Tag Archives: Diversity

A neighborhood party: Division Arts Festival celebrates diversity through international cuisine

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Entertainment, Food, Going Local, Kent County, Kids Activities, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Local Food, Our Cities, Recreation, Restaurants, Upcoming Events, Voices, West Michigan, , , , , , ,
The Stray’s Cheddar Apple Bacon Flatbread can be ordered as a full (8 pieces) or half (4 pieces) platter (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)



By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


The Division Arts Festival on Saturday, June 1 will feature more than family-friendly activities, live music and vendors. Attendees will also be within walking distance of 11 brick and mortar restaurants serving a diverse array of dining and to-go options.

“This area of the community is incredibly diverse, and there are a lot of creative, cool things going on here that go under the radar,” said Hunter Van Klompenberg, one of the owners of The Stray art café.

One of those “cool things” includes a variety of international food choices.

International cuisine at your fingertips

The Stray art café offers far more than just coffee (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Two food trucks and 11 brick and mortar restaurants will be within 1-2 minutes walking distance of Festival activities.

The Honeybees Kitchen and Catering food truck specializing in Caribbean and soul food will be available, as well as gourmet burgers and loaded fries from Dune Buggy food truck.

Brick and mortar restaurants include several international options for diners:


Café Boba – Taiwanese Style Boba Drinks, Coffee, & Ice Cream

Arias SuperMarket – Mexican 

El Ganadero – Mexican

Wei Wei Palace – Cantonese

B&N Sandwiches – Bahn MI Sub Sandwiches and other Vietnamese Specialties

Saigon Garden – Vietnamese

Pho Soc Trang – Vietnamese Soup Restaurant

Fat Man’s Fish Fry – Seafood

Brann’s Steakhouse – Classic American

The Stray – Café, New American Cuisine

Joe’s Pizza King – Pizza & Subs

Diversity, comfort and creativity

The Stray art café menu offers more than just coffee for those who walk in the door. A variety of choices include delicious flatbreads, soups, salads, desserts and more. Drink options include tea, soda, beer, wine and – of course – coffee.

(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Coffee enthusiasts can also peruse the works of various local artists showcased at The Stray as they enjoy their beverages. To-go orders are accepted during Festival hours, as well as indoor dining.

Owned by the Van Klompenberg family, The Stray works to bring diversity and community to a place of comfort and creativity.

Though officially hosted by the Division Avenue Business Association (DABA), The Stray has stepped in to help with Festival logistics each year.

(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“I already work here at The Stray doing the music booking and that kind of thing for our Friday and Saturday evenings. It led naturally to artists I’d already developed a relationship with that I could invite back for this,” said Van Klompenberg.

His mother, Karen Van Klompenberg, is Creative Director at The Stray and manages the consignment art. Her connections with local artists also help with the inner workings of the Festival.

Van Klompenberg said they have continued to make the Division Arts Festival an annual event because they truly enjoy it.

“It’s a lot of fun to throw a party for the neighborhood,” said Van Klompenberg with a smile.

Connection and support

Concepción (left) and Manuel Cardiel (Courtesy, Deborah Reed)

“It’s the simple things,” said Van Klompenberg, gesturing around the dining area of El Ganadero Mexican Grille where he stood.

“I come to lunch here occasionally, just chat with them, that sort of thing. That’s the easy way to say hello and support each other.”

Relationships with other business owners and patrons is important to Van Klompenberg. Those connections are formed through small actions.

That connection was evident as El Ganadero owner Manuel Cardiel met Van Klompenberg with a wide smile.

El Ganadero chicken and shrimp tacos (Courtesy, Deborah Reed)
El Ganadero steak tacos (Courtesy, Deborah Reed)

With efficient movements, combined with several smiles and upbeat conversation, Cardiel promptly created two fresh plates of tacos for Van Klompenberg and this reporter.

Cardiel, his wife Concepción and their children can be found at El Ganadero daily, serving fresh and authentic Mexican cuisine.

Nurturing cultural diversity

Café Boba, a Taiwanese boba café owned by Ted & Yili Bonarski, will also be welcoming patrons during the Festival – and offering a 10% discount on all orders.

A wide variety of boba drinks, coffee and ice cream are available, and can be customized to the patron’s preferences. A parade featuring a 20-foot dragon will also be part of the festivities as a way to honor Yili’s Chinese heritage.

