ClevelandPeople.Com Celebrating Cleveland's Cultural Diversity
Cleveland Bollywood
Cleveland Bollywood
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens hosted a World on Stage Concert event in the Centennial Plaza on Saturday September 7, 2024. It featured acts from 3 continents - the Zumbercani Tamburitza Orchestra from Croatia (Europe), the Black Beanz from Uganda, Tanzania and Congo (Africa) and Cleveland Bollywood from India (Asia).
Black Beanz is a group of young men from The Congo, Tanzania, Uganda and other African countries who met in high school in Akron Ohio and formed a dance crew. They performed at the World on Stage Concert event in the Cultural Gardens Centennial Plaza on Saturday September 7, 2024.
In their final dance at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation World on Stage Event they invited members of the audience to come up, learn some steps and dance with them. The ladies from Bollywood Cleveland, still in their costumes, joined in.
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens hosted a World on Stage Concert event in the Centennial Plaza on Saturday September 7, 2024. It featured acts from 3 continents - Bollywood from India (Asia), the Black Beanz from Uganda, Tanzania and Congo (Africa) and the Zumbercani Tamburitza Orchestra from Croatia (Europe). Zumbercani Tamburitza Orchestra began in 1997 and features music from the NW region of Croatia.
The 78th annual One World Day was another amazing event. One World Day has been the official event of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation since 1946.
The 78th annual One World Day was amazing! Here is a video of the Parade of Flags with over 50 heritages represented.
The Parade began with CCGF past president Sheila Murphy Crawford welcoming the crowd and thanking the Parade Chairs Angela Woodson and Dan Hanson.
In a sign of unity, the MCs for the Parade were from the 4 major TV stations in Cleveland (left to right in the photo): Tino Bovenzi from Fox8, Kelly Dobeck from WOIO, Jiovanni Lieggi from WKYC and Tracy Carloss from WEWS.
One World Day Parade of Flags MCs
The Parade marched down MLK Blvd. and began with the One World Day Banner, followed by Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Dr. Wael Khoury (Board Chair of Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation). Then the Irish American Club East Side Pipe and Drums followed by the American Garden represented by members of the Rotary Club of Cleveland.
Then the representatives of the: Hungarian Garden, Greek Garden, Hebrew Garden, Slovak Garden, Italian Garden, Romanian Garden, Turkish Garden, Chinese Garden, Russian Garden, Finnish Garden, Lebanese Garden, Lithuanian Garden, German Garden, Ethiopian Garden, Ukrainian Garden, Irish Garden, Croatian Garden, Latvian Garden, Estonian Garden, Armenia Garden, African American Garden, British Garden, Slovenian Garden, Syrian Garden, Dominican Republic Community, Scottish Garden, Albanian Garden, Korean Garden, India Garden, French Garden, Polish Garden, Carpatho-Rusyn Garden, Uzbekistan Garden, Pakistan Garden, Peruvian Garden, Palestinian Garden, Morocco Community, Swiss Community, Indonesian Community, Kazakhstan Community, Native American Garden, Mexican Garden, Japanese Community, Bangladesh community, Iranian Community, Haitian Community, Filipino Garden, Colombian Garden, Brazilian Community, Chilean Community and Serbian Garden.
One World Day began at 11 AM with a Naturalization Ceremony where new citizens (from about 20 countries) were sworn in. It was an inspiring and emotional ceremony. New citizens were so proud and happy and shared their joy with family members.
Almost two thousand marchers in colorful costumes of their heritage gathered near the Ethiopian Cultural garden on MLK to line up for the Parade. Parade Director Angela Shute-Woodson and her team do a great job of organizing the marchers and over 50 units.
In this video we walked around while they were arriving and saw some of the groups such as the Irish American Club East Side Pipe and Drums, Slovenians, Dominicans, American Garden represented by members of the Rotary Club of Cleveland, Hungarians, Hebrews, Indonesians, Peruvians, Palestinians, Moroccans, Filipinos, Colombians, Chileans, Kazakhs, Swiss, Polish, Lebanese, Haitian, French, Scottish, the Celtic Eagle Pipe Band and the Indian community.
Ukrainian Independence Day Parade and Festival
Ukrainian Independence Day Parade and Festival
United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio hosted a parade on Saturday August 24, 2024 to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's independence. The Parade marched through Ukrainian Village in Parma, Ohio.
