What a wonderful evening and what a wonderful tag line and quote! I could not have said it better - The idea of "Passport to Friendship" ties the ideas of Diversity and Acceptance together perfectly and simply. The quote says:

This was the 5th school we've been in this year participating in multi-cultural fairs. Like other schools, the children were given 'passports' they'd have to get stamped at each station they went to. There was a variety of of tasty ethnic foods, colorful booth displays, and interesting performances.

Nine years ago Miss Bartolotta, the LRC Director at Mill Elementary, conducted the first multi-cultural fair in the Naperville elementary schools - she suspects North Central College may be the first among Naperville schools in general. However, this seemed to be the start of an exciting new trend. They are well organized and fun and the people of our town love it because not only it is all about us and our own heritage, it teaches about so many beautiful and compelling places around the globe. Each of the places have a story to tell that often enough engages us on a level we have not reached enough.

Miss Bartolotta and I talked several times about the difficulties of peer pressure and the struggles of growing up. It can be easy to question without care when one child dresses differently, or eats a food that smells differently, or perhaps has a bindi, or doesn't practice the same holiday traditions. Children don't intend to be hurtful or accusatory when the questions come out - but it can be intimidating to get asked the questions because it points out that child as being different.

Multicultural fairs provides an occasion for questions about the variety of traditions we practice, foods we eat, clothes we wear or languages we speak to be asked and explored in a non threatening way. It provides a time when kids are allowed to ask the questions. We are all different from one another. And our world and lives are in constant motion. It was very encouraging to hear the types of conversations parents and children were having - and the enthusiasm in the voices as they were involved in the process of discovery.