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OPINIONS
Festival to celebrate diversity of community
The Tri-State's international community is diverse and growing.
From students to professionals, people from all over the globe now call our region home, and next month residents will have a new opportunity to learn more about other countries, traditions and even better -- a world of food.
Marshall University's International Festival is in its 49th year, but the event planned for 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, will take things to a new level. In recent years, many of the school's international students would cook native dishes and share those at the festival in the Don Morris Room on campus.
But this year, the event moves to the Big Sandy Superstore Arena with the broader mission of celebrating the diversity throughout the community. About 400 international students, representing 60 countries will set up booths and displays about their native cultures, dress and music. Also international restaurants from the Tri-State will be on hand to offer samples of their cuisine.
Food Fair Supermarkets, Cabell County Schools and Mountwest Community and Technical College are partnering with the university to expand the festival and provide a memorable experience for all ages, but particularly for children.
"We're using all the genres to engage with the world without having to leave Huntington," said Clark Egnor, executive director of Marshall's Center for International Programs.
This is a great step forward for a long-running Marshall event. For more information, contact the Center for International Programs at 304-696-6265, e-mail cip@marshall.edu or visit the International Festival website at http://www.marshall.edu/cip/festival/.