The polished wood table made by Ted Bonarski from reclaimed barn wood (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Established in 2003 as Boba Latte under previous owners, the boba café closed in summer of 2013. Having moved his financial services office into the second-floor rooms of the building in 2006, Ted Bonarski bought the café in December 2013, renaming it Café Boba.

And Bonarski is committed to allowing diversity to flourish in their neighborhood.

“We are embedded in this neighborhood, which is multicultural, and we want to keep it that way,” said Bonarski.

Bonarski also ensures every item they offer is high-quality.

Bubble waffle cone with chocolate ice cream and jasmine boba pearls (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“We saw bubble waffles as street food in Shanghai,” said Bonarski. “We bought a waffle machine and brought it back to the U.S. Friends own China City over on Eastern [and] they helped us perfect the recipe for the waffle.

“All of the coffee that we serve comes from Herman’s Boy, and nowhere else. We make the Vietnamese iced coffee, Café Sua Da, fresh. A lot of Vietnamese have given us input into the right strengths and the right tastes, so our Vietnamese iced coffee is very good.”

All coffee ordered is fresh, ground at the time of order with an AeroPress, then served to the customer.

More than a just boba and ice cream

Customers who walk into Café Boba will find a welcoming atmosphere designed by Bonarski’s daughter. A popular feature is the long, polished wood counter made from reclaimed barn wood from Michigan barns – and built by Bonarski himself.

But what Bonarski is most proud of is the family-friendly environment that brings in residents of all ages.

“We get the latchkey kids [from Kelloggsville and Godwin] that will come and hang out here after school until their parents can pick them up,” said Bonarski. 

(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“We have one or two social workers that will bring kids in here to sit and talk to them. We had a group come in a week or so ago Thursday and take over the whole table and play Dungeons and Dragons for 4 to 5 hours.”

Bonarski extends that nurturing atmosphere to his employees as well, ensuring they have a healthy work environment.

“We’ve had so many kids come through, work for us as a first job, come out of a shell, and become outgoing people who could handle the world outside because they’re facing customers and taking orders every day,” said Bonarski. “It is very important to us that it be a healthy environment.”

And that, Bonarski added, is something we should do all the time. “You take what you find and make it better.”

Be in the know: additional festival details

(Courtesy photo)

Set at the intersection of 43rd Street and Division Avenue, the Division Arts Festival runs Saturday, June 1 from 2 – 9 p.m.

The Festival will feature live music, with a social drinking zone nearby for those who would like a beverage while enjoying the music. There will also be 50+ vendors with art, handmade goods and crafts, and an interactive narrative art walk for children.

Attendees may also be periodically surprised by a sudden monologue from strategically placed local theater artists.

“The overall reason for the Festival is to bring recognition and excitement to the [Division Avenue] neighborhood, the businessest there, and the people,” said Van Klompenberg.

Safety Notes

Division Avenue will close down to two lanes of traffic, and 43rd Street will be shut down on both sides of Division.

Give ‘Em a Break Safety will help with traffic control. A crosswalk will also be put in for safety.

Vendors with tents will line each side of Division Avenue.

“It will be really easy to walk across the street [and] up and down the neighborhood,” said Van Klompenberg.

Updates and Event Lineups

The Division Arts Festival is organized by the Division Avenue Business Association and generously sponsored by LMCU, Godwin Plumbing & Hardware, Rivertown Credit Union, Marge’s Donut Den, Brann’s Restaurant, Gordon Food Service, The King Family, The Stray and the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming.

For the lineup and more information, click here. Follow @division.fest on All Events in Grand Rapids for updates!

Division Arts Festival to feature new interactive art walk for children

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The annual Division Arts Festival is set at the intersection of 43rd Street and Division Avenue (Courtesy photo)



By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


A new attraction for children will be available at the annual Division Arts Festival scheduled for Saturday, June 1.

All ages of children are invited to join in at the interactive kids art walk that will be set up in The Stray parking lot during the Division Arts Festival. Consisting of 8-10 stations, the art walk will feature a narrative called Ava and Leo’s Delightfully Different Day, written by local authors Lynn W. Francis, Elizabeth Meyette and Karen Van Klompenberg.

