The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the Cape Breton Regional Muncipality is hosting the Unity in Diversity Cafe on Thursday, November 10, 7pm to 9:30pm, Cafeteria, Ecole Etoile De L’Acadie on Inglis Street in Sydney.
Laura Conrod, a member of the planning committee, says the acts so far confirmed to perform are: Elisabeth Graham (storytelling), Bibianne Lessard (French poetry), Devon the Magnificent, George and Gail Symonds (music), Saeed Foroughi (Celtic flute and harp), Ken Chisholm (music), Amy Buckingham (music) as well as musical performance from Conrod herself. The list will lengthen when more musicians, storytellers, and spoken word artists confirm their participation.
“In the past we had a big concert with a meal every year during Unity in Diversity week,” Conrod explains. “This year we scaled down the concert to a Cafe – with lots of entertainment, but none of the big groups. Also, we opted to have it in the cafe style, and therefore did not have to prepare a huge meal.”
“This left us with more time to arrange a second event, the one in the YMCA community room, the day before the cafe, on November 9th, 2011, 7:30 pm to 9 pm,” Conrod adds. “That event will have writings that pertain to unity or unity in diversity, from many of the world’s religions.”
“For unity of the world, diversity in its broadest sense has to be recognized and celebrated, whether it be by nationality, race, gender, age, class, culture, religion, or differences of ability, education or economic position.” Conrod observes about the inspiration behind the event, “To that end, the Unity in Diversity Cafe is a celebration of the unity that can be found in diversity. It is a gift to the people of the area.”
“As the cafe is a gift to the community, the Baha’is do not add any religious content to the night’s entertainment,” Conrod says. “This is the first time we’ve tried a cafe, and after the event we’ll know if it’s something we want to try more often than once a year.”
The Unity in Diversity Cafe is a free event open to everyone of every age and along with the entertainment there will be some light refreshments. Visit Facebook and if you choose to “Like It”, you have a chance to win a prize.
