Unity Celebration and Amani Festival: Difference between revisions
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Photo courtesy of http://www.amanifestival.com | Photo courtesy of http://www.amanifestival.com | ||
'''History of the Amani Festival''' | '''History of the Amani Festival''' | ||
In the summer of 1994, a group of Carlisle area community members joined together to form a nonprofit organization and chose to call their organization 'Amani' after the Swahili word for peace. These founders of Amani took the initiative to create an organization that would be proactive in battling racial and ethnic discrimination, as well as encourage an environment of acceptance and appreciation of all cultures, races, and ethnicities. | In the summer of 1994, a group of Carlisle area community members joined together to form a nonprofit organization and chose to call their organization 'Amani' after the Swahili word for peace. These founders of Amani took the initiative to create an organization that would be proactive in battling racial and ethnic discrimination, as well as encourage an environment of acceptance and appreciation of all cultures, races, and ethnicities. This iniative is reflected in the Amani's [[Mission Statement|Mission Statement]] | ||
Revision as of 02:31, 4 May 2006
Home | Background | YWCA Social Justice Committee | Unity & Amani | Get Involved | Related Links | Sources
The Unity Celebration
Photo courtesy of A. Pierce Bounds, Dickinson College
When it became known that a small group of Ku Klux Klan members had received a permit to protest on the courthouse steps in Carlisle, PA, community members decided to take a stand against racial and ethnic intolerance.
On September 23, 2000, the day the KKK protest was scheduled to take place, Carlisle community members and Dickinson College students, professors, and administrators collaborated to create Unity Day, an event that celebrated diversity and exhibited the community's zero tolerance policy for hate crimes and hate groups.
Held at Biddle Field from noon until 3:00 p.m., the Unity Celebration included a variety of speakers and activities for people of all ages.
Stores in downtown Carlisle demonstrated their support by giving out purple ribbons to customers, donating goods and services, and closing early on the day of the event to show solidarity.
The Amani Festival
Photo courtesy of http://www.amanifestival.com
History of the Amani Festival
In the summer of 1994, a group of Carlisle area community members joined together to form a nonprofit organization and chose to call their organization 'Amani' after the Swahili word for peace. These founders of Amani took the initiative to create an organization that would be proactive in battling racial and ethnic discrimination, as well as encourage an environment of acceptance and appreciation of all cultures, races, and ethnicities. This iniative is reflected in the Amani's Mission Statement
The Amani Festival Today
Since 1994, The Amani Festival has gained a number of members, sponsors, and volunteers, all of which have helped to transform it into a highly successful organization. Members participate in an array of local rallies and events that champion anti-racism, as well as the acceptance of other cultures.
The Amani Festival’s biggest and most renowned event is the street festival it holds each year in the spring. Held in downtown Carlisle, PA, the festival hosts a variety of speakers, performers, vendors, and events all geared towards the themes of unity, acceptance, and tolerance.
This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, May 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will include events for adults, as well as many activities for children. Vendors will be selling crafts, food, books, and clothing and street performers will be dancing and singing throughout the day. A multitude of cultures will be represented including Thai, German, Chinese, Native American, Greek, Carribbean, and African-American.