An interactive storybook

Author Lynn W. Francis (Courtesy, Lynn Francis)

“It’s almost like walking through a storybook,” said author Lynn Francis.

The story follows two young best friends and their dog Spot. They go through a day of trying different experiences, finding out what each of them does and does not like, and trying to find something they can do together.

As the story unfolds, there are different stations.

Each station contains a block of text that is part of the narrative, and a piece of art depicting the happenings of that scene. The station will also have actions for kids to complete that correlate to the story, such as spinning, dancing, or pretending to fly like birds.

“It will be this full story trail, and you can follow Ava and Leo’s journey as they go from here to there, try out the swing set and splash through a brook,” said Francis. “You just follow them through and reenact the story as you’re going along.”

A sketch of Ava and Leo from participating artist Brae Hoff (Courtesy, Karen Van Klompenberg)

The art walk narrative provides thought-provoking questions for children and parents to talk through while emphasizing the value of friends with different backgrounds than your own.

Though directed toward ages 5-13, the art walk is something all ages can enjoy.

“Personally, I’m planning on walking through myself as a grownup just because I think it’ll be fun,” said Francis. “It could appeal to real littles who are just listening, and then the more active ages where they want to be a part of the story, or even a little older who would just enjoy reading it.”

From inspiration to reality

The idea for the art walk came from Van Klompenberg, one of the narrative authors and part-owner of The Stray art cafe.

Notes from an art walk storyline meeting (Courtesy, Karen Van Klompenberg)

Wanting an activity specifically geared toward children, Van Klompenberg began brainstorming ideas.

“She had this vision in her mind beforehand of getting as many people involved as possible,” said Francis. “She brought myself, a couple other writers, and several artists who have work featured at The Stray together to work on this project collaboratively, which has been really cool,” said Francis.

Artists have been working together using shared color palettes and predetermined physical traits for the story’s characters and clothing. Character composites were formed and sketched by a sub group of artists. The pictured work in progress is by participating artist Alexis Hannah (Courtesy, Karen Van Klompenberg)

Van Klompenberg sat down with the group she had pulled together and said, “The sky’s the limit.”

“We got the storyline figured out, and then she took that to the artists,” said Francis.

A local chalk artist had the idea of kids completing motions at each station to help them stay engaged in the story.

“[Karen] really wanted this to be an immersive artistic experience,” said Francis. “This is a way to get [kids] involved, see the different art styles, and see the different mediums that these artists can use.

“And the story itself too, about how everybody likes and enjoys doing different things. Some people make art, and some people receive art. Both of those things are valuable. Without each person, nothing would happen.”

Overall, there are 11 contributors to the art walk project. Artists include Rebecca Rodriguez, Rebecca Senior, Juan Pimentel, Brae Hoff, Alexis Hannah, Amanda Fairbanks, Karen Van Klompenberg, Yohan Daza, and local woodworker John Stutzman.

“It’s been a really collaborative effort, and I’ve been very lucky to be a part of it,” said Francis. “I’m very excited to see it all together, honestly. I haven’t seen all of the art yet, so I’m quite excited to walk through and see everybody’s contribution.”

Experience all artistic walks

Francis urges the community to come out and enjoy the Division Arts Festival.

Set at the intersection of 43rd Street and Division Avenue, the event runs Saturday, June 1 from 2-9 p.m.

The Festival will feature over 50 art and craft vendors, engaging games, creative art activities, a dedicated kids’ area, a variety of food trucks, delicious dishes from nearby international restaurants and live performances by local bands.

“All artistic walks are there,” said Francis. “It’s a really incredible experience. You can meet a lot of really cool local authors, artists, artisans and musicians.”

Beauty in diversity

A painting holder prototype by local woodworker John Stutzman (Courtesy, Karen Van Klompenberg)

More than just a fun event, the Festival brings the community together to celebrate differences, support local entrepreneurs, and envision a neighborhood where diversity thrives, businesses flourish, families feel welcomed, and everyone can enjoy the vibrant culture and spirit of the community.

And art, Francis believes, is a big part of bringing a community together.

“Art has that thing where it brings people together,” said Francis. “Where you can look at it and say, I feel that too. I live in that same world too, and I’m not alone.

“You can find such a community in appreciation of art or in the creation of art. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”

Francis went on to say that art is important to both artists and to those who enjoy the art.

