Diversity is real at Niagara Falls High School

It came to the Express inbox like so many other releases, a media alert about “Walk the World” at Niagara Falls High School on Saturday.

The annual event celebrates the cultural diversity of Niagara Falls Schools celebrating 75 countries and cultures represented within the district.

As a community, we don’t often celebrate or even acknowledge the diversity in our midst that makes America great, not again but still.

We arrived and signed in and headed to the auditorium for some student music. I was bored and ready for something different but the fashion show was starting.

We stayed for a minute and then 20 as groups of cute kids repeatedly cycled across the stage, waving, dancing, courtseying, each one more prideful than the last, of where they came from and a community celebrating, and accepting them. Can you imagine the level of emboldening confidence built by that chance to trot across the stage knowing you are valued and celebrated, not only for you but for your culture?

Each culture at the event had its own display made by students, explaining where it is based, unique facts and political structure.

A cheerful teacher from GJ Mann said she teaches English as a second language and learns as much from her students as she teaches.

The food at the event was a veritable taste of Niagara Falls with everything from Mirch Masala with butter chicken to falafel rice bowls from Ghadda Have It and awesome tea from Lahor Fried Chicken and Gyro. “Better Food, Better Mood.”

We ended up stuffed. It was like a Niagara Falls food festival only free.

How is it that this level of diversity is in our midst and most people don’t know about it? We need to celebrate it more often.