Graceland’s symbol of joy, inclusivity, and togetherness
by Joseph Boyce
Graceland's Intercultural Club held its annual Intercultural Celebration on Saturday, February 8th.
30 cultures from around the world participated in the event to share their food and beverages, giving the community, students, and faculty in attendance a taste of what their home is like. The Shaw’s lobby hosted the day’s activities, attracting a vast turnout as one of Graceland’s showcase events.
Burritos from Mexico, biscuits from the United Kingdom, pretzels from Germany, plantain from Liberia, and dumplings from China, name just some of the national delicacies on display. Faculty stalls featured too, representing cultures such as Pakistan, [the Republic of] Georgia, and South Korea.
Javi Madariaga, President of IDEA, former International Club President, and resident Chilean, headed up the student responsibility for the event. Sharing in the duties were Diana Jones and Marlis Aviles, current International Club President and Puerto Rican native.
About the celebration, Madariaga believed in the importance of raising awareness of Graceland’s diverse campus and of the cultures within.
“I don’t think people are aware that [Graceland] is a very diverse campus”, Madariaga shared, adding her emphasis on the importance of exposure to cultures other than one’s own. And, not to mention, the food!
Beginning as a cramped classroom gathering of small student groups, Graceland’s Intercultural Celebration has made many evolutions over its four decades, from its beginnings. This year’s event marked the 18th year under Jones, international students’ beloved Director of the Intercultural Office.
With student and faculty contribution now at its highest, the Intercultural Celebration looks back at a rich history. A small classroom once held the gathering in the 1980s, evolving through the 1990s as a talent show and food-tasting, before being adopted by the then Lamoni Intercultural Committee. Unfortunately, this was quickly thwarted by a disappointing lack of attendance, which Jones added was not for lack of effort.
Responsibility soon swayed back to the school with help from the Graceland Senate for funding, and the talent-show-slash-intercultural-food-sharing continued. Remaining vaguely similar post-millennium, 2020 marked the celebration’s last in-person talent show, whilst 2021’s virtual docu-style event included a host of alumni who shared their love for Graceland and a recording of their talent.
"Joy, Inclusivity, and Togetherness," Jones’s three-word summation of the Intercultural Celebration goes far deeper than mere descriptors. What students experience here they carry with them into the world; showing curiosity and compassion for others, paired with the confidence to share who you are, make Gracelanders different.
From waging peace at the Carter Center, to establishing consulates and embassies across South America, to Nobel Prize winning for standing against nuclear weapons, to Olympic coaching and TED Talks. Jones shared story after story of alumni who have achieved important, innovative, and exciting accomplishments to give back to their community all over the world.
Taking a glance at the future, plenty is in store for the event. The potential return of the once-popular talent show, as well as post-COVID reconnection with Lamoni’s wider community, gives Graceland’s Intercultural Celebration participants and attendees alike lots to look forward to.
What began as a mere gathering between a small group of students has become a cherished tradition. And even in its evolution, the spirit has remained the same: a celebration of our differences and appreciation of all.
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