Multicultural Family Festival to be held in New Haven

NEW HAVEN  — Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven, Inc. and
Start Community Bank will sponsor a Multicultural Family Fun Fest from 12:30 p.m. to  4:30 p.m. Saturday in the parking lots of Neighborhood Housing Services at 333 Sherman Ave. and Start Community Bank at 299 Whalley Ave.
“Through good food and good music, the Multicultural Family Fun Fest promises to be a fun-filled afternoon for the entire family,” organizers said in a statement. “The theme of this year’s event is ‘Inherit the Earth’ and aims to celebrate cultural diversity and care for the environment. It will feature art, traditional dancing, boxing demonstrations, Zumba, poetry jams and more.”
“NHS is thrilled to be hosting the Multicultural Family Fun Fest again this year,” NHS Executive Director Jim Paley said, also in the statement.  “This is a true celebration of life, diversity, and the spirit of the people of New Haven, and we are delighted to have our friends and neighbors at Start Community Bank together with us at this festival.”
“Homeownership is a key component to building healthy communities,” Bridgette Russell, managing director of NHS’ HomeOwnership Center and co-organizer of the event said, also in the statement. “Since sound fiscal practices are necessary for individuals to position themselves for homeownership, it is quite fitting that Start Community Bank is a collaborating partner of the event.”
“Start Community Bank is committed to improving financial literacy in the community and is dedicated to assisting individuals, families and business owners expand their own wealth, which will increase the economic viability of the area,” Bill Placke, President & CEO of Start Bank said, also in the statement. “The purpose of this event is to celebrate the Whalley Avenue community and the people who make it a great place to live and work.”

For more information about NHS of New Haven, visit www.nhsofnewhaven.org. For more information on Start Community Bank, visit www.startbank.com.

Also from the statement:
For the second year, Start Community Bank also will honor outstanding women who have made a difference in the community: Joanne Sciulli, executive director of Solar Youth, a non-profit organization providing opportunities for young people to develop a positive sense of self and connection and commitment to others through programs that incorporate environmental exploration, leadership and community service; Mattie Stevenson, one of the many active seniors in our neighborhoods who takes care of two of the community gardens and has been working with youth to help instill in them life values, esteem, and an appreciation of the arts and the earth; and Lanissa Gardner and Jackie Failla, seniors at Common Ground High School who have interned at various environmental science programs throughout the country, and are now sharing their knowledge with youth and seniors in the community.
“From the perspective of Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven, activities like the Multicultural Family Fun Fest are a way of providing information to prospective and existing homeowners about the services we provide while at the same time giving back to the community,” said Russell. “It is a way of saying thanks to our clients and to the residents of New Haven whom we serve.”



Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.