By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MARIEMONT - Formed after the Cincinnati riots of 2001, the Eastside Neighbor to Neighbor Coalition will hold its second annual community festival today.

IF YOU GO

What: The Eastside Neighbor to Neighbor Coalition's second annual community festival Where: Dale Park, Wooster Pike and Plainville Road, Mariemont When: Today, noon to 5 p.m.

The festival, which will celebrate racial diversity with free food, games, pony rides and music, will take place noon to 5 p.m. at Dale Park, Wooster Pike and Plainville Road.

The coalition grew from a meeting among residents of Mariemont, Madisonville and Terrace Park as part of the regional initiative, "Neighbor to Neighbor Community Conversations on Race," organized by the Enquirer. It includes surrounding neighborhoods.

The principal communities behind the festival are Mariemont, which has few non-white residents, and Madisonville, a racially diverse Cincinnati neighborhood.

The two very different neighborhoods have collaborated on youth art classes and writing programs and other activities. As a result, residents of both communities have gotten to know each other and form friendships.

John Scholtz, a festival co-chairman who lives in Mariemont, grew up in an Air Force family that lived in racially diverse settings throughout the country. Scholtz, who is white, was struck by the lack of diversity in Greater Cincinnati when he moved to Mariemont seven years ago.

"The goal of the coalition is for people in Mariemont, Madisonville, Terrace Park and Fairfax to feel more comfortable around each other," he said. "We're not there yet, but we're definitely taking some small steps in that direction."

Kathy Garrison, an African-American woman who lives in Madisonville, said her involvement in the coalition has altered her views about Mariemont.

"One of the perceptions I had was that Mariemont was a very old, non-diverse community and that that's the way they liked it," she said. "But I've found they're very open to diversity and want their children to be open to it."

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com