International Treats Served Up At John Jay's Community Culture Day

CROSS RIVER, NY — Where is it possible to try Chinese dumplings, Jamaican meat patty sandwiches, Israeli falafel, Vietnamese coffee, even the Indian game called carrom, while listening to Italian opera?

Cultural diversity was on display Feb. 14 at John Jay High School’s Community Culture Day.

The affirming celebration was created by the BEAT—which stands for the belonging, equity and advocacy task force—and included a cafeteria full of food tastings, workshops, music and fun.

Even the class-change bells were love songs in different languages, according to a district spokesperson.

“Our goal is to provide opportunities for members of the school community to share their identity and cultures in the hopes of increasing awareness and celebrating diversity,” said Assistant Principal Mallory McDonald, BEAT’s advisor.

The copresidents of BEAT — juniors Madison Frederick and Connor Muti — sat at the Polish table, where Frederick was offering homemade pączki. Muti was visiting from the Bulgarian table, where his mom was serving spanakopita.

“We wanted to create a way for everyone to share their cultures,” Frederick said. “We’re happy it’s so vibrant and lively!”

Muti mentioned the recent all-school event sponsored by L.E.A.D JJ. “These small events bring us closer and closer,” he said.

It could have been that it was also Valentine’s Day that a bachata dance party spontaneously broke out in the center of the cafeteria.

The Dominican Republic dance had been the topic of two popular workshops that morning, one led by students Franklin Miguel, Naomy Rodriquez and Becca Valencia; another led by parent Angelo Lora. They reviewed the cultural backdrop to the dance and did a demo; students filled the foyer outside of the classroom doing the three steps and a hip-pop move.

Other workshops included learning about the Indian roots of yoga and doing the sun salutation with parent Shivani Patel and making cannoli with junior Melissa Falco and Assistant Principal Kim Piccolino while learning about the nuns who developed the Sicilian treat.

In the art studio, students were creating hexagon-shaped art — one highlighted women’s voices, graphic novel style; another was painted to represent the earth and its waters; while others featured origami roses and endangered species.

“A hexagon is the symbol of connectedness,” art teacher Kristen Lowe said to the students. “The pieces are all unique, but they fit together perfectly.”