Multicultural Day: Diversity is About Bringning Your Own Ingredients to the Melting Pot

Jorlinis Centeno, CA DCSS

The California Department of Child Support Services (CA DCSS) celebrated Multicultural Day to enjoy, share and learn from all the different cultures that are part of the community. This year, CA DCSS celebrated on Thursday, June 8th, the effort and excitement from the participants and attendees was contagious as attendees learned to appreciate each other’s cultures. The countries represented by CA DCSS volunteers were Mexico, Slovakia, China, Africa and India.

Janessa Rodriguez performed a traditional dance from Veracruz.

At the booth representing Mexico, there were delicious salsas and different juices such as tamarind, Jamaica water, horchata and guava. One of the most significant displays was for the Mexican holiday “Day of the Dead” featuring painted skulls, skeletons, and illustrations showing the meaning of the annual celebration.

One CA DCSS staff member from the Intergovernmental Services Division represented Slovakia. She wore a beautiful flowered dress and displayed postcards, children’s books and handmade dolls from her country. She said that it is very difficult to find people from her country at CA DCSS which inspired her to be part of the event. It also happens that CA DCSS has an intergovernmental agreement with the Republic of Slovakia.

In the booth representing Africa, one CA DCSS employee who is originally from Ghana explained that despite being the only team member born in Africa, he received support from his African American peers. They brought traditional foods from South Africa such as rice, black eyed peas, candied yams and hot water corn bread. The staff wore handmade shirts called “Angelina wear,” which are typical in Africa. There was also a display of West African musical instruments, a thumb piano called animgbo and a percussion instrument resembling a rattle, called shekere.

DCSS volunteers at the booth representing China drew a lot of attention as they taught Chinese calligraphy and its meaning. All the brushes and dry ink they used were originals from China. The dry ink is soaked in water to be used, then allowed to dry again, and can be used over and over. Chinese calligraphy not only communicates ideas, but has an element of focus and meditation for the writer.

CA DCSS Director Alisha Griffin (middle) is dressed in traditional Indian clothing.

Sailing over to the booth representing India, there were many differences among regional traditions. Most of the participants at DCSS hail from North India and the foods they brought were rice-based with vegetables and lemon, milk desserts and nuts. They also had many displays of crafts, and everyone had fun trying on colorful traditional clothing and jewelry and having their picture taken.

To conclude the event there were performances of songs from Africa and India and a dance from Mexican state of Veracruz. Congratulations to all the “cultural teams” who did a great job and made the event fascinating, educational and delicious. Each culture has its own essence and uniqueness, and the way the participants and the guests collaborated and celebrated each moment at the Multicultural Day event demonstrates the value and importance of a united community at CA DCSS.