Students organize successful multicultural fair

by Christiana Lycette

Students in the No Place for Hate club at Southern Lehigh hosted their first Multicultural Fair on March 9th. The event was very well-received, attracting more than half of the school to the cafeteria, where the event was held. Students embraced an opportunity to expand their knowledge of various cultures by tasting traditional cuisines shared by their peers and learning about various cultures and ethnicities in our world and community.

Started as the Diversity Council in 2020, the Southern Lehigh club earned its first No Place for Hate designation from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in 2021, and has maintained its recognition ever since. The ADL approved the SLHS Multicultural Fair as one of the three annual events by the club to keep the school’s designation. The idea for this event sprouted from passionate student members on the executive committee of the No Place for Hate club. The students’ fond memories from elementary school, where parents would come in to see the projects that students created on various cultures, inspired them. The club took this inspiration as their motivation to construct a fair where high school students could volunteer to represent their own heritage or a culture or country for which they have a passion.

“We have an increasingly diverse student population where kids come from many different backgrounds,” No Place for Hate adviser Mrs. Marlo Spritzer said. “The students wanted the opportunity to share their cultures and learn about different ones.”

Representing 28 countries, and with only a month to orchestrate the event, students and faculty acted diligently to pull off an event for roughly 500 people. The No Place for Hate club coordinated with various cultural clubs including the Language and Culture Club, the Spanish Club and the Korean Club to help with gathering tables, food, and volunteers. With 80 participants, the “mini Epcot center” envisioned for the fair came to life.

“Throughout the months of email chains, google forms, and communicating with staff and club participants, we were able to make a great event happen…one I am proud of,” senior and executive committee member Kylie Baker said.

The volunteers brought authentic food, family heirlooms, national costumes, music, and flags to the tables allowing Southern Lehigh students to experience a taste of different cultures they may not be familiar with. Students were even able to learn how to draw Chinese characters, and many were excited to see junior Connor Kim break boards in his taekwondo demonstration. Attendees were able to expand their palates and gain new cultural perspectives through the teachings of their peers.

“[Throughout] the celebration, the fair raised my awareness for all the different cultures [represented] in our school,” senior Nick Ventresca said.

Before the event, students expected a small, plain event. However, the Multicultural Fair exceeded their expectations, and the intended attendance number tripled. Consequently, club members and volunteers believe that in the future, the amount of food should double. Due to the event’s success, students and staff are hopeful the event will return next year with more countries represented, and more food.

“With the surprising and contentful turnout of the event, I am hopeful of its return next year,” said Baker, “especially with [greater] representation of African and South Asian nations because people will be willing to take that next step.”