Media cover 30th annual Culturefest

WABI (Channel 5) and WVII (Channel 7) reported on the 30th annual Culturefest held at the University of Maine. UMaine’s Office of International Programs and International Student Association hosted the daylong celebration that featured international cultural exhibits, food, children’s activities, a style show and performances. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public, and provides the university’s international students a place to showcase their talents and traditions. This year, roughly 60 countries were represented by more than 150 participants. Organizers told WABI the event is a great way to bring people of different backgrounds together. “I think in this age of more and more conflict around the world, it’s really important to create connections between different people, so person-to-person interactions is also another form of diplomacy,” said Orlina Boteva, director of International Programs at UMaine. New this year was a collaboration with the newly formed Maine Multicultural Center in Bangor, which aims to highlight the cultural diversity of Greater Bangor and the important role new Mainers play in the region, WABI reported.