From Left to Right: Samrawit Eshetu, Arsema Paulos, Kelly Weng, and Coralie Deus, selling tickets for the celebration. Photo by Tobi Pitan.
For the seventh consecutive year, Malden High’s Multicultural Club is hosting their annual celebration on May 4th giving the students the opportunity to showcase foods from different backgrounds in order to highlight and celebrate the diversity in the school.
About seven years ago, a couple of students went to club advisor and English Teacher Yahaira Marquez to discuss ideas on how to help recognize the diversity surrounding Malden as “nothing was being done about it in the school to either learn about each other’s cultures or celebrate their own.” That’s where the idea of having an this event each year comes into place along with hopes of getting more students involved in the club.
On whether or not the goal has been accomplished, Marquez believes that there’s “an awareness of the diversity”. She also added that there’s need to be improvement in the celebration aspect, where people can do “learning and questioning” about cultures along with appreciation and moving in the right direction.
Many activities will also be incorporated into the celebration such as “performances, foods” and hands- on activities such as henna painting etc. Personally, she looks forward to “the different students that come together to attend the celebration and what they’re always interested in trying “such as eating different foods for curiosity even it’s on their own.”
When preparing for this event, Marquez noted that it’s very difficult to get more of the students and staff involved. For the students, it’s getting to encourage them to try cook a meal from their culture and there’s needs to be more staff members for participation. She recalled that on “some years, it’ really easy and students want to do it and other years, it’s been kind of a challenge.”
If the students make a platter of food for the event, there will be a competition in place for first and second prize. The student who wins will receive a cash prize of a hundred and fifty dollars and second place is for seventy five dollars.
Overall, the most important thing about is to “bring to light” not only saying that we have diversity, but “actually celebrating it.”
