Wheaton World Tour Diversity Festival Reports Success

The organizers of the first-ever Wheaton World Tour festival and concert are describing the diversity-awareness event as a resounding success that will almost definitely be repeated in years to come, the Chicago Tribune reports.

According to the paper, 1,750 people showed up for the July 11 festival at Memorial Park, which featured ethnic foods, performances from Chinese, Burundian and Rwandan cultures, a “Tales from Around the World” story-time and an appearance from the Wheaton Municipal Band playing international music; local non-profits like World Relief and the People’s Resource Center also had a presence.

"The Wheaton World Tour was a great way for people to be exposed to other cultures," Sue Reynolds, a World Relief representative, told the paper. “I had a great time meeting many Wheaton residents who were already familiar with the work of World Relief and wanted to learn more about our organization."

"The crowd really enjoyed it," Laurie Swanson Oberhelman, a member of Wheaton’s community relations commission, told the paper. "Everyone was so enthusiastic, I can't image we won't do it again, as long as the band is willing."

Read the full story at the Chicago Tribune website.