Promoting harmony through the arts

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/10/2015 (2718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jimmy Carter, a former U.S. president once said, “We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic: Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”

A non-profit organization known as Creative Foundation Inc. (CFI) in Winnipeg is organizing an event that will promote such beautiful mosaic.

This year’s event, titled Building Bridges: Multicultural Harmony Through the Arts, is a one-day interactive symposium for Grade 8 to Grade 11 students and educators on Oct. 21 from 8:30 a.m.

It will be held at the Canad Inns Fort Garry on Pembina Highway. Flor Marcelino, provincial minister of multiculturalism and literacy will be a guest of honour while Douglas Riske, executive director of the Manitoba Arts Council is keynote speaker.

This will be a great opportunity for students in the Pembina Trail School Division, and others, to engage with presenters such as independent filmmaker Randy Guest, educator Sue Hemphill and  visual artist Becky Thiessen. The event is sponsored by the Multiculturalism Secretariat of the Manitoba government.

The organization has been engaged in empowerment activities since 1999, focusing on developing the creative leadership abilities of youth in Manitoba.

Yisa Akinbolaji, convenor and co-ordinator of CFI, said “this event will produce culturally competent leaders of tomorrow who are imbued with the dexterity to appreciate the riches embedded in diversity.”

Malinda Lee, vice president of CFI added: “CFI will empower students to identify the uniqueness in our differences and promote the beauty and power in our diversity.”

The event is open to youth from schools and communities, accompanied by teachers or parents.

Participants must pre-register by e-mailing: cfiwpg@gmail.com. For more information, visit: www.creativefoundation.org or call 204 942 7245.

Sunday Olukoju is a community correspondent for Fort Richmond. You can contact him at sunday.olukoju@gmail.com