World Fest Students Look to ‘Change the World’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :
Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015

Media Release

City of Little Rock Public Relations (501) 371-6801

Contact: Jennifer Godwin | (o) 501 371 4421 | (c) 501 804 4822 or Ericka Benedicto | (c) 501 350 1954

Annual Event Taking Place Sept. 25 at War Memorial Park

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Sept. 22, 2015) – Hundreds of students from around the state will participate in World Fest 2015 on Friday, Sept. 25, at War Memorial Park. The annual event, created in 1994 by the Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission, celebrates cultures from around the globe through a variety of interactive learning experiences.

The festival will begin with an opening ceremony Walk of Nations, a colorful procession of international flags paraded by students from Gibbs International Studies Magnet School.

This year, the award-winning festival includes a petting zoo with a baby camel, the Global Imagination Stage for cultural performing arts, and the Global Village representing such countries as Turkey, Kenya, the Philippines, and Guatemala.

More than 30 school teams will be taking part in the World Cultural Fair Contest, a display exhibition that gives students the opportunity to share all they’ve learned about a particular country.

This year’s festival theme is “We Can Change the World.”

“We hope to empower school-age children to not just learn about diversity and other cultures but to act as responsible global citizens,” says Ericka Benedicto, diversity program manager. “To see these students come to World Fest with such engaging performances and polished presentations is inspiring. They really are able to change the world.”

More than just a regular field trip, World Fest provides students with a safe, fun, and stimulating environment. Lunch will include traditional fare in addition to some cultural cuisines.

World Fest is free and open to the public. The event begins at 9 a.m. and goes until 2 p.m.

WorldFest celebrates the different races and cultures that exist here in Little Rock through educational activities, entertainment, and tastes from around the world. In 2006, the festival was named 1st place recipient of the National League of Cities Cultural Diversity Award.

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