GREENFIELD — The town’s Human Rights Commission is joining today’s Summerfest block party with a series of activities aimed at promoting diversity awareness in Greenfield.
Summerfest is sponsored by the Greenfield Business Association.
Main Street will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The commission plans to set up two large maps — one of the United States and one of the world — where attendees can mark their birthplace. There will also be a “get to know your community” program, during which participants will be matched with others of a different race, religion, political views and/or lifestyle. In October, they will meet with the commission to share what they learned through their conversations.
The commission will also set up a board where people can post their favorite dishes from different restaurants in town.
“We are truly blessed to have American, Mexican, Thai, Korean, Greek, Italian and various dishes from other countries,” commission member and At-Large Town Councilor Penny Ricketts wrote in a news release. “Please stop in to one of our local restaurants Saturday (and always). We want to hear from you. The focus on the day is to bring folks to town, to Main Street and bring us together to celebrate our differences.”
Arts and crafts tables will be set up for children to make murals and faces with various skin tones during the event. The Center for New Americans will be selling artwork during the event, and community volunteers will be selling “No Place for Hate” T-shirts.
The commission has also announced that the winners of the 2016 Human Rights awards are Joan Featherman, Risky Case and Jaunita Nelson. Index cards will be available during Summerfest for people to share thoughts on one or more of these women as a way to help the commission show the impact they’ve made in the community.
Philippe Simon, who was recently elected chairman of the commission, will perform with the Equalites on the common at noon. He will also be available to meet with community members throughout the day.