by Nerys Levy
The Fifth Annual Community Dinner celebrating local cultural diversity was held at the McDougle Schools Cafetorium, Carrboro, on February 10th at 1:30 p.m. Over 650 people gathered together to eat food prepared by Mama Dip and many local restaurants, churches and organizations.
All who attended enjoyed the entertainment by bagpiper Bryn Smith, storyteller Sharon Barksdale Worth and the Homegirls, The Chapel Hill High School Honor Chamber Choir, Emerson Waldorf School Second Graders, Latin dancers Elizabeth and Ascary Arias, Nora Kizer and Edson Arias, singer Cassandra Durham and the Magnolia Klezmer Band. The afternoon was also enriched by the cultural presentations of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation and the Rifai Marufi Sufi Order of Chapel Hill and contributions of local cultural and spiritual representatives.
The event was sponsored by the Cultural Arts Group, the Carrboro Branch Library and
the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill with support from the Orange County Arts
Commission, the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill, and many local patrons,
organizations and community groups.
This year's event was an overwhelming success, in part because of the efforts of so
many people who have worked on dinners over the past four years. We feel that the
event does a great deal to bring people together who might not ordinarily cross paths
and that this year’s attendance is a clear indication of the community's interest in and
support of such a gathering. Without the help of volunteers and donations (even the
artists donated their talents freely) we would not have been able to offer such an
exceptional dinner for so modest a price. By keeping the event truly affordable
(including many tickets that were underwritten) we were able to host citizens from
every income level, ethnic group and age group. In this way the dinner enhances the
spirit of our community.
To those of you who attended this year's event, we are sure no explanation is needed
regarding the benefit of such happenings as the Community Dinner. Our shared
understanding and pride in the community is, we know, stronger as a result of this
year's event. We are also proud that many of the performers showcased on February
10th and at previous dinners have been invited to participate in a Fall 2002 venture
celebrating cultural diversity co-sponsored by U.N.C.'s Center for International Studies
and the Carrboro Arts Center. A member of the Cultural Arts Group has also been
asked to sit on that event’s planning committee.
We look forward to seeing you at the Sixth Annual Community Dinner in February
2003. If you would like to participate next year as a performer, volunteer or donor,
please contact Catherine Frank at 919-942-7818 or Nerys Levy at 919-932-1533
dinner@orangeculturalarts.org
Nerys Levy,
Dinner coordinator, Cultural Arts Group