To The Editor:
In honor of Black History Month, Bushwick families will host university students from around the world for a two-day cultural and educational exchange experience.
Members of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Bushwick will welcome Fulbright grantees and other international university students for a Feb.22-23 overnight weekend visit with the twin goals of providing international students with an inside view into the richness of this Afro-Caribbean neighborhood, and to give the Bushwick community a keener awareness of New York City’s inextricable links with the rest of the world.
“In the current political climate, this person-to-person diplomacy is more important than ever,” ths organizers explained in their letter to Caribbean Life.
The St. Thomas congregation itself is made up of 21 different nationalities, and is dedicated to celebrating diversity and promoting justice.
The weekend exchange “will move participants beyond stereotypes to provide an experience rich in family, religion, food, music and friendship,” organizers say.
“The One To World program brings together the future leaders from around the world together with Americans to share similarities and appreciate differences to build cultural understanding across the globe,” organizers explained. “Through One To World programs, Americans and international students learn from one another and together they become active citizens in a global society.
One To World is designated by the U.S. Department of State as the official coordinator of Fulbright enrichment programs in the greater New York area. In addition to working with Fulbright grantees, One To World promotes connections with the 65,000 self-sponsored international students studying in the greater New York area.
“To learn more about One To World, please visit our website at www.one-to-world.org.
St. Thomas Church leaders, of predominantly Afro-Caribbean origin, are organizing the exchange with the non-profit organization One To World. Throughout the weekend local artists, St. Thomas Church congregation members, and local politicians will join the Fulbright grantees and international students and their Bushwick hosts.
The two-day program program includes:
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014:
11:30 a.m. – Tour of Wyckoff Farmhouse
1:00 p.m. – Lunch at St. Thomas
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Tour of St. Thomas Church archives
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Cultural Extravaganza at St. Thomas
Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014:
10:00 a.m. – Church Service at St. Thomas
12:00 p.m. – Festival of World Cultures in Church Hall
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1405 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11207
To learn more about One To World, please visit our website at www.one-to-world.org
Alessandra Fiorenza
