Putting unity in community
A sun-soaked Liberty Park filled with more than 4,000 people who arrived to celebrate cultural diversity Saturday at the 11th annual Unity in the Community.
Men, women and children huddled under shade trees to watch a variety of entertainment including a Brazilian vocalist, a Chinese umbrella dance and Hawaiian dancers, while others meandered through the multiple vendor booths stationed around center stage.
Nearby, children splashed ice water in their faces and dunked their heads in small plastic pools to cool off.
The event, expected to be the largest yet, offered 130 vendors that represented a wide variety of businesses, churches, non-profit groups, educational opportunities, cultural organizations and health care in the greater Spokane area.
For the first time, Unity in the Community featured a job and health fair in addition to live entertainment, food and cultural education.
Cheri Braman, 13, sat near center stage licking an ice cream cone while she listened to a presentation. “I just wanted to see what this was all about. I like the whole idea we get to talk about our community.”
She lives near Liberty Park and walked over to check it out for the first time.
“I really like the entertainment,” said Karen Plybon, who was also attending the event for the first time. The Spokane woman, a lifelong resident, wasn’t at Liberty Park for the vendors. “Music, dance and cultures, that’s what I’m into.”
Plybon, and several others attending the event, emphatically agreed that in addition to the entertainment it was nice to see a mix of ethnicities all in one place, something they don’t often see in Spokane.
“It’s really a community event,” said Ben Cabildo, the event chairman. “All the entertainers are here to serve their cultures. It’s important to capture the spirit of the event… it gives our city and region a welcoming feel.”
Near the playground, little girls lined up at Kitara McClure’s strategically placed booth, Pony Tails, to get their hair done.
“We’re braiding the girls’ hair for free to show them just a bit of the culture,” said McClure, who owns the new hair salon. Girls sat patiently in metal folding chairs as some or all their hair was braided, and colored beads or braided extensions were added to their hairdo. “This was a good way to promote the business and give something back to the community.”
While most event goers were pleased with what Unity in the Community offered and its message, others thought the single-day recognition of Spokane’s ethnic groups was not enough.
“I would like to see more of the people together more often,” said Kenny Andrews, 43, who wondered why he doesn’t see more minorities around town.
Andrews moved back to his hometown of Spokane from New Orleans three years ago. He said the change in cities has been a culture shock for his four children. In New Orleans, the ethnic groups support each other all the time, not just during one day. Events like this “need go a little further,” Andrews said, who performed a song at the event. “We need to stick together to truly unify the city.”
“There’s not enough of this Monday through Sunday,” added Amos Atkinson, Andrews’ brother-in-law. “Spokane has a lot of work to do, but this is a start.”