In mid-February, more than fifty Saint Louis University School of Public Health (SLUSPH) students from over a dozen countries gathered to celebrate their cultural heritage at the school's first multicultural eve. The event was held in the new gathering space at IHA (Intercommunity Housing Association) Pillar Place , a SLUSPH community partner. IHA is an intercommunity residence that provides safe, affordable housing and life skills training for the area's poor and marginalized. IHA boasts, in addition to job skills training, an award-winning community garden which SLUSPH students have helped the IHA residents nurture.
Friday eve began with a ceremonial presentation of the school's covenant. The crowd then shared taste treats from around the world, from Norwegian meatballs to Spanish and Chinese rice, Indian chili, tandori chicken from Pakistan and barbeque chicken from a backyard grill. The crowd was treated to myriad talents, lead by SLUSPH's own Chinese idol and 1 st year MHA/MBA student, Jason Niu, who brought the house down singing and dancing to his Chinese song about the heritage of the great dragon. Jason acted as “MC” and introduced a performance by hip-hop recording artist Savage Sun (Christopher Schamer) whose heritage includes Native American, Pakistan and Irish blood.(http://www.savagesun.com/) There was a heart-wrenching plea for unity in Korea , delivered by flutist Min Woo, an MPH environmental student. A student from Afghanistan , Shafiq Mirzazada, recited a moving Rumi poem begun in Farsi and completed in its English translation. Another hauntingly beautiful poem, this one a Kurdish contribution presented by Ardalan Issa, helped explain the plight of the Kurds. Finally, a traditional Indian dance, Bhangra, was choreographed by Prabhjot Singh, an Indian MPH epidemiology student. This beautiful dance was performed in full regalia by men and women who call India , Pakistan , and the Congo home.
Awards were presented, one to the student who had traveled the farthest to attend the event – a young MPH/MD student who was just back from her internship and home in South Africa . Another award was presented to the student who was fluent in the most languages; a young woman from Belgium who greeted the crowd in all five languages won this award. At the evening's end, after a rousing conga line, attendees purchased Hershey's Kiss roses to help fund the American Red Cross Measles Initiative (http://www.measlesinitiative.org/index3.asp).
This celebration was made possible through the efforts of the student leaders of Saint Louis University School of Public Health Community Health Association of Students (CHAS) and Jason Niu, and his willingness to breathe life into the school's Multicultural Public Health Student Association. An incredible time was had by all, and future events, including presentations by students on their home cultures, are already in the planning stages.
Nancy Murphy Culbert
Saint Louis University School of Public Health
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