On Saturday, March 29, hundreds of Quad City residents attended the annual World Cultures Festival. This event took place at St. Ambrose University, hosted by the World Affairs Council president, Dr. Duk Kim.
The event offered an outlet for exploration, allowing the community to delve into a variety of diverse ethnicities and cultural practices. With the festival showcasing over 18 different countries, many attendees interacted with the vast range of displays and foods.
Event co-coordinator Dr. Jim Baumann highlights the successes of the event as a whole. “I thought the turnout was very good for this year’s event,” Baumann said. “We were initially concerned, due to the political climate. Thankfully, that was not an issue.”
One of the key components of the events included the performances and fashion show. Different countries, some notable performances being the Kalanaji Dance Academy and Warrior Wisdom Coaching, offered visual and auditory shows for attendees. Some performances also included audience-member interactions, where both kids and adults could dance.
South Korea’s table host Nathaniel Pielak elaborates on the eye-opening experience, granted through the opportunity to learn about South Korean culture. “Getting to participate in this event was a wonderful experience,” Pielak said. “It was amazing to learn about such a diverse array of other people and other cultures and get to experience a small aspect of our community first-hand, while contributing something of my own.”
To many visitors, the annual event allowed them to connect with a community within itself; interacting with new people who are interested in cultural awareness and practical learning easily offers insight into inner Quad City residents.
“I think it is great to showcase the diversity we have in the Quad Cities,” Baumann said. “The event provides community members the opportunity to learn about the different cultures we have locally and how each contributes to the uniqueness of our community.”
Pleasant Valley junior and festival attendee Nathan Nelson comments on the event. “It was a great experience to learn about other cultures in the community,” Nelson said.
The annual World Cultures Festival is a massive event across the area and has brought together community members engagingly and inclusively for many years. Cultural inclusivity can truly be the glue to a community’s foundation, as many like the Quad Cities.
