Myrna Martinez Nateras - (559) 222-7678 or mnateras@afsc.org
Jennifer Meinert - (559) 222-7678 or jmeinert@afsc.org
FRESNO, CA (July 17, 2009) - On September 19, 2009, the Tamejavi Festival will once again return to Fresno. The day-long Tamejavi 5 - Our Voices, Our Stories: A Path to Inclusion event will transform Radio Park and the Fresno Art Museum into an interactive space filled with theater, dance, music, poetry and multi-media. Artists from the Hmong, Indigenous Mexican, Iranian, Filipino, Native American and African American communities will tell stories of heritage and cultural transformation utilizing these different art forms. They will also share how they have added artistic expressions and cultural practices to the Central Valley's landscape as well as new flavors and ingredients to the local cuisine.
The festival will begin at 10 a.m. with a Blessing Ceremony. As with past festivals, this year's Tamejavi Festival will feature pláticas discussion groups, a film series, artistic presentations, children's activities, and an Outdoor Marketplace - which includes the always highly anticipated Cultural Kitchen. New to the festival will be a farmers' market, a poetry corner, and the presentation of an original theatrical piece that explores the transcontinental African experience.
Headlining artists will include Bay Area sensation Rupa & The April Fishes, the Iranian dance group Ballet Afsaneh, poet ShadoKat, and Palestinian Hip Hop artist Abeer, also known as Sabreena de Witch. A number of local artists, communities, and organizations will also participate in the festival.
For the latest festival updates, visit the official Tamejavi website at www.tamejavi.org. This event is made possible through the generous financial support of the James Irvine Foundation and the Marguerite Casey Foundation.
The Pan-Valley Institute of the American Friends Service Committee (PVI-AFSC) is the coordinating organization of the Tamejavi Festival. Established in 1998 as a project of AFSC, Pan-Valley Institute's mission is to create a place where immigrants and refugees can gather to learn from each other and rebuild their world. AFSC is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.