“I think the biggest thing [art] does – because it does a lot – is it shows the beauty in our world,” Francis said. “It reflects the world that we live in – beauty, and pain, and sadness, and anger, and joy. It has everything broken down to this piece that you can look at and reflect on, and see a piece of the world, and a piece of yourself in it.”

More about the Festival

The Division Arts Festival is organized by the Division Avenue Business Association and generously sponsored by LMCU, Godwin Plumbing & Hardware, Rivertown Credit Union, Marge’s Donut Den, Brann’s Restaurant, Gordon Food Service, The King Family, The Stray and the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming.

The Festival is outside – sunscreen is advised!

For the lineup and more information, click here. Follow @division.fest on All Events in Grand Rapids for updates.

Weekend event gave only a ‘taste’ of the diversity Grand Rapids has to offer

Beer, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Entertainment, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Recreation, West Michigan, , , , ,

By Amy Sherman
WKTV Contributing Writer

Jonathan Jelks, left and Willie ‘Willie The Kid’ Jackson, right, are throwing a party downtown Grand Rapids on November 13. “The Taste of Black Spirits” will be held at City Flats Hotel, and will feature Black owned beverage based businesses, with plenty of drinks to taste and try. (Courtesy Image)

Looking to break out of the box, or the bottle? The Taste of Black Spirits event that happened this past weekend expanded people’s tasting horizons, while also celebrating minority owned beverage companies. Hosted by two Grand Rapids-based entrepreneurs, this event is just one part of their vision to diversify West Michigan.

“The event is a fantastic way to spotlight, support and celebrate black owned brands in the market that people may not know exist,” said Nayana Ferguson, owner of Anteel Tequila, one of the Black-owned vendors that was at the Taste of Black Spirits which was held at the City Flats Hotel on Saturday.

The event had been put together by Jonathon Jelks and his business partner Willie “Willie the Kid” Jackson. Together with their company GR USA, a merchandising entity, as well as Lazar Favors, a Detroit-based marketing company, they pulled together about two dozen minority-owned beverage businesses for the one-day only event.

Jelks and Jackson participated in a similar event in Detroit, and were inspired to bring the energy and vibe back to their hometown of Grand Rapids.

“I’m from Southeast Grand Rapids, so this area is near and dear to my heart,” said Jelks during an interview.  “Being here in the ‘Rust Belt’ as they call it, and I’m proud to be part of the transformation.” The duo founded their own spirits company, Motu Viget, in 2019. They currently have three products in the market: ​​Motu Viget Brut, Eye Candy, and  Avani Supreme Vodka, with more than 200 placements in the Michigan market, which includes 70 Meijer stores.

For Jelks, it’s important to pass on both his knowledge and his success. “With us having our own spirits company, and having some traction and some success, we wanted to bring some of that to others,” he said. “We wanted to make sure that the small businesses could make the proper connections, and succeed as well. We are in a unique position to do this”.

Jelks’ background is in ‘serial entrepreneurship’. “Anything where I see there is a niche and we can contribute and service the community, those are the kind of things that float my boat,” he explained.

“We felt that the next thing that is going to help Grand Rapids become a world class community is by creating culture. Bars are a big part of that, live entertainment venues are a part of that.”

In addition to the Nov. 13 event, the duo has a whole host of other developments in the works.

Ambiance GR Kitchen & Lounge, which will be located in the former Raggs to Riches space,  should open by the end of 2021. “Ambiance will have live entertainment, events, and will have a kitchen component to it. We’ll be serving American and Cajun dishes, something unique for the restaurant ecosystem downtown Grand Rapids. We are super excited for Ambiance, everyone has been anticipating it, and we are really ready to share it with the community.”

Sip Coffee and Cocktails in Grand Rapids on Alger and Eastern is yet another place that they’ve invested in, along with other partners. This spot is a coffee shop/bar hybrid, and a spot that will welcome all, no matter the time of day.

The duo’s entrepreneurial spirit isn’t limited to just Grand Rapids, they also have two bars in the works in Muskegon. The Motu Lakeshore Wine Bar, named after their spirits company, and Prohibition, an event space, will both be housed in the same building right downtown on 8th Street and should open in the next year.

