FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2006

CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu

MULTICULTURAL EVENT AT DRAKE CONNECTS PEOPLE, CULTURES

Drake University will host the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Multicultural Celebration from 5:30 to 7 p.m., on Wednesday, March 15 in the upper level of Olmsted Center, 2875 University Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

The event seeks to connect people of diverse backgrounds in an effort to make them feel more at home in their new community.

“It’s about being inclusive,” said Alba Perez, diversity development director for the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “It’s an opportunity for new Iowans to meet people with similar cultures and backgrounds in the Des Moines area and see how truly multicultural this community is.”

Drake’s multicultural student organizations will also be at the event with information tables, and students will be serving as hosts. The groups included are:

Black Law Student Association
Coalition of Black Students
International Student Association
La Fuerza Latina
Muslim Student Association
Rainbow Union
South Asian Student Association
Women's Awareness Coalition

The Drake Vietnamese Student Association will perform a traditional Vietnamese dance including traditional clothing, music, fans, umbrellas and a short kung-fu segment. Another Drake dance troupe, Fusion, will also perform.

Drake and the Greater Des Moines Partnership are the co-sponsors of the event.

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