By: Tina Gao and Tina Lou
On the windy evening of March 18th, many students, families, and food trucks flocked to the VHHS gym parking lot. Foreign flavors and lively international music permeated the air. Booths representing different countries displayed cultural artifacts and offered free goodies to visitors. This was the 2nd annual I am Vestavia Festival, a celebration of the cultural diversity within the Vestavia Hills school system.
Children picked up passports from the greeting table and visited different booths to collect stickers and learn about different countries. As guests meandered through the parking lot, they could sample dumplings from China, admire traditional pottery from Kenya, and pet a real reindeer pelt from Finland. The unique experiences at every booth created the wonderful illusion of traveling around the world in 80 minutes.
Traditional dances from The Birmingham Chinese Waist Drum Troupe and Nathanya Indian Dance were held in the gym, drawing large crowds and rousing applause. Chinese students participated in the outdoor dragon dance. Tina Gao held the golden ball in front of the dragon and led the dance. She was “proud to represent her culture” and “delight the crowds.” VHHS students Daniel Murong and Eric Wang also participated in the dragon dance. Many students and community members also felt pride and joy during the festival.
At 6:30, the ceremony began in the gym. The 55 flags paraded around the gym represented the many cultures that Vestavia students are a part of. Sophomore Vincent Fang gave a warm welcome and a touching speech about his experiences. After a performance from young Bollywood dancers, Dr. Sanjay Singh gave the keynote speech about the importance of diversity and his vision for a more multicultural future. Our district superintendent Dr. Freeman expressed support for I am Vestavia. Hopefully, as Dr. Freeman hopes the I am Vestavia festival will continue to grow. The festival concluded with performances from the National African Dance Company and Vestavia elementary school choirs.
Throughout the week, students had even more opportunities to learn about diverse cultures through VNN trivia, international food in the cafeteria, and the country poster contest. These opportunities were present throughout the school system. I am Vestavia week provided a holistic experience for students, encouraging students to explore outside of their comfort zone. Students at Liberty Park learned traditional African dances during PE class.
The I am Vestavia week was a great success! However, the planning began early in the school year. Many students at the high school formed student committees assisting Senora McFadden and Mrs. Lenhart during the planning process. (Shoutout to all the amazing Vestavia teachers that helped support and create I am Vestavia week.) Students also volunteered by setting up booths after school for the festival.
The I am Vestavia week celebrations couldn’t have happened without the teachers, students, and families. Although there were several challenges along the way, many diverse groups across the school system came together to create a wonderful experience for the whole community.
Hopefully, Dr. Sanjay Singh’s vision will come true and I am Vestavia will be the best of its kind in the nation!
Comments