Community's first-ever cultural event to promote diversity

Embracing diversity is aim of Saturday cultural event in FdL

by Sharon Roznik

March 3, 2008 | Fond du Lac Reporter | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Embracing difference is the essence of the first-ever Celebrate CommUNITY event, planned for Saturday, March 8, at the Fond du Lac Recreation Center.

From the opening ceremony — heralded with Native American drumming — to the last rousing Ceili dance of the night, participants will join in learning the cultural language of music and dance.

"This is an opportunity to be face-to-face, eye-to-eye, shoulder-to-shoulder, very innocently and beautifully, with people from ethnic backgrounds we haven't had the chance to really talk with," said co-chair Georgiann Froemke.

Driven by the energy and passion of local group United for Diversity, the day offers 25 cultural booths, ethnic crafts and games, traditional foods, a human jigsaw puzzle, an international children's sing-a-long, and a vast array of musical performers.

"We want to help local minority groups communicate with each other and we think this is the best way for them to begin to do that — by having fun, " said co-chair Michael Ketterhagen.

Members of the small United for Diversity group have made their mark over the past few years with the formation of local diversity circles, encouraging businesses to display "We Welcome Diversity" signs, and sponsoring two local Peace Fests.

Active member Sister Stella Storch said celebrate CommUNITY — the group's biggest event so far — should feel like new neighbors getting to know each other.

"We're looking to celebrate our differences and that's a good thing," Storch said. "We don't all have to be alike."

As a business owner, Froemke said she first got involved two years ago when Storch and members of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes were going door-to-door, asking people to embrace the simple statement: "United for Diversity."

"I began going to meetings and realized I was very naïve when it came to interacting with people of different cultures," she said. "I wanted to know more."

What started out as a small, grassroots endeavor has mushroomed into an internationally-flavored celebration, Ketterhagen said. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Zenebe Abebe, director of the office of equity and inclusion at Marian College.

"People have come out of the woodwork, out of their Fond du Lac homes to share their food, culture and stories," Ketterhagen said. "Diversity is no longer defined by the words 'color' and 'white.'"

He pointed to the growth of ethnic minorities in the community, yet noted a lack of understanding because of physical barriers, boundaries between lifestyles and locations.

"United for Diversity is supportive of the part of the Fond du Lac community that is under-recognized and under-cared for," he explained.

Fun and games

A team comprised of Mercury Marine employees has been organizing crafts and games for the diversity event. Member Hans Neumann, who works as a supply integration manager, said he knows what it is like to be a new kid on the block.

"I was born in Germany and immigrated here with my family," he said. "So this is something that hits home with me."

A schedule of activities includes Mexican bingo, Chinese hopscotch, origami, a Native American ball toss game and ethnic storytelling. Kids will help grow a diversity tree by adding leaves of origin.

"We are featuring a giant map of the world and asking people to place a stick pin in the country their family came from," Neumann said. "We want to show how much diversity there is within our own little community."

Volunteer coordinator Morgan Weber, 19, said 58 people have signed up to help at the event.

"I'm just a college student, but I see Fond du Lac as a diverse city, not just through ethnicity, but also age and experience," she said.

The unique line-up of entertainment at Celebrate CommUNITY includes a Gospel choir, Hmong, Filipino, Bavarian, Native American and Hellenic dancers, Scottish pipes and drums, and a Red Hat umbrella brigade.

Winners of a student art contest will be announced and on display at the event. Students were invited to enter pieces that reflect an aspect of diversity or unity in the community.

The Fond du Lac School District helped with the event by translating into Hmong and Spanish invitations to Celebrate CommUNITY. Over 1,000 free admission passes were then sent out to families with children receiving free and reduced lunch, Froemke said.

A suggested admission donation is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children ages 12 to 18.

Major contributors were generous with donations, Ketterhagen noted. County Executive Al Buechel waived the fee for the Recreation Center.

Froemke estimates about 4,000 people will stop by throughout the day.

"We want to help bring people together," she said.

"I've been uplifted by the whole experience," Ketterhagen added.

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