St. Mary's, founded in 1904, is the oldest Romanian Orthodox parish in the United States. Prior to the building of today's cathedral in Cleveland's Kamm's Corners neighborhood in 1960, the church's home was on Detroit Avenue in the old Romanian area of the city. The Festival featured Romanian Cuisine, Imported Beverages, Romanian Pastries, Audio-Visual Romanian Heritage, Church & Museum Tours, and Games for Kids, Vendors, Souvenirs and more.
Traditional costumes from all regions of Romania
Dominican Restoration Day
Dominican Restoration Day
Can you imagine fighting for independence and then having leaders decide to give your country back to those you became free from? That's what happened in the Dominican Republic. Club Dominicano de Cleveland hosted their second annual Dominican Cultural Festival on August 17, 2024.
We caught up with Dr. Shoghi Mclean and his wife Karen Gomez Mclean and asked about Restoration Day.
India Independence Day 2024
India Independence Day 2024
Independence Day is celebrated annually on August 15 as a public holiday in India commemorating the nation's independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947, the day when the provisions of the Indian Independence Act, which transferred legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly, came into effect.
The Cleveland Indian community gathered in the India Cultural Garden to sing the national anthems and patriotic songs and have a short program.
The flag of the Dominican Republic was raised over City Hall on August 16, 2024 to celebrate Dominican Restoration Day.
Pan Am Masters Games
Pan Am Masters Games
Cleveland was the proud host of the 2024 Pan-American Masters Games from July 12-21, 2024. A major event of the International Masters Games Association, the Games offer an opportunity to showcase competitive spirit and athletic ability of masters athletes on a global stage. Thousands of athletes from 6 continents (sorry Antarctica), 48 states and more than 70 countries came to Cleveland in a celebration of health, vitality, friendship and an active lifestyle at any age.
It was the largest international event in Cleveland's history. The Games had only been in the Western hemisphere twice before - in Rio de Janeiro and Vancouver.
The annual Cleveland Puerto Rican Parade was held Sunday August 4, 2024.
The Parade was put on by the Hispanic Police Officers' Association (HPOA) which has been proudly serving it's members and the greater Cleveland community since it was founded in 1986.
Rafael Hernandez Brito, Omar Vizquel and Carlos Baerga
Ted Theodore Honored and a Greek Cultural Garden Update
Ted Theodore Honored and a Greek Cultural Garden Update
The Greek Garden Association of Cleveland (GGAC) hosted one of their educational series events in the Greek Cultural Garden on Sunday August 4, 2004. The topic of the lecture was: On the Nature of Things: An introduction to Aristotle's Life and Thought by Peter Gilbert PhD. Before the lecture, GGAC President Lou Frangos told of a special honor to be given to Ted Theodore as the first Greek Garden Board Member Emeritus.
Bert Moyar, Ted Theodore, Lou Frangos, Jonathan Cambouris
The Greek Garden Association of Cleveland (GGAC) hosted one of their educational series events in the Greek Cultural Garden on Sunday August 4, 2004. The topic of the lecture was: On the Nature of Things: An introduction to Aristotle's Life and Thought by Peter Gilbert PhD. The Greek Cultural Garden was the perfect setting for such a lecture.
Dr. Peter Gilbert with a map he drew for the lecture
Zabava is a Slavic word for a party with music and dancing. And for the 2nd year, the local Slovenian community hosted the event. There was dancing to polka bands, European and Slovenian vendors, and an exciting balinca (bocce) tournament.
Of course you could enjoy a variety of beverages including pivo, vino, and Slivovitz, along with delicious foods like smoked sausage, grilled cevapi, potica, and strudel. A highlight was the first annual Slovenian Sausage eating contest sponsored by Raddell's Sausage.
Thanks to Julie Krulc Tromba for the pictures.
Opera in the Italian Cultural Garden
Opera in the Italian Cultural Garden
Dedicated in 1930 as "a symbol of the contribution of Italian culture," the Italian Cultural Garden hosted opera concerts in the 1930's and 1940's. In 2008, Joyce Mariani led the effort to revive the concerts for the public and to showcase two of Italy's highest at forms: opera and ballet. The annual Opera in the Italian Cultural Garden was held on Sunday July 28, 2024 and featured The Cleveland Opera and the Cleveland Ballet with thousands in attendance.
The Taste of Casimir festival at the historic St Casimir church featured traditional Polish food, a Polish Beer Garden, Bi-lingual Masses and Church Tours, live Polish music, shopping, raffles and more.
