I would like to publicly acknowledge the tremendous efforts of Sergio and the Garcia-Perez family to bring the Multicultural Festival to Guilford on Feb. 1, 2024. Hosted in the Commons at Guilford High School, it was a beautiful showing of families, community members, and students of all ages. Sharing so many diverse cultures was needed at this time when more divisive words and hateful acts have brought many of us down. It was wonderful to feel the energy of the crowd, to have young and old dancing and engaging with the music, to welcome all to the stage and all to Guilford.

These inclusion efforts need to continue, and organizations like the Guilford Fund for Education and the Guilford Foundation are excited to fund and enable these activities. When we continue to learn about, see, and engage with diverse mindsets and cultures, we experience the richness that our country offers. Thank you, Garcia-Perez family, for opening eyes, hearts, and minds and for enabling the Guilford Community to experience the good and the positive that we all need.

NiCole Schlagheck

Guilford