NORWALK — The Nellie Mae Education Foundation’s $25,000 grant to the city’s school district funded multicultural performances held at 13 of Norwalk’s middle and elementary schools.
The Norwalk International Cultural Exchange provided the programming that celebrated the “the rich linguistic diversity that bilingual and multilingual individuals bring to” communities, schools and workplaces, a Norwalk Public Schools statement said.
The Nellie Mae Education Foundation looks “to champion efforts that prioritize community goals that challenge racial inequities and advance excellent, student-centered public education for all New England youth,” its website states.
The Norwalk International Cultural Exchange “unites performers from various backgrounds and talents and assembles them to provide students and families with an authentically diverse experience,” the statement said.
Performances meld different languages, history and music to educate students, the statement said.
NICE Education Enrichment Program performances have included traditional Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena, Caribbean steel pan and folklore, Indian Bollywood, Mexican Folkloric and Flamenco appearance, and Chinese traditional dance.
The cultural exposure group’s mission is to “encourage the various groups that make up our society to learn about each other’s traditions and customs in order to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of what each group brings to our community,” its website states.