The Pan-American Masters Games are a multisport event for Masters Athletes over the age of 35. The 2024 Pan-American Masters Games were held in Cleveland Ohio USA and featured athletes from 6 continents, 48 states and more than 70 countries. Participants competed in 24 medal-contending sports. We will soon have lots of photos, videos and more posted. Stay tuned.
Lithuanian Athletes in Pan Am Masters Games
Lithuanian Athletes in Pan Am Masters Games
The Pan-American Masters Games are a multisport event for Masters Athletes over the age of 35. The 2024 Pan-American Masters Games were held in Cleveland Ohio USA and featured athletes from 6 continents, 48 states and more than 70 countries. Participants competed in 24 medal-contending sports. Athletes came from Lithuania to compete and were cheered on and taken on tours by members of the local Lithuanian community.
Pan Am Masters Athletes from Lithuania at the Lithuanian Club
Every summer the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation hosts a series of free World on Stage concerts at the Centennial Peace Plaza on MLK Blvd. in Cleveland. On July 18, 2024 there was a Community Celebration with the Famicos Foundation and the 2nd annual Glenville's Got Talent competition.
The American Nationalities Movement held their annual Captive Nations event on Thursday July 18, 2024. Captive Nations Week was first recognized in 1959 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the urging of future Cleveland Mayor Ralph Perk Sr. and Congressmen Charles Vanik and US Senator Frank Lausche. Captive Nations Week has been supported each 3rd week in July by every US president since.
Pamela Dorazio Dean, Judge Perk, Irene Morrow and Mayor Biasiotta
The Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization (CAMEO) has been in existence for 54 years. C.A.M.E.O. is designed to articulate the political interest of more than 275,000 Northeastern Ohio residents of Middle Eastern Heritage, Arab Americans.
At their annual picnic on Sunday July 14, 2024 CAMEO welcomed friends and dozens of politicians running for office and/or there to show support for the Arab American community.
Nemir Soueidi and Tony Abdulkarim working the grill
A crew of volunteers led by Dave McLaughlin and Peggy Bennett regularly gather to clean up and beautify the Irish Cultural Garden. Here is a picture of the crew on June 30, 2024 and a couple of nice shots showing how the Irish Garden is designed as a Celtic Cross.
Irish Cultural Garden Cleanup Crew
Irish Cultural Garden Celtic Cross
World on Stage Drum Concert in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens
World on Stage Drum Concert in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens
Every summer the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation hosts a series of free World on Stage concerts at the Centennial Peace Plaza on MLK Blvd. in Cleveland. The first concert of Summer 2024 was on June 29, 2024 and the focus was Percussion of the World.
Established in 1977, the long standing Ohio Scottish Games and Celtic Festival is presented by members of The Ohio Scottish American Cultural Society of Ohio, an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of their proud Scottish Heritage and ancestry.
The Grand Parade featured lots of bagpipe units, many Clans in their namesake tartans, Irish wolfhounds, knights in armor, Clydesdale horses and more.
Athletes gathered to compete in a variety of Highland Games such as the Caber (Gaelic for tree) Toss, Stone Put, Weight Over Bar, Heavy and Light Weights for Distance, Hammer Throws and the Sheaf Toss.
There were Birds of Prey, Clydesdale Horses, Border Collies, Highland Cattle and other animals. Did you know that the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is the only dog with its own tartan!
One of the most interesting parts of the Ohio Scottish Games & Celtic Festival is seeing the different clans that are represented and watching the interesting people.
The Estonian Cultural Garden was dedicated June 19, 1966. Each year, the Estonian community and friends gather to celebrate Estonian Victory Day (Võidupüha) and St John's Day (Jaanipäev).
The unique-in-the-world Cleveland Cultural Gardens have begun their annual season of summer concerts, cultural events and performances. Spanning over 250 acres in Rockefeller Park, the Gardens always need help planting, weeding, raking and so on. WKYC Studios and the Cleveland-based Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere organization (RAKE) teamed up for a summertime spruce-up of some of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens on a steamy Saturday morning.
WKYC Meteorologist Anthony Copeland with anchors Lynna Lai, Jay Crawford and Christi Paul
Fun with Maps - Jersey, Guernsey and the Channel Islands
Fun with Maps - Jersey, Guernsey and the Channel Islands
In this episode of Fun with Maps, host Dan Hanson talks about the Channel Islands - especially the two largest islands: Jersey and Guernsey. The English Channel is the busiest shipping area in the world. Though small and not very populous the strategic location of these islands in the English Channel between France and the UK have made them very important throughout history - most recently in the Second World War when the German Nazi's occupied them. They are not parts of the United Kingdom but Crown dependencies. We look at what that means as well as what their official title as Bailiwick means.