With no restaurant experience, it’s been a bit of a learning curve for Jelks. Coming out of the pandemic, he’s getting a baptism by fire into the industry. “Labor costs, hiring the right staff, staffing the kitchen is really brutal right now,” he said. “So many people just don’t want to be in the industry anymore, or feel underwhelmed by the pay, and where things are at. There’s a lot of things the industry has to address, and those of us who are invested in the industry are learning to navigate those things.”

Jelks clearly has a bigger vision than just owning a bar or two. And not that owning and operating those alone aren’t a big deal. He’s thinking all the time about Grand Rapids as a whole, and that is what sets him apart. “I look at how some people in Grand Rapids have built big businesses, being very forward thinking, by diversifying our economy,” he said.  “Our city has done a great job in figuring out how to problem solve, and keep people gainfully employed. As small business owners, you just want to continue to add to that DNA, add to that fabric, and create more opportunities. Despite the fact that we have one of the fastest growing cities here in the country, when it comes to black and brown folks, our ratings aren’t so high. There was a Forbes article that came out about 4-5 years ago that rated Grand Rapids as one of the worst cities economically for African Americans. One of the ways we can change these social inequities is through entrepreneurship. That’s very important. We want to not only create businesses where we’ll make money and be successful, but also where we’ll create that pipeline for other entrepreneurs and other folks that can be in leadership in Grand Rapids and Muskegon.”

Anteel Tequila (Courtesy Image)

One of the vendors that was at the Taste of Black Spirits was Anteel Tequila, a Michigan-based spirits company. “Anteel Tequila launched in August of 2018 only in Michigan, our home state and since then Anteel has won over 27 awards, expanded to 8 states, the Caribbean and received global attention for our world’s only Coconut Lime Blanco Tequila,” said owner Ferguson. “We have three additional expressions besides Anteel Coconut Lime that includes a Blanco, Reposado and a limited release Tarocco Blood Orange Blanco Tequila”.

“I think it’s slow, but I’m new to the spirits industry, but I’m having my eyes open to the business,” said Jelks. “It’s like having an epiphany. There are so many different avenues on how to make money in this industry. But also how to have a good time, how to curate. And once you have an internal knowledge of how the spirits industry works, you will find some kind of opportunity. And we just want to encourage people to do so. Knowing what is out there is half the battle.”

“The Black community is not only asking for more Black ownership, but they are also looking for the avenues to gain traction with.”  Mainstream following is the key to success, Jelks emphasized. “It’s our job as Black pioneers to make a way to put a magnifying glass on it, so everyone can see clearly that this is happening. That this transformation is on.”

Jelks doesn’t mince words. “Grand Rapids is suffering from a diversity problem,” he said. “Culturally, we need more events downtown that are culturally led. That is what makes you into a diverse, world class city that is a magnet for attraction and retention, in 2021.

What could young entrepreneurs of color do to move their vision forward? According to Jelks, “Utilize the tools and resources you have in front of you, study up on the position that you want to be in. There is a glamor side to having your own alcohol, but there is so much work. This is one of the more archaic businesses that is still around.” He stressed how hands-on this business is, and that it really isn’t too far off from Prohibition with many of the rules and regulations. “Relationships still mean a lot,” he stressed.

“The industry can be difficult to navigate in for emerging brands without immense marketing budgets,” said Ferguson. “Events like [The Taste of Black Spirits] allow brands to get in front of the masses in a fun, educational manner, allowing us to grow our audience.”

Events like this allow all of us to expand our range of what we taste and experience.

“We’re having the time of our lives doing this,” said Jelks. “We’re busy,” 

Public Museum celebrates diversity through its Ethnic Heritage Festival

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Food, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , , ,
Area residents will have the opportunity to explore a variety of different cultures during the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Ethnic Heritage Festival. (Supplied)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

On All Saints Day, which is Nov. 1, it is a tradition in Poland to visit the cemetery and decorate your loved one’s grave with flowers and candles.

“From what I understand, you can see it for miles and it is very beautiful,” said Marilyn Lignell, who is a member of the Polish Heritage Society. It also sounds very similar to another tradition that is hosted halfway around the world in Mexico when on the same day, Mexicans celebrate Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a time when family and friends honor and remember those who have died.

“I think it is very interesting how the different ethnicities overlap in costumes, food and traditions,” Lignell said.

