WCOM NEWS

6-02-04

Miramar promotes harmony with Race Unity Day

MIRAMAR--More than 200 people responded to one couple's call for children and adults of all races and religions to unite for a day of activities.

Cyrus Jiveh and his wife, Parisa Payman, came up with the idea for Race Unity Day, which took place recently on the grounds of the Sunset Lakes Community Center.

The event, co-sponsored by the city and Jiveh's company, Delta Business Solutions, featured music, food, dancing, prizes, a bounce house, face painting, and children's rides. Entertainment included African, Jamaican, European, Haitian and American-Indian acts. Among the performers were Pop Starz, Orlando Ju-Ju Ensemble African drummers, the Lauderhill Steel Ensemble, Kamron Grasselly, Rachel Sacks, and several children's choirs.

"The hope was to have this event serve like a catalyst to promote fellowship and friendship, not just on that day but throughout the year," said Payman, a Miramar dentist. "The spirit was there that day and the people will hopefully take it home."

Also in attendance were Miramar Mayor Lori Moseley and Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin. Moseley said that she considered Miramar to be the perfect example of a well-balanced community and that it's appropriate the city should continue to celebrate that.

"I think it's going to take years but if we start teaching our kids, hopefully by the next generation, we'll have a prejudice-free world," said Jiveh, of Miramar.

As part of the festival, they decided to conduct art and essay contests based on unity themes from Jiveh's Bahai Faith and ideas developed by city participants. The topics were: "Happiness lies in unity and harmony;" "The Earth is one country and mankind its citizens;" and "So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the Earth."

Volunteers from the city's Community Advisory Board and city residents judged the 42 art and eight essay entries. Four finalists -- three art and one essay -- received prizes.

The first-place winner of the essay contest was Laura K. Valdivia, 7, who beamed as she accepted her award and basket of goodies. "I really liked it. I was very proud of myself. I was very creative," said Laura, of Miramar.

Hallandale Elementary identical twins Lashandra and Lashundra Allen-Gonzalez, 8, had their faces painted, danced and sang with one of the choirs. The second-graders practically spoke in unison.

"I think it was exciting. We learned about unity," Lashandra said. "And we learned how everybody is related," Lashundra added.

Maude Grasselly, of Hallandale Beach, said she canvassed her neighborhood and brought nine children to enjoy the day. "We're trying to build character development," said Grasselly.

Bettye Strother, of Pembroke Pines, attended with her grandson, Robert Currie, 14. "I'm enjoying it very much," she said. "It's very beautiful and I'm glad I came."

Other festival contributors included Eastern Financial; Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of Miramar; Che, Pibe Argentina Grill; and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

While the festival was taking place outdoors, the first Senior May Fair could be found inside the Sunset Lakes Community Center. More than 170 people stopped by for educational seminars dealing with caring for caregivers, legal issues, and preparing for disasters, said the city's social services director, Geri Freedman.

The League for the Hard of Hearing and other nonprofit organizations were on hand, along with Classic Residences by Hyatt and other assisted-living providers, to share information with seniors.

(source) Sun Sentinel (Laura Burdick-Sherman) 6-02-04