what Somerset, Inc. is doing as they partner with St. Paul’s UCC to bring the world to their doorstep.
Mr. Rogers “Weaved Cultures”!
I also love that it’s helping kids cultivate their cultural awareness at a young age and open their eyes to the world. The best time to do this is when they are still malleable and moldable—before fear, prejudice, and everything else starts setting in.
I love the quote from Fred Rogers that “Taste of the World” includes on their Facebook page, Yep, that’s Mr. Rogers! (By the way, our church in Somerset has Mr. Rogers’ grand piano on their stage!). He’s from the Pittsburgh area, so he has greatly impacted this small hometown community.
“We want to raise our children so that they can take a sense of pleasure in both their own heritage and the diversity of others.”
Mr. Rogers
Yeah! Way to go, Mr. Rogers. You loved to “Weave Cultures”! Thanks for setting that example for us as kids.
So, check out what Somerset Inc. is doing in Pennsylvania. If you are interested in what they did to organize and publicize this event, I’m sure they would welcome your questions and cultural curiosity.
Either go to “Taste of the World” or create a similar experience in your own hometown.
Open the door and invite the world in!
Taste the World!
Here’s the invitation for you too!
Sink Your Teeth into a New Experience at the Taste of the World Ethnic Food Festival!
We invite those who love food and adventure to join us for this FREE family-friendly event. Community members from countries such as Brazil, Egypt, India, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Thailand will be present to offer samples of their traditional native foods and share interesting information about their homeland. The Somerset Exchange Students will also be preparing and serving some of their traditional foods from France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.Inspired by Fred Rogers, who stated, “We want to raise our children so that they can take a sense of pleasure in both their own heritage and the diversity of others,” the Taste of the World event will provide specific opportunities for children to explore the commonalities and celebrate the differences embedded in our community’s diverse cultures. Children and youth can explore the entertainment space offering games (take a swing at our pinata or try your hand at Mexican Bingo) and crafts from the representative countries. They can also visit the story corner and explore multi-ethnic and bi-lingual books.
St. Paul’s UCC, alongside of Love for the World, a group of church & local community members, is committed to empowering our community to love and care for our neighbors both near and far. It is our hope that through offering small bites of new cultural experiences, the Taste of the World event will carry forward the mission of building strong caring relationships with all those in our community.
Taste your way around the world by reserving your FREE ticket online at www.TasteoftheWorldFoodFestival.Eventbrite.com. FREE tickets will also be available at the door.
Add Taste of the World to your calendar. You won’t want to miss it!
—THE CULTURAL STORY-WEAVER
MY GIFT TO YOU—GET YOUR FREE EBOOK—“THE 5-DAY JOURNEY TO CULTURAL AWARENESS”!
LET’S WEAVE CULTURES!
Have you ever been to an ethnic food festival? If you live in the Somerset, Pennsylvania area, go and check out “Taste of the World Ethnic Food Festival.” If not, what would happen if you created a similar event in your hometown—no matter how small?
We invite you to tell us your own cultural stories and global adventures . . . as you engage with the world, breaking down barriers, building bridges, and “weaving cultures”! Write about them in the comment box below.
