24 Oct 2003           

LEAD Clermont Class Project Took us on a Trip Around the World

Thanks to Billy Durel, Leslie Massey, John McManus and Berta Velilla, Clermont County showed off its rich Cultural Diversity at CultureFest. These four dedicated members of the LEAD Clermont Class of 2003, along with a team of hardworking volunteers, transformed University of Cincinnati’s Clermont Campus into a world bazaar of music, dance, art, food and culture of the many countries that make up the heritage of Clermont County residents.

This colorful daylong event included dancers from Cameroon, Greece, Panama, India, food from Jordan, India, Mexico, Panama, Lebanon and Eastern European Celtic Music, a Scottish bagpipe, Japanese Ladies Chorus, African-American Steel Drum Band, Bluegrass Music, Belly dancing, and Jewish Folksongs. The Belly dancing performance was standing room only, and the Cameroon Family had absolutely everyone in the audience up dancing.

CultureFest was also about families coming together. Many, many, many volunteers from Child Focus, the Clermont County Library, various Girl Scout Troops, and Leadership Graduates spent their day in the Child Focus and Clermont County Library sponsored children’s’ craft area where children made Mexican Sombreros and other creative hats, maracas, friendship bracelets, masks that had charms representing different countries and Chinese headbands. Other activities geared toward children included face painting, balloon art, magic and a visit from the Cat in the Hat, all courtesy of the Clermont County Library, and performance by MadCap Theater courtesy of Child Focus.

CultureFest was about learning from each other. And thanks to cultural exhibits by the Cameroon Family, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cincinnati, West Clermont Schools English as a Second Language Program, University of Cincinnati Diversity Task Force, ZF Batavia, International Council for Community Justice, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, St. Anthony of Padua Maronite Catholic Church, Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, Greater Cincinnati African-American Chamber, Mercy Health Partners, and Child Focus, we did indeed learn a lot.

Clermont 20/20 thanks the many generous event sponsors and volunteers who made this day a success.

Sponsors: Cinergy Foundation, Inc. 3M Precision Optics Clermont County Public Library Sam’s Club 5/3 Bank Child Focus The Crowell Company International Paper ZF Batavia Taft, Stettinius & Hollister E.C. Nurre Funeral Home Mercy Health Partners Batavia Rotary Club India Bazaar Hispanic Chamber of Commerce New Richmond National Bank New York Life All The Right Angles, Inc. Clermont Productions Heflin Printing MacMillan Graphics The Midland Company

Volunteers: Lynn Baird Bill Boyd Tresa Byrum and Key Club Members Debbie Courtwright-Nash Bernadette Dietz Mark Essex Rob Fields Phyllis Frederick Elinor Keller Becky Lockhart Patrica Pryor Suzanne Schrolucke Patty Stafanik Joe Uecker Judy Wood Katie, Grace and Tara Zartman

Festival organizers are busy at work now to develop a way for CultureFest to continue as an annual event. This is a wonderful opportunity for the graduates of the Clermont Leadership Institute to act on their lifelong commitment to Clermont County. Please contact if you would like to put your leadership abilities to work on an annual CultureFest.

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