Take a 'Taste'

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 25, 2011) – Fill your belly. Fill your mind. Enjoy a world of culinary delicacies, along with dose of global understanding: succulent shrimp ceviche and homemade apple pie, with a side of fair trade policy. The 2011 Cultural Diversity Festival is turning up the heat at the University of Kentucky.

To kick off the CDF, celebrate "Taste of Our World" from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, in the Frank Harris Grand Ballroom of the Student Center. After you've had your "Taste," learn to communicate effectively in a diverse world and sharpen your professional image at UK's Stuckert Career Center's "Your Professional Image in the Workplace: The Cultural Impact" from 3-4:30 p.m.

"I just love 'Taste,' and our Career Center event and everything that they stand for," said CDF co-chair Debra Ross. "The Cultural Diversity Festival celebrates the diversity represented at UK by fostering dialogue, encouraging new experiences and promoting unity. There's no better way to get the conversation started."

"Taste of Our World" features a diverse menu of culture-rich foods from around the globe, including favorites from year's past, like Madagascar Chicken; roasted red pepper and garlic hummus, sushi, Appalachian burgoo and Spanish seafood paella. But UK dining services chefs always enjoy trying new cuisine.

This year, they've added a selection of hand-made, Italian bruschetta and cannoli; Indian tandoori chicken; and N'awlins crawfish and alligator gumbo.
  
"'Taste of our World' is a showcase of the talents and versatility of our UK chefs. We hope our guests enjoy these dishes that were inspired by some of the great countries of the world," said Ray Schmidt, associate director of dining services.

The celebration includes another perennial favorite, Ten Thousand Villages, a market for jewelry, home decor and gifts created by 130 artisan groups in more than 38 countries

This year, there will also be a silent auction that will benefit the President's Scholarship Initiative, and long-sleeve t-shirts will be given away to the first 150 students in attendance.

"Taste of Our World" tickets will be sold at the door for each serving of the menu at $1 each or seven tickets for $5. Payment will be accepted in cash, Plus Account or Flex Dollars.

UK's Career Center will continue its annual CDF participation as well this year, hosting "Your Professional Image in the Workplace: The Cultural Impact" from 3-4:30 p.m. in Room 101 of UK's Stuckert Career Center.

"The ability to communicate clearly, positively interact with others and display good social skills at a job interview and during a typical workday holds more weight than many students realize," said Stuckert Career Center Director and Assistant Provost Francene Gilmer. "Your interaction with others around the office is equally as important because it impacts performance evaluations and opportunities for promotions. The impact of your image in the workplace can help to maximize the advantages of having a diverse workforce and workplace."

Round-table participants include Stacy Ellison from WKYT-TV, who will discuss speech, communication and grammar; Daryl Love from Ashland, Inc., who will help you create your personal brand and offer tips for getting along with others in the workplace; and Gilmer, who will highlight some dining etiquette rules and tips for being business savvy. Refreshments will be provided.

CDF continues to provide great ways to diversify your day with additional Cultural Diversity Festival events this week and next, including:

·         Feb. 27, 2-3:30 p.m., UK Singletary Center: Beauty of Jasmine, a concert event to explore Chinese culture through Chinese music instrument ensemble, folk dance, martial arts, Tai Ji fan and sword dances and Beijing Opera dance performed by local Chinese community. Admission: $5

            Sponsor: Chinese Music Dance and Arts Program

·         Feb. 28, 7-8:30 p.m., Memorial Hall: Umdabu Dance Company of South Africa performs a variety of authentic dances from Zulu and other indigenous cultures of South Africa. The Company's performances have been described and "breath-taking in their exhilaration and excitement." Free.

            Sponsor: MLK Cultural Center and the College of Arts & Sciences in cooperation with the African Students Association

·         March 1, 6:30 p.m., Patterson Office Tower, Room 1045: Monthly Russian Tea for speakers of Russian of any level, from beginners to natives. Join us for Russian conversation, treats and tea. Free.

Sponsor: Russian Club

·         March 2, 11 a.m. -1:30 p.m., Student Center Grand Ballroom: Sample an array of foods from around the world at CDF's annual "Taste of Our World." There will also be performances throughout the event. While you are there, shop for unique jewelry, home decor, and gifts from Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade vendor. There will also be a silent auction that will benefit the President's Scholarship Initiative. Long-sleeve t-shirts will be given away to the first 150 students in attendance. Admission: Food tickets are $1 each or 7 for $5.
Sponsor: Cultural Diversity Festival

·         March 2, 12-2 p.m., Student Center, Room 357: Get the 411 on IS—everything you’ve always wanted to know about UK's International Studies major. Come learn about International Studies at UK! Opportunities to speak with current majors, faculty, career counselors, NoGS and Education Abroad!  Current International Studies majors will have an opportunity to win $150 toward Education Abroad.

·         March 2, 2-3 p.m., Bradley Hall, Room 207: Education Abroad on a Budget. Don't let a tight budget keep you from studying abroad. Hear from Education Abroad at UK staff as well as students who have been abroad. Learn how to study abroad on a budget and what funding sources are available to finance your education abroad experience. Free.

Sponsor: Education Abroad at UK

·         March 2, 3-4 p.m., UK Stuckert Career Center, Room 101: "Your Professional Image in the Workplace: The Cultural Impact" will sharpen your professional image by learning to communicate effectively in a diverse world. Stacy Ellison from WKYT-TV will discuss speech, communication and grammar; Daryl Love from Ashland, Inc. will help you create your personal brand and offer tips for getting along with others in the workplace; and Stuckert Career Center Director and Assistant Provost Francene Gilmer will highlight some dining etiquette rules and tips for being business savvy. Refreshments will be provided.

·         March 3, 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Kentucky Theatre: One World Film Festival: Captain Abu Raed. Free.

Sponsor: One World Film Festival

·         March 3, 7-9 p.m., Diversity Dialogues will focus on relationships that Americans have abroad and how Americans are perceived when traveling abroad. The dialogue will also focus on how international students feel when coming to the United States. Free.

Sponsor: Student Activities Board

Throughout the month of March

·         The Hub, Core 4, William T. Young Library: The World at Your Fingertips showcases both the culturally rich collection housed in University Kentucky Libraries as well as the unique web tools designed by UK Librarians to provide access to culturally diverse information.

Sponsor: UK Libraries

·         The Hub - William T. Young Library: A Century of Kentucky African American Photographs: 1880s-1980s includes images from the Kentucky Historical Society archival collections, including "The Ohio River Portrait Project" and "Community Memories: A Glimpse of African American Life in Frankfort, Ky. Project". The program will be running on the Video Windows in the Hub.

Sponsor: UK Libraries

·         King Library, Little Fine Arts Library, Medical Library: Exhibits with international themes will be located in the lobby of the King Library (Special Collections Side); the lobby of Little Fine Arts Library; and in the display cases outside the Medical Center Library entrance. The display will be subject related to the area with an international theme. The displays will showcase library resources and involvement in the international arena.

            Sponsor: UK Libraries

The 2011 Cultural Diversity Festival runs from Feb. 27 to April 2 and features many cultural events, including concerts, performance theatre, interactive workshops and scholarly lectures.

The festival promotes cultural awareness, highlights the wealth of diversity represented at UK and strives to engage all students, faculty and staff as well as the Lexington community, by fostering dialogue, encouraging new experiences and promoting unity. Both UK and Lexington communities are invited to experience these cultural and educational programs. All festival activities are open to the public, and most are free.

More information and upcoming events are available at www.uky.edu/DiversityFestival or follow CDF on Facebook.