The 16th Annual Wyandotte County
Ethnic Festival!
Saturday, April 6, 2024
Pierson Community Center
(Pierson Park in Turner, Kansas)
1800 South 55th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66106
10 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Master of Ceremonies Mr. Clarence Small
Tentative Entertainment Schedule
10 Presentation of Colors by KCK Sheriff's Dept.
10:10 Shawn & Gloria Derritt "Star Spangled Banner" &
"American the Beautiful" duet
10:25 Sonos Venezuela - Rossana Serres
10:40 St. Monica Inspirational Choir - Director Melvin Kerr
11:15 China Folk Dance - Hoi Kei Au
11:35 Indonesian Dancers - Marti Wilson
12:05 Legends of Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity
Awards to Bonnie Clark & Irene Thompson
12:30 Nartan Dancers- Ritu Daga
1:05 Sabor y Peru - Cecilia Mosher
1:25 Malaysian Dance Troup - Siew Lau
1:55 Sabor y Peru - Cecilia Mosher
2:10 Danny Hinds and Art in Motion
2:40 Driscoll Irish Dancers - Brigid Driscoll
3:15 Ukrainian Mavka Dancers - Christina Levich
3:45 Laotian Flute - Amee Her
4:15 Thai Chi Fan Dance, Mongolian Folk Dance,
& Chinese Drums - Dr. Grace Gong
5:00 - 6 Kansas City Kansas Community Orchestra -
Jeff Beck, Director
Culture Booths
Kids Korner games and art projects - Shai Perry & Dr. Hira Nair
India - Kaushika Panchal henna artist
Unified Government - Phyllis Wallace
Visit KCK - Rebekah Bryer
KCK Sheriff's Department - Captain Michael Kroening
Community Housing WyCo - Elizabeth Take
Kansas City Kansas Public Library - Linda Wolford
Grinter Place Museum - Eric Smallwood
Grinter House Quilters - Louise Crable
Wyandotte County Museum- Amanda Martin
Journal of Wyandotte County - Rebecca & David Meditz
Wyandotte County Historical Society - Dr. Dan Desko
Delaware Tribe - Bonnie Clark
Wyandot Tribe - Louisa Libby
Old Quindaro Museum - Tony & Barbara Hope
China Multicultural Association - Yang Gong
Grace Family Acupuncture - Dr. Grace Gong & Jing Gong
Barbados - Danny Hinds Scratch Art
Croatia - original KCK area paintings by Elaine Grisnik
Hispanic handmade clothing (Ethnisa Artesana) Nancy Esquivel
Scentsy - Regina Estaban
Lithuanian Amber - Kate Porterfield
Ukraine - Irene Thompson
Global Ties KC - Courtney Brooks
International Relations Commission - Dan Fitzpatrick
Italy - Dr. Curtis V. & Judy Smith
Kansas State School for the Blind - Lydia Knopp
Venezuela - Rossana Serres
Mexico - Rose Marie Mendez
Panama - Yamilka Crabaugh
Hmong Culture - Amee Her
Indonesia - Marti and James Wilson
Hmong - Mai Lo
Jamaica -Kester Plowright Jr. & Kathleen Johnson
Gambia - Alphonse Mendy
Republic of China & Taiwan - Hoi Kei Au
Nigeria & Henry Louis Center - Ewa & Melody Unoke
Cooper Foreman Heirloom Garden - Wayne & Pam Walden
Midwest Genealogy Research - Kayla Hopkins
CETUSA (Council for Educational Travel) Anita Sass
Natural Resources Conservation Service - Salefu Tuvalu Solia
Equality Kansas - Thomas Alonzo
Bethel 7th Day Adventist Church - Charles McGill
KCKCC Foundation - Mary Spangler
KCKCC Speakers of Other Languages - Michelle Overholt
Advance America - Manny Reqenes
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Food Vendors
Jamaican Jerk dishes - Kester Plowright Jr.
