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Ethnic Enrichment Festival at Swope Park in Kansas City
As Kansas City prepared to celebrate the U.S. bicentennial in 1976, an idea was born which eventually led to the appointment of the Mayor’s Ethnic Enrichment Commission. In order to focus the public’s attention on the area’s rich cultural heritage, Charles B. Wheeler, Mayor of Kansas City during the bicentennial year, formed the Ethnic Heritage Committee. That committee planned an Ethnic Bicentennial Parade, presented ethnic menus at local restaurants, and compiled a written history of contributions made to Kansas City’s growth by various ethnic groups. The latter project won national recognition from the United States Bicentennial Association.
The committee took a step toward permanency in 1978 when two members of the Naturalization Council urged the formation of the Ethnic Enrichment Committee. During that period, the group hosted its first Ethnic Enrichment Festival at the Liberty Memorial. The festival drew the attention of Mayor Richard Berkley and City Councilman Vic Swyden, who introduced a resolution to the City Council in 1980 creating the Mayor’s Ethnic Enrichment Commission. The Commission, with membership from 66 countries and ethnic groups, continues to foster understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity in the greater Kansas City area. With Kansas City and Missouri Parks and Recreation, the Commission hosts an annual festival in Swope Park each August.
Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City Members:
Deborah Veatch
Danny K. Staton MD
Sibghat Khan
Evita Turello
Angelique Mello Kelley
Emmanuel Ngomsi, Ph.D.
Tammy Wang
Martha Gonzalez
Louis Birt
Mike Kalny
Barbara Larsen
Orlando Cachiguango
Bhaa Elashkar
Mary Ann Waisanen
Ann Sunderland
Lamin Bumi Nyang
Hildegard S. Will
Theophilos Tagtalianidis
Lani Schiro
Dr. Usha Saha
James Wilson
Mary Gettino
Deborah O’Bannon
Frank Cherrito
Kathleen Johnson
Masami Okamoto Willis
Andrea Khan
Chong Her
Simeon Johnson
Richard Horvatic
Ghita King
Augustine J. Oropeza
Christine Ferhat
Georgeline Nwaneri
Vern R. Knutson
Amado Mamuric
David Au
Tatiana Bargerstock
Lupe T. Moe
Carol C. Duncan
Lisa Gribble
Fermin Santos
Linda Dost
Justus Bwesha
Jak Pittayanukul
Marilyn Scheer
Oscar Schnell
Douglas T. Wyatt
Tags: commission, enrichment, ethnic, festival, heritage, Kansas City, retaurants, swope park
When is the festival for peru. I want to go and see the festival for south american countries. is it all together in one day. i’de like to know the schedule . thank you
I’de like to know the schedule for the South American coutries. expecially peru. when is the peru festival i’lde like to know. thank you
A number of people at the festival remarked to me, “Look at how there are so many countries and cultures represented and we are all getting along. The rest of the world should look at this as an example.”