The similarities and differences of the various cultures that make up the Greater Grand Rapids area is something that residents will be able to explore this weekend as the Grand Rapids Public Museum hosts is annual Fall Cultural Celebration which includes the school-focused Anishinabe Culture Days on Friday and the public event, the Ethnic Heritage Festival, on Saturday.

 

Many of the local ethnic organizations will have items and other displays to help get conversations started. (Supplied)

“The Museum takes pride in valuing, honoring and celebrating the unique cultures, characteristics and perspectives of our community and beyond through engaging, community-oriented programming, and we are excited for the return of the Fall Cultural Celebration,” said Dr. Stephanie Ogren, the GRPM’s Vice President of Science & Education. “The Museum proudly serves as a central hub, bringing culture to life within our spaces through community members who are deeply connected to their own culture and are eager to share their history, experiences and traditions.”

 

Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the day-long activities will feature music, art, food, visual presentations, and performances from an array of different organizations such as the Polish Heritage Society, the Grand Rapids Scottish Society, Shimmy USA, Gaelic League/Irish-American Club of West Michigan, Picardo Colours which features Carribean art, Mystic Spirits Art, Les Clay, the Korean Connection, and the Motherland Cultural Connections, which focuses on the history and cultures of the continent of Africa.

“We participate because we want people to know that Africa is here and that we are very much a part of the diverse community that makes up West Michigan,” said Myra Maimoh, founder of the Motherland Cultural Connections.

Maimoh said people tend to not realize that Africa is a continent made up of many different cultures all with their own traditions

 

“Through the Festival, we have an opportunity to showcase the different cuisines and music,” Maimoh said. “It is so cool because people come asking questions and you see the cultural immersion that happens right there. To be able to explain and share and make a connection and build new friendships is very humbling and fulfilling.”

Costumes will be just some of the items on display during the Ethnic Heritage Festival at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Supplied)

Even though Polish people have been interwoven into the history of Grand Rapids since about 1870 when many were trying to escape German rule, Lignell admits that like Maimoh, residents don’t fully understand the history and culture of the county and its people.

 

“People come up to the tables and it opens up discussions, giving us an opportunity to talk about the country, the history and the culture,” Lignall said, adding that this year she plans to focus on Wigilia or Poland’s Christmas Eve traditions, which will include a take-and-make ornament activity. “The result is you discover a lot about the different cultures and gain a greater appreciation of the people who make up our community.”

For more information about the Ethnic Heritage Festival visit grpm.org/EHF and for more information on other events and activities taking place at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, visit grpm.org. 

School News Network: ‘Our Diversity is Our Strength’

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By Erin Albanese

School News Network

 

At Bowen Elementary School, students come from 26 countries and that’s a reason for celebration.

 

Proud to be Nepali, Prada Sanyasi, left, and Puga Dhakal are all grins

At the second annual Parade of Nations, 100 students, clad in ethnic dress and waving flags from their home countries, created a parade representing places all over the globe, from Albania to Vietnam.

 

“At Bowen, 33 percent of students call home another country,” said Principal Blair Feldkamp, as he introduced the students. “To me, that is absolutely amazing. Today we are going to celebrate our kids.”

 

Big cheers came from the crowd of students, parents and teacher gathered in the gymnasium, as students from countries including Nepal, Rwanda and Sudan were announced.

 

English language-learner teacher Katie Lett organized the parade to kick off Multicultural Literacy Night, during which each class researched a country and shared its traditional food, songs, games and activities with parents.

 

‘We All Swim Together’

Lett said when she was a graduate student at Grand Valley State University, a classmate shared how her school put on a Parade of Nations every year. She and Feldkamp attended.

“When the tears welled up in my eyes I knew I needed to bring this tradition to Kentwood,” Lett said. “So often, our diversity is seen as a deficit, but what I hope this parade helps to underline is that, actually, our diversity is our strength.”

 

Many Bowen students are refugees from war-torn countries.

 

“I think very highly of my students and the refugee community as a whole; they are my life’s passion,” Lett said. “To watch as an entire gym expresses what my heart feels, fills me with hope for our future as a community and highlights the theme of the event, ‘We may all be different fish, but we all swim together.'”

 

Fifth-grader Sumaya Hanson said she was proud to represent Puerto Rico.

