The 5th annual Holiday Celebration of Cleveland's Diversity was held in the atrium of the Global Center for Health Innovation in the Cleveland Convention Center on December 17, 2014. The event was put on by the International Community Council-Worldwide Intercultural Network (ICC-WIN) in conjunction with the office of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.
Main sponsors of the event were Margaret W. Wong & Associates, Global Cleveland, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Cleveland City Council and UBS.
ICC-WIN's mission is to celebrate Cleveland’s multicultural communities through collaboration and cooperation on initiatives that promote the prosperity of the region and its diverse people.
The evening began with networking, sampling international foods from 10 different restaurants and bidding on silent auction items.
The formal program began as Ken Kovach, President of the International Community Council - Worldwide Intercultural Network (ICC-WIN), welcomed the crowd and spoke of the incredible diversity of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
Ken Kovach
Next, Pierre Bejjani, Treasurer of ICC-WIN introduced the other ICC-WIN board members.
Pierre Bejjani
ICC-WIN board members
Eduardo Romero of the City of Cleveland represented Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson at the event and spoke of the partnership of the City and WIN since the first event.
Eduardo Romero
Then it was time for entertainment.
Mahima Venkatesh performed the traditional South Indian Karagattam Dance
Katrina and Damon displayed 2 styles of Brazilian Samba
The Golden Ciphers performed West African drumming from Guinea
The Murphy Irish Dancers performed several Irish reels and jigs in hard and soft shoes
Meanwhile, attendees stopped by the large world map at the ClevelandPeople.Com table in the Atrium and placed a dot on the country/region/city of their heritage.
Debbie Hanson at the ClevelandPeople.Com world map
84 different countries were represented - a true testament to Cleveland's diversity.As expected, Europe was plastered with dots and the east coast of Asia was full but Africa was also well-represented as was the Middle East and Central America and the Islands. There were also representatives from nations we don't see often such as Cambodia, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Uzbekistan, Barbados, Haiti, Paraguay and Jordan. Oh, and our Hmong friends placed a dot on Laos saying that was the closest.
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One attendee was so inspired by the event that she wrote and read a poem.
Poet at ICC-WIN event
Though you can see photos and videos of the entire International Fashion Show this short video of the grand finale exemplifies the magical feel of the evening.
After the formal program, people danced to the Salsa Experience led by Margie Colon and danced to the world music of DJ Kris Koch.
Margie Colon
Salsa Experience
DJ Kris Koch
Stay tuned for details on the 6th annual ICC-WIN Holiday Celebration of Cleveland's Diversity in 2015.
5th annual ICC-WIN Party - Main Page (this page)
South Indian Karagattam Dance
Brazilian Samba Dance
West African drumming from Guinea
Murphy Irish Dancers
International Fashion Show - Page 1
International Fashion Show - Page 2
International Fashion Show - Page 3
Faces in the Crowd
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