As Camille Simpkins entered the high school cafeteria on Feb. 20, she was greeted with a heavenly aroma. The scent of sweets, spices, and savory dishes hovered over the colorful tables and flags. Each table represented a unique piece of culture, showcasing the vibrant landscape of the community. The event that Simpkins had been dreaming of for several years finally came together: Taste of Cultures.
“I am from Jamaica, and I attended an international school in Canada called a United World College to complete my International Baccalaureate diploma before going to college,” founder and organizer Simpkins said. “This school brought 200 students together from 80 different countries to live together, learn together and grow together. As a result of my upbringing in Jamaica and experience at this school, cultural exposure and understanding has always been very important to me. We live in a community in which many people are from different countries and backgrounds. These differences should be explored and celebrated – and what better way to do this than through food and sharing culture through the arts?”
Simpkins along with her partner Jill LaTorre worked tirelessly to make this event possible. The event relied on volunteers, so organizers sent out sign-ups on social media, put up posters at the schools, and featured it in the principal’s emails and newsletters. Jonathan Price from The Magazine, and Ann Casey, writer and former Lovejoy teacher, helped get the word out to the community.
“I think we both breathed a sigh of relief when 6pm came, and we had people walking in the doors; we had no idea how many people to expect,” Simpkins said. “Students, staff, administration and the community seemed to enjoy the event, and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback, including a great interest for Taste of Cultures to be an annual event. We were thrilled to have the turnout that we did despite the cold!”
The event featured booths with information and all types of food from different cultures. There were also live performances which included a taekwondo team, instrumental performances from China, songs and music from Thailand, Bollywood music on violin, American fiddle music from the Lovejoy orchestra ambassadors, the Lion dance from China and a trumpet piece from Greece.
“Mrs. Kelsey, the French teacher, told me about the event, so I decided to make a booth for the French club,” senior Neola Edwin said. “I had a great time; I thought it was so cool that so many different cultures were represented in this one event. The food was all really good, but my favorite part was the fact that people had passports that they could get stamped at each booth.”
The event brought students from the elementary school all the way through the high school. Parents and other members of the community such as seniors from Heritage Ranch participated as well. People were given the opportunity to try new foods while learning more about cultures in their community.
“This event definitely helped me learn more about different cultures,” senior Safira Lakhani said. “The people that were representing their cultures at the booths as well as informational pictures and videos help me understand more. I tried all sorts of new food, including foods from China, Germany, the Philippines, Afghanistan, and so many more countries. My favorite was the Chinese wagyu dumplings. It was beautiful to see people of different cultures coming together.”
The positive response from staff, students, and community members has led organizers to hope for expanding the event and making it an annual occurrence. They plan to increase participation from the lower campuses and increase student project displays.
“Cultural events serve as a catalyst for greater discussion about our similarities, despite our differences,” Simpkins said. “They serve as an opportunity to learn about each other and help in our improved understanding of each other. They also serve as an opportunity to celebrate the rich cultures that make our community unique. We are truly grateful for the administration, staff, students, volunteers and community for being willing to participate in this event and for trusting us to execute our inaugural Taste of Cultures.”