Malaysian Cuisine - Siew Lau
Kenyan Cuisine - Andrea Smith & Wasim Kahn
Hmong Cuisine - Amee Her
Gambian Cuisine - Haddy Sallah
Carolyn Marks Organic foods (RJ Foundation)
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Coffee and bottled teas for sale by Enactus Program at KCKCC - Allen Lenoir
Free bottled water by Advance America
No alcohol allowed.
Mission and Purpose
The Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival is a non-profit 501C3 that serves the public by hosting an annual celebration, or "human family reunion." Our mission is to educate our community about the diverse cultures that live, work, attend school, or have ties to Wyandotte County (ie. Kansas City, Kansas). We endeavor to create an inclusive event that both celebrates our ethnic differences and our "common humanity."
Our purpose is to help create a "Beloved Community"
which was the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Everyone is invited to take a trip around the world without leaving KCK and enjoy wonderful ethnic foods, dance, music, clothing, educational culture booths, and committed community organizations.
Only in America!
Many Countries + Many Cultures = One Human Family
WyCo Ethnic Festival 501C3 Trustees
Clarence Small - President and Master of Ceremonies
Dr. Curtis V. Smith, coordinator and treasurer
Dr. Hira Nair - marketing and global advising
Dr. Ewa Unoke - marketing and global advising
Karen Hernadez - vice president, marketing and local advising
Lydia Knopp - marketing
Shai Perry - marketing
Free Parking, Free Admission, Free Bottle of Water, Free Program, and A Free Trip Around the World. Come join us in this special celebration of simply being human regardless of your ethnicity,
skin color, or creed.
Welcome one and all!!
Silver Sponsors
Unified Government of KCK - Human Relations Commission - Phyllis Wallace
Visit Kansas City Kansas - Rebekah Bryer
Advance America - Manny Requenes
The Board of the WyCo Ethnic Festival
Partner Sponsors
Midwest Regional Credit Union - Teresa Spears
Kansas State School for the Blind - Lydia Knopp
KCK Chamber of Commerce
KKFI 90.1 FM - Tom Crane World Sound Sunday 1-3 p.m.
KC Ethnic Enrichment Commission - Andrea Smith,
Marti Wilson, and Siew Lau
Global Ties KC - Courtney Brooks
Legends of Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion
Congratulations to LODE&I 2024! Bonnie Clark and Irene Thompson
2023 Rosemarie Mendez and Brian Patrick
no festival was held in 2020, 2021, & 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Gordon Criswell and Dr. Hira Nair
2018 Dr. Ewa Unoke and Ed Chasteen
2017 Barbara Clark-Evans and Eyyup Esen
2016 Irene Caudillo and Alvin Sykes
2015 Janith English and Kamiasha Tyner
2014 Karen Hernandez and Melanie Scott
2013 Helen Folsom and Carol Levers
2012 Ed Grisnik and Chester Owens
2011 Pat Adams and Loren Taylor
Each year we recognize some of those who have passed since the last festival, such as our first LODE&I recipient, Loren Taylor;
and the mother of Dr. Hira Nair, Dr. Pramilla (Khurana) Nair.
Special Thanks 2024
Gaby Flores - Associate Vice-Chancellor & Chief Diversity Officer MCCKC at entrance welcome desk
Dr. Ian Corbett & Aaron Crawford - Directors of Audio Engineering Program at KCKCC and their students
Professor Melanie Scott - Co-Founder of the Festival and former Director of the KCKCC Intercultural Center
Yalanda Jackson - Program Coordinator WyCo Parks and Recreation
Charlie Wright - Building & Grounds at Pierson Community Center
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Donations Appreciated
Contact Us
Curtis V. Smith, Ph.D. Treasurer WyCo Ethnic Festival 501C3
913.549.0107
Festival Activities
Workshops
Engaging and Interesting
Children’s Corner
New Experiences
Talks and Performances
No Registration Required