What began 22 years ago as an event aimed at embracing Latino culture while supporting a good cause in the heart of Manchester has evolved into an opportunity to celebrate all ethnicities.
Indeed, Latinos Unidos started the Latino Festival in 2000 to raise money for scholarships. A year later, Ujima Collective founded the African/Caribbean Feast to address issues of social isolation and cultural alienation.
In 2013, the two annual events merged to become the We Are One Festival and is now one of the most anticipated annual events for the city’s diverse population.
“Both groups have been organizing community events for over 20 years and now we are coming together for an event that brings together different cultures from the African continent, the Caribbean islands and Latin America for a huge free event that includes singers, dancers and a lot. of community participants,” said event co-chair Sudi Lett, who is also hosting a free basketball camp the day before with NBA player Wenyen Gabriel.
“It’s very important for the community as Manchester has changed so much over the last 5-10 years,” he said. “It’s really a chance to celebrate the culture with other people who are native to that culture, learn more about each other and just come together as a community.”
This year’s festival, which takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park at 723 Elm Street in Manchester, will be emceed by a JAMN 94.5 DJ and will include at least five food vendors and many community organizations which will host the stands.
