Cultural Heritage, Flavors Of The World On The Menu At Academy Gathering
Students and families learned about other cultures and enjoyed great entertainment at Worcester Academy’s Cultural Heritage Dinner, but it was the food and friendship that took center stage at the first-ever event here.
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Designed as a community-building function, the event brought nearly 400 people to Daniels Gymnasium for a showcase of cuisine that represented the rich ethnic and cultural diversity of the Worcester Academy community, which includes 25 nations, as well as the many other proud traditions of WA’s families.
“The Dinner was incredibly successful, well beyond our initial expectations,” said Nancy Osborn, director of parent relations. “It’s a testimony to all those who contributed their time to making this happen – folks from a wide cross-section of the WA family – who are passionate about building community.”
Organized by the Parent Diversity Committee, the event was the handiwork of numerous stakeholders at the Academy, including Residential Life, the director of diversity, the international student advisor, and many others, including the more than 100 parents and students who made and brought food to the event.
At any one time, buffet tables lined each side of the gym, featuring delicacies of every kind from seemingly all corners of the earth: sushi from Japan, rice and beans from South America, meat filled dumplings from China, lasagna from Italy, beef stew from the United Kingdom, Scandinavian ginger snaps, Polish sausage – you name it, it was all there!
“There was such a great deal of pride that went into each of these dishes,” said Mrs. Osborn. “Everyone who made food was so happy to share it and to treat other members of our community to one of the things that makes their families special.”
In addition to having dinner, participants were invited to decorate a fabric square representing their families for inclusion in a Community Quilt.
Worcester Academy has had a longstanding commitment to celebrating diversity in its community and to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment that in keeping with the Academy’s mission and core values.
ABOUT WORCESTER ACADEMY
Worcester Academy is a co-ed day and boarding independent school for grades 6 to 12 and postgraduates. Our urban setting, diverse community, and innovative curriculum provide each student with unique opportunities for self-discovery, academic achievement, and personal empowerment. For more information, visit www.worcesteracademy.org
