The Fig Tree - Unity in the Community 2009

Unity in the Community celebrates region’s diverse cultures

Chinese dancers at Unity in Community celebration

More than 10,000 people gathered Aug. 15 in Riverfront Park, to celebrate Spokane’s diversity by watching multicultural performances and joining in activities to learn about cultures.

For the 15th year, Unity in the Community, which began in East Central Spokane and has expanded into Riverfront Park, has feted the many cultures in the region, said organizing chair, Ben Cabildo, director of the African American Hispanic Asian Native American Business and Professional Association (AHANA).

AHANA now operates under Community-Minded Enterprises.

Gospel Choir

For Ben this event showcases “the future of Spokane” and “reflects Spokane’s increasingly diverse populations,” coming together to celebrate with the whole community.

Through Unity in the Community, Community-Minded Enterprises provided thousands of dollars worth of school supplies and bike helmets for children. Proceeds also help support scholarships for students from multi-ethnic communities.

Cultural village booths included German, Filipino, Marshall Islander, Swedish, Italian, Native American, Vietnamese, Latin American and African American cultures.

Hawaiian dancers

Entertainment ranged from the ROAR Worship Team, hip-hop salsa dancers, Hawaiian dancers, Gospel choirs, Middle Eastern dancers, Filipino bamboo dancers, a poet, Broadway music, Chinese dancers, martial arts, break dancing and more.

At 135 booths, visitors learned about resources of nonprofit programs, higher education, holistic healers, political candidates and local businesses and how they serve diverse communities.

Unity in the Community relies on support of 75 volunteers.

“It says Spokane values diversity,” Ben said.

The visionaries and founders for Unity in the Community came primarily from Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, said Ben, who has worked with the event from the beginning.

For information, call 838-1881 or visit nwunity.org.