On April 7, music echoed throughout the Ventura College campus and the aroma of an assortment of food filled the air as the community paid tribute to different cultures with entertainment and games for all ages.
“The turn out was low because of Spring Break, but it was a really great event,” said Luis Moreno the EOPSSA Inter Club Council Representative.
A little over 100 people were on the VC campus as the VC Extended Opportunity Program and Services Student Association (EOPSSA) club hosted the first annual Multicultural Spring Fling held in the quad on April 7 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. to celebrate different heritages within the community and promote tolerance.
EOPSSA is an inclusive student organization whose mission is to assist students involved with the VC EOPS program, raise money for their “Starving for Excellent” scholarship fund, and provide opportunities for students to visit near-by universities.
The Dream Team, the EOPSSA club members, organized the Multicultural Spring Fling in honor of Multicultural month.
VC Student Akym Rinkovsky said he enjoyed seeing his fellow students organize an event for an issue he felt was very important.
“I think it was a great idea to hopefully eliminate some of the separation that exists today,” said Rinkovsky.
Local musician and former VC student Dan Flores kicked off the event singing mellow rock music along with his acoustic guitar while the Dream Team lit the barbecue and began serving different types of cultural food. Tortas, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Syrian pastries baklava and belawa were some of the dishes they served.
Throughout the event many performers took the stage representing different aspects of cultures within the college community
including Mexican oldies by El Trio Guadaljara, Christian music by students Geebel and Navie Bellfield, Rap by Kid Conscious and Carlos, and even Greek influenced belly dancing performed by local dance instructor Marie Stowe.
Guest speaker Gabriel Serrano expressed students need to make friendships in support of multiculturalism.
“We all aught to acknowledge each other’s roots to keep our biases and prejudges in check,” announced Serrano. “All of us are part of the same community.”
Dream Team members wore costumes to recognize other cultures including Egyptian and Middle Eastern for the spectators.
An Easter egg hunt, face painting booth and a Blues Clues jolly jumper were set up for the younger children. The evening was concluded by a performance by Patty Licea, the president of EOPSSA backed by the Dream Team girls.
On April 22, EOPSSA will be participating in the Right to Resist rally in Oxnard. For more information contact the club at [email protected], call the EOPS office at (805) 654-6302.
