Lakewood Celebrates Diversity At Community Relations Advisory Commission Potluck Dinner
On January 27th 2011, the Lakewood community gathered for the annual Diversity Potluck at the Lakewood Park Women’s Club Pavilion. The Potluck is sponsored and organized by the City of Lakewood Community Relations Advisory Commission, a 13 member advisory board appointed by the Mayor and City Council to serve as a liaison in terms of community relation issues in Lakewood. The Potluck serves as a collaborative avenue for attendees to express their creative ways of sharing his or her favorite ethnic dish or dessert while being provided an opportunity to build fellowship with neighbors and other members of the community. A large array of dishes from many different cultures made for a delicious dinner, and made it easy to settle into interesting conversations with new neighbors and friends.
A portion of the food, including wonderful desserts, was provided through the generous donations of various Lakewood individuals and businesses. Businesses whose special efforts made the Potluck a total success include: The Root Café, Elmwood Bakery, Nunzio’s, Guys Pizza, Papa Johns, Hungry Howie's and Dewey’s Pizza.
To commence the evening’s activities, fellow Lakewood Observer, Gary Rice, provided a Native American blessing with his sacred cedar flute.
April Stoltz, Co-chair of the Community Relations Advisory Commission was pleased with the night's turn-out. “The Lakewood Diversity Potluck is an excellent opportunity for all of our friends and neighbors to come together to break bread and to empower community building," she said.
The Community Relations Advisory Commission would like to invite the community to the upcoming Lakewood "Youth Conversation" that will be held on February 16th, 2011 from 7- 8:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at Lakewood City Hall, 12650 Detroit Ave.
The "Youth Conversation" will feature a panel of current students from Lakewood High School who will share their experiences, and answer audience questions about what being a member of the youth community in Lakewood is all about.
Nadhal Eadah is a member of the Community Relations Advisory Commission and one of the organizers of the Youth Conversation. He thinks that citizens will learn a lot if they attend this event. “It’s a good opportunity for the students to voice their concerns, desires and likes about living in Lakewood," he said. "'The Youth Conversation' is an opportunity to give our policy-makers and the public at-large a chance to hear first-hand what changes Lakewood Youth feel should be made."