This last week focuses on “Journeys of Immigrants” and will feature speakers from India, Honduras, Africa, Greece, Mexico, Peru, Germany and Ukraine.
“We tried to really have the cultural diversity,” Lilli Lauster, one of the leaders for “Journeys of Immigrants,” said, commenting that if space and time permitted she would have included more.
Rhode Kirkpatrick also led planning for this week
Unique to this week is a 10 a.m. Montessori Kinder German and Russian Language Lab before Wednesday’s Lunch and Learn. Brigitta Hoeferle of Montessori Kinder said the lab will be led by students from the school and will focus on colors, days of the week, etc., and comprehension of the languages. The Lunch and Learn will feature Lyudmilla Voyts from Ukraine.
Activities throughout the week will feature Cultural Snapshots in which speakers will share their personal stories of traveling to the United States and on to Cleveland. The first of these events will be Monday at 7 p.m. as Romal and Sheyla Bhatt from India and Honduras and Linus and Janet Nairimo from Africa share their stories.
The second will be on Tuesday at 7 p.m. with Thomas Pavlou from Greece, Rafael Lastra from Mexico and Senora Howard from Peru. Howard said she will be wearing traditional Peruvian dress during her presentation.
Lauster said her favorite part preparing for the week was seeing all of the colorful artifacts. The local display includes artifacts from all over the world. Lauster said she tried to have something from every continent. This week will also have international music playing while visitors enjoy the Smithsonian exhibit.
As the last week the display will be in Cleveland, this week is the culmination of everything that the “Journey Stories” exhibit is about. Richard Jones, Humanities Scholar for the exhibit, will be giving a culmination presentation on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Rafael Lastra of the Mosiac Center, one of the sponsors for “Journey stories,” said it was “a great privilege” for the Cleveland Bradley County Library to be chosen to show the exhibit. He said the exhibit has helped the community see the human side of historical facts.
“At the core of all cultures there is a people that loves and enjoys being together,” Renee Lastra, co-chair of the host committee for “Journey Stories,” said.
According to Lastra almost 2,000 people came to the exhibit since Oct. 14. “Journey Stories” ends Saturday.
