INCLUDES LIVELY VIDEO | Discover why the inaugural David Douglas School District ‘Asian American Pacific Islanders Festival’ was so successful – and so much fun …
Welcoming guests with leis to the David Douglas School District Asian American Pacific Islanders Festival are students Wayne Paiau, and Rodison Ninger.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
After school was over on May 1, excitement was high in the David Douglas High School (DDHS) South Cafetorium as the first David Douglas School District (DDSD) Asian American Pacific Islanders Festival was set to begin.
At the event’s Photo Spot, it’s the Talimao family – who say they are “proudly-American Samoan”.
DDHS Pacific Islander Club Advisor Dylan Souders, also a football coach, stops for a photo with the District’s Director of Communications, Family, and Community Partnerships – Aidé Valerio-Juarez.
“Today are we are very excited because this is the first-ever event of this kind for our school district, in that we are celebrating our Asian American community and our Pacific Islander Community,” grinned the organizer, Pacific Islander Club Advisor Dylan Souders.
Here’s video highlights of the DDSD Asian American Pacific Islanders Festival:
“This idea came up because Elevate Oregon, a local nonprofit organization, collaborated with our school district with funding and logistical help with past events this year, including our Native American ‘Powwow’ Cultural Night and our Lunar New Year Celebration,” Souders told East Portland News.
“Then, the Elevate Oregon folks suggested we should honor our Pacific Islander Communities – and we agreed!”
Helping out at the DDHS Asian Student Union table are students Nina, Nalanie, Kathy, and Samantha.
Joining in to help make this happen were IRCO, SUN Schools, DDHS Pacific Islander Club, and the school’s Asian Student Union, Souders said. In all, about 50 volunteers – including students, staff, and nonprofit representatives – worked together to put on the festival.
Volunteers serve supper to guests who enjoy culturally-significant traditional foods of Pacific Islander nations.
Numerous nonprofit and governmental agencies were present to meet families of students at the celebration.
As with their other such events, guests enjoyed food, cultural performances, and could avail themselves of information provided them from the nonprofit and governmental agencies who tabled that evening.
“We look at it as a ‘two-way-street’ with our nonprofit partners here – not only does our school family community learn what services are out there – but also, those agencies learn more about our varied and different cultures who are represented here,” commented Souders.
As the Fashion Show concludes, the cast gathers with flags of their nations for the finale.
Performers from the White Lotus Foundation Lion Dance Team entertain the audience.
“Best thing that can come out of this is that by recognizing the different communities in the district, it empowers our communities to come and learn both about one another, and from one another,” Souders observed.
“And, if I may add, the second best thing about events like this is that our entire greater neighborhood community is invited. We want everyone to come, participate in the festivities, enjoy the food, see the performances, and learn more about the cultures represented in our schools!”
© David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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