By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

The USD 475 sponsored Multicultural Fair on Saturday in Junction City will celebrate the different cultures in the Junction City/Geary County community. It will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Heritage Park.

This event can foster an appreciation for one another in the community, said Susan Pender, USD 475 ELL Coordinator.

“Right now we have about 565 ELL ( English Language Learners ) that are identified within the district,” she said. “We have about 52 languages that are spoken by our families so we have a great diversity here in our community.”

Pender wants people to attend and share about their culture so community members can learn and grow from each other. Participants can set up in booths to display, artifacts, games, flags, dancing and singing. “We are going to have games for kids. ” The bandstand will be a busy place with a taekwondo demonstration, singing and Japanese dancers.

There will be a peace display made out of chalk. What you do is draw a large peace sign, and then kids use colored chalk to draw within the peace sign just any picture that they associate with peace, and I would say even with culture. We’re going to take a picture and submit it to the Chalk for Peace Foundation, and see if they’ll put our picture up on line.”

Pender says teachers are excited about this event and flyers have put up at local businesses.

For more information or to participate contact Susan Pender at 717-4045 or at susanpender@usd475.org.