D e l m a r v a l o u s ! Dorchester County

Positive impact of festival felt by community

ABES News Services

Committee hears good reports -- Members of the Dorchester - Cambridge Multi-cultural Festival committee heard a number of positive comments about the festival at a meeting Wednesday at the Empowerment Center in Cambridge. From the left are Julia Davis, Cambridge City Police Department (CPD) Sgt. Louis Nichols, Pattie Logan, General Manager MTS Broadcasting Troy Hill, Shirley Cornish, Jennifer Curran of the CPD, Jane Devlin of West End Citizens Association, John Foster of the CPD, Ben Saunders Sr., and J. E. Hernandez of the CPD.

CAMBRIDGE -- According to various reports, the second annual Dorchester - Cambridge Multi-cultural Festival held in April had a positive impact on the general community. The seven hour event which drew hundreds of people from throughout Dorchester and surrounding areas was designed to bridge the various cultures of the area. It was held on the 600 block of Pine Street in Cambridge.

The festival was the result of a partnership of the Pine Street Committee (PSC) with Cambridge Main Street, Cambridge Police Department, Dorchester Arts Center, Dorchester County Sheriff's Department, Dorchester Elks Lodge 223, Dorchester County Department of Tourism, Harriet Tubman Organization, John Lewis, WCEM-WAAI, and the West End Citizens Association.

During a festival committee meeting on Wednesday PSC member Octavene Saunders said that most of the comments she heard said it it was a good family venue which people appreciate and enjoyed.

She said the public was glad to see law enforcement, whether in plain clothes or uniform, present at the event.

Mrs. Saunders also expressed her thanks to all committee members, volunteers and participants.

While bridging the cultures was a goal of the festival, the event was also well received by people of all ages.

"The chalk art was a big success. We had 48 children participate," said Pattie Logan.

Portia Johnson-Ennels said over 40 children had participated in the scavenger hunt, and added, "I think for a first time it went very well."

Officer Jennifer Curran of the Cambridge City Police Department said, "I enjoyed the opportunity where I could be viewed in a different light with the community."

"Sometimes when young people see a police officer they automatically think that something is wrong, so it was a pleasure to be at the festival and being able to get on the road and draw art with them, engage with them, help with scavenger hunt and let them know that we are just like them," she said.

It was announced that the next festival committee meeting would be at 6 p.m. September 10 at the Empowerment Center in Cambridge. One of the items that might be discussed is a suggestion made by young people that perhaps a video be shown during the next festival.