Original printed byline: Cecelia Nadal
Historical September–October 2015 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
This will be the fourth year that Gitana has been a part of a special festival that brings immigrants and locals together with welcoming arms in a Northwest St. Louis City neighborhood.
There will be live music, ethnic foods, dance presentations and lots of community resources. Amherst Park is located near Skinker and Page Blvd. You can access the Park from Hodiamont near Page The park is small and intimate and is projected to draw 400-500 people. Great for meeting people and engaging in conversations!! What makes this festival so special is that the attendees are so very diverse in culture and race, socio-economic background, religion and education.
In addition, it is a project that has been embraced by almost 15 organizations that collaboratively work together to make the festival happen. You can be a part of what St. Louis can be!
Here are some of the artists! Nitro Latin Jazz Band Rhythms of the Caribbean (Reggae, etc.) KYPE Dancers (Hip Hop and More) Michael Castro, Poet Laureate of St. Louis Salsa Dance Lessons with Carmen Guynn Gitana Kids – Dance and Drama African folk arts and crafts Food will include Mexican, Soul, African and Pakistani There will be activities for children provided by the St. Louis Art Museum and health information and screening from Washington University and the University of Missouri St. Louis. Children’s Art Activity: Participants will create a headdress with a bird figure that is featured prominently in the exhibit Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa. For more information on the festival call Gitana at 314-721-6556. (Collaborating groups include The Workday, City of St. Louis, and Cornerstone, Center for Survivors of Torture and War Trauma, International Institute, CREA, Saint Louis Mental Health Board, SLACO, KIPP Charter School, Firm Foundation Tutoring Program)
Original photograph caption
Earlier Amherst Park Peace Festival. Descriptive caption supplied.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September–October 2015.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2015_09.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
