Monday, April 17, 2000
Culture festival likely to grow
Celebration of diversity to see changes next year
BY Earnest Winston
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — The second Multicultural Celebration probably will be bigger, last longer and could move outside.
Educational seminars and activities for children are also among the possibilities for next year's event celebrating Hamilton's growing diversity.
Organizers discussed the changes during a meeting Thursday to evaluate the inaugural celebration, held last month at Miami University's Hamilton campus.
Organizers said 219 people signed their names verifying their attendance, though many people didn't sign in.
Regional attraction
Visitors came from as far away as Dayton and Cincinnati, as well as from Oxford, Fairfield, Eaton and Trenton.
According to evaluations, which about a fourth of the attendees filled out, the program was “excellent.”
Complaints ranged from not enough space and seating to the music being too loud.
Robert Rusbosin, assistant executive director/director of student services at the Hamilton campus, suggested adding educational talks about the cultures represented and also allowing vendors to participate.
Like this year's event, the next one will be free for the public, organizers said. Last month's program cost more than $1,600 — most of the money went for the ethnic foods.
Planners said they want to bring more corporate sponsors aboard to help defray costs.
Planning members also discussed doing a better job publicizing the celebration via radio spots and by sending fliers to local high schools.
“Now that the word (is) out that we do this, people are going to be more interested,” said Maggie Krey of Hamilton's Human Relations Department, a primary sponsor of the celebration.
Family event Organizers said they want to draw more students and families to the event. They are considering having a mini-carnival and making the event more interactive by having educational workshops.
The length of this year's celebration is expected to double to four hours and likely will be held on a Saturday, instead of a weeknight.
“But I think we should be careful how fast we grow,” Mrs. Krey warned.
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