Kimberly Hosey for the Mesa Legend
Dec 02, 2003

Sylvester Stallone, Frank Sinatra and other prominent Italians were showcased Nov. 15, while India, to the south, and Asia, to the north proudly displayed native wares at the International Children’s Festival, held by Mesa’s Community Asset & Resource Enterprise (CARE) Partnership.

The festival marked the second celebration of diversity by the CARE Partnership, and is designed “to help build appreciation, understanding and respect for diversity by sharing traditions through games, crafts, music, dance, fashion, demonstrations and displays,” according to Bev Tittle Baker, event organizer and president and CEO of CARE.
Yaqi Wang and Asuka Yamataki, both MCC students, represented Asian culture through games and traditional toys.

“English isn’t our first language, so we can really appreciate the opportunity for communication,” Yamataki said, demonstrating a Japanese yo-yo. Wang represented Chinese culture and tradition. Both students demonstrated their respective languages by writing the names of “tourists” on hats, clothing or paper.

Tu Dang and Nina Nguyen, also MCC students, illustrated other aspects of Asian culture, through arts and crafts and helping attendees use chopsticks. Dang, Nguyen, Yamataki and Wang are members of MCC’s student club Asian-Pacific Islander Coalition, which works “to build a greater awareness and appreciation for cultural heritage of Asian-Pacific islanders” according to its write-up on MCC’s website.
Celebrations of Italian and Asian customs melded with those of many other cultures, including India, Africa, North America and Central America.
Attendees learned about India’s clothing and religion, North American and Central American customs and worldwide influence and African song and crafts. Children – and the adults who took advantage of the event – could make African hats, view artwork depicting Hindu gods, eat and experience the different cultures in many other ways. There was also a “just for fun” face-painting booth and a booth representing Service for Peace, a community service and learning organization that strives to strengthen international ties and emphasizes communication and volunteering.

Baker said the event was a success, and added that it helps foster community relations as well as international awareness.

“The event was as much for the participants as for the people who came,” Baker said. “Lots of students from different cultures volunteer, and this is a way for them to get acquainted.”

The CARE Partnership evolved out of a natural need, as well as from the passion and communication of individuals such as Baker. Baker said the organization started when children asked to use her yard as a meeting place during the summer, and eventually, after school.

She realized these children had nowhere to go, and wanted to help support them. This gave rise to a latch key program for elementary students. From there, the program grew quickly, and now includes a pediatric clinic, a mobile medical clinic, prenatal care, a food bank, Service for Peace projects, ESL and adult education, family community leadership training workshops and more.

The CARE Partnership now supports 18,000 people a year, Baker said. “We picked up the loose ends; we got innovative,” Baker said. “We look at issues, many times survival issues, and try to look at ways people can address these things. “We started clothing exchanges, we networked, we got in touch with doctors and pediatricians – whatever we can do,” she added.

Since the latch key program and the partnership’s start almost 10 years ago, MCC has been one of its strongest community partners, Baker said.
“We typically have about 70 students working with us each year, through service learning,” Baker said. “Each student has a talent, so I try to let them choose what to do – activities with the children such as art, music, crafts, dance, writing newsletters, tutoring, reading – whatever they’re passionate about.”

The opportunity for students to meet one another and communicate was one of the biggest accomplishments of this year’s festival, according to Baker.
“This year, the students actually requested the event,” Baker said. “It’s really about the relationships,” she added, stressing the importance of relationships between community partners and between people.

“This is the way it should be all over – it’s such a natural way to operate,” Baker said.
The International Children’s Festival is planned to continue next year, and Baker said she would like to make it a signature event in the future.

Related Programs & Services

International Children's Festival
Annual Event

View all CARE News Articles