WorldConnect

CultureConnect’s WorldConnect helps students learn about diverse cultures by engaging them in unique, hands-on, activity- and food-based multi-cultural experiences, allowing them to interact with their local and global communities with intelligence, compassion and cultural competence. Wherever possible, we partner with members of our local community and invite them to share their cultures, stories, traditions, and experiences.  Our goal is to build awareness of the cultural diversity in our area and facilitate meaningful conversations.

Our approach includes working with the Rhinebeck and Red Hook school districts and other not-for-profit groups to bring speakers and interactive workshops into the schools; to organize and chaperone local and regional trips; and to use food, art and other media to better understand the world around us. Our most recent events were the Ofrendas Project in Red Hook celebrating Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) and our highly successful Multicultural Food Festival, In the past, we’ve held events to learn more about the food, culture and Bollywood dancing of India and Nepal; the food culture and martial arts of Brazil; Culture and food of Madagascar, including music and soccer; ballet from France; and a celebration of Dutch traditions with an architectural tour and Sinterklaas workshop.

We also sponsor speakers in the schools, such as our recent diversity program in the middle school, led by educator Phoenix Kawamoto. This innovative program utilizes the art of storytelling as a tool to enhance understanding, as well as cultivate compassion and respect amongst students and faculty.