 

“We want to represent our countries so we can be together instead of divided by celebrating other people’s different cultures,” she said.

Bowen Elementary students cheer for students from all over the world.

Accommodating Ramadan in the American workplace

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Kemal Hamulic talks with Alan Headbloom during a 2013 interview for “Feel Like You Belong” in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

 

By Kemal Hamulic

 

Being mindful and respectful of your employees’ needs in the workplace can ensure a happy workforce, increased employee satisfaction, and better productivity. Sometimes, even just showing an interest in the background of an employee can motivate that individual to try harder. For employers with a diverse workforce, it is especially important to keep up on current events.

 

One such event is the religious observation of Ramadan. For 2017, May 27 is the first day of fasting that will continue for Muslims worldwide for the next 31 days. It culminates in the holy day of Eid-al-Fitr, celebrating the end of the religious fast.

 

For American human resource managers with employees who practice Islam, there are two important considerations to ease this month of fasting for them: prayer time and the physical challenges of fasting.

 

First, you need to know that observant Muslims pray five times a day. The actual prayer times are calculated based on several factors, one of them being geographical location. The times vary and are affected by changes in the hours of sunrise and sunset. For our town of Grand Rapids, Michigan, the dawn prayer on May 27, the first day of fasting, starts around 4:25 am, and the sunset prayer starts around 9:15 pm. At the end of the month, these prayer times shift: 4:20-ish am for the dawn prayer and 9:30-ish pm for the sunset prayer on June 26. (Click here for a prayer timetable.)

 

Those who fast will not be able to eat or drink ANYTHING between the dawn and sunset prayer times.

 

Here are six recommendations that will help your employees during these fasting times and beyond:

  1. Prayer. Let Muslim employees know that there is a quiet room available for them to pray.
  2. Stress. Try to adjust work schedules and work duties for observant Muslims to help them work without the need to hydrate or eat.
  3. Food. Offer to make reasonable adjustments for storing food during Ramadan. This is primarily important for those who will be working after the sunset prayer, that is, third-shift employees. Very often, Muslims bring homemade food prepared exclusively for this occasion. This food is halal (similar to kosher) and is taken at certain times. Letting employees go to the break room at a specific time, or having them keep a small food box at their work station are examples of what can be done.
  4. Clothing. Try to be flexible regarding dress codes; if there are situations or areas where flexibility is not possible (for safety reasons, etc.), make an effort to explain company policy and rationale to your Muslim employees. Then, importantly, be consistent with all other employees and their religious needs.
  5. Other Employees. Address the issue of fasting with non-Muslim employees to make sure that it is not interpreted as a sign of religious favoritism. In the past, some Americans have interpreted religious accommodations as “preferential treatment” for Muslim employees.
  6. Scheduling. Make advance scheduling arrangements to ensure there are enough employees to cover the workload on the last day of fasting. Observant Muslims will try to get a day off on this day.

Understand that different ethnic groups take different approaches and use different standards of Islamic observance. You can compare this to your Christian or Jewish family and friends: some are much more observant and some much less. In the case of Muslims, you may find a devoted Saudi believer who will not drink alcohol, eat pork, or smoke, while you may find among Bosnian Muslims that some do not mind smoking and will be flexible on that rule, while fully observing all others.

 

In explaining the concept of accommodation to non-Muslim employees, help them remember that a flexible workplace tries to work with everyone’s needs:

  • A nursing mother may need a private space to express milk at break time.
  • A colostomy patient may need the privacy of a single-use restroom to change a stoma bag.
  • Catholic workers may wish to have off on Good Friday.

I should emphasize the value of diversity in this working arrangement. For example, non-Christian employees might well volunteer to work on traditionally Christian religious holidays in exchange for having days off for their own holidays. It is a win-win situation for employers.

 

If explanations are clear and employees understand that all of us work best when we are respected and accommodated, all are prepared to give their best effort and succeed for the company.

 

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A 1997 refugee to the United States, Kemal Hamulic has been working with minority groups on various levels for over a decade. His encounters range from community outreach work to diplomatic interpreting to international business negotiations. His formal education includes a Bachelor’s degree in international business and a Master’s in finance. Kemal has extensive experience living abroad and speaks fluent English, Bosnian, and German and is proficient in French. He has given seminars and prepared workshops on the topic of diversity for government agencies and private entities.