It's fun that the people of the four main Channel Islands have animal nicknames - toads, donkeys, crows and rabbits. We explain why in the video. There are also connection to some famous people such as Les Miserables author Victor Hugo and Irish singer Gilbert O'Sullivan.
Of course we explain the connection between the island of Jersey and the US state of New Jersey. And, yes, we take a look at the Jersey and Guernsey cows!
The largest annual gathering (sold out at 500 people with a waiting list) of Cleveland's ethnic leaders and grassroots gathered Tuesday April 23 at Windows on the River for the 14th annual Cleveland International Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.
The 2024 Class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame consists of:
Dona Brady (Albanian heritage) who was inducted by Cleveland City Councilman Michael Polensek.
Ambassador Edward Crawford (Irish) who was inducted by Irish Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne Nason.
Veronica Dahlberg (Mexican and broader Hispanic) who was inducted by Cleveland City Councilwoman Jasmin Santana.
Dr. Eugene Jordan (African-American) who was inducted posthumously Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr.
Erika Puussaar (Estonian) who was inducted by Estonia´s Ambassador to the United States Mr. Kristjan Prikk
Johnny K. Wu (Chinese and broader Asian) was inducted by Margaret W. Wong.
Click on the names (above) to go to a page with the photos and videos of that person's induction. Below is a video of the entire evening taken by TV20 professionals Dan Monroe and Raulston Douse. Thanks guys.
Albert Ratner - Cleveland International Hall of Fame
Albert Ratner - Cleveland International Hall of Fame
Albert Ratner had a 66-year career at Forest City where he grew the company from a lumber supply company to a construction company to a home improvement retailer to a real estate development company. Forest City spearheaded the redevelopment of the Halle Building, which it purchased in 1982, and Tower City, which opened in 1990. It became publicly-traded in 1960, an $8.2 billion corporation that develops, owns and manages residential and commercial properties across the country. Its national portfolio now includes 32 retail centers, 36 office buildings and 115 apartment buildings.
He has always been interested in, and has become an expert in, population and immigration topics. He led the creation of Global Cleveland in 2011. He was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame in 2011 and has given several keynote addresses at their induction ceremony. Unable to attend the 2024 induction ceremony in person he created this short video with his perspective and advice on population and immigration.
"It just didn't seem right to DJ. A body found bludgeoned in a place known for "Peace through Mutual Understanding." But there she was, crumpled behind a bust of composer Franz Liszt in the Hungarian Cultural Garden. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911. "What is the nature of your emergency?" the dispatcher queried. With a suddenly very dry mouth DJ managed to get out, "There's been a murder in the Cultural Gardens."
That's the beginning of the recently published first novel by Dan Hanson.
The whodunit, titled Murder in the Cultural Gardens, takes place in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens and all 30+ gardens are featured during the mystery. You may even recognize some of the characters.
Click the link above to learn more or to purchase in paperback or Kindle version from Amazon. Or contact Dan via the Murder in the Cultural Gardens webpage to have a signed book delivered.
Cleveland is a diverse city with about 120 distinct ethnic heritages represented. We at ClevelandPeople.com and the Cleveland International Hall of Fame believe that this ethnic diversity makes us a much richer city and that we should all celebrate this fact.
We asked people from various ethnic groups to create a tile representing their heritage. These 3 quilts are a product of that effort. We hope that other ethnic groups will want to add their own tile to these patchworks showcasing our ethnic diversity.
This DVD is a Living Rosary in the sense that over 200 people participated in saying a prayer. 3 bishops, numerous priests and sisters and a variety of lay people all said a prayer (Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary or Glory Be) that when put together combine to form the complete Rosary.
We hope that you will pray along with the diverse group of people on this DVD. They are young and old, different races and ethnicities, in Church and outside, alone and in groups. The prayers are said in English, but occasionally there is a prayer in another language. You may not know the language but will understand, and be able to pray along, because of the context.
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Do you need a Hungarian Flag? A shirt that says "I love Slovenian girls"? How about a sign that says No Parking except for Irish Grandmother?
These and hundreds of other items for your particular ethnic group are available for browsing at our on-line store. It's safe, fast, easy and fun. And there is a wide selection you will never find in the stores!
