Posted July 23, 2022 at 9:44 AM CDT
Bloomington-Normal high school students showcased their artistic talents Friday night to showcase the diversity of the community.
The CoffeeHouse in Uptown Normal hosted the Not In Our School steering committee to host an event that included performances by local musicians and a variety of local artists from different backgrounds to highlight and discuss their work.
The committee for the cultural arts night was made up of a group of student representatives from Not In Our School (NOIS) groups at Bloomington-Normal public high schools.
“I think sometimes we live in our own bubbles. But learning and breaking that shell, learning about different cultures helps us grow in many different ways,” said Jolie Ortiz, a rising senior at Bloomington High School and member of NOIS. “It helps us meet new people and it helps us connect with people better.”
Organizers said the goal of the event was to build a stronger community among Bloomington-Ordinary Citizens by sharing and understanding each other’s cultures while giving local artists a chance to showcase their work. their other jobs. Many artists – from painters to writers to musicians – were able to get the attention they deserved tonight.
Many artists who came to say the importance of sharing their culture with the community, adding that the main reason to participate is to teach.
“Often, the reason why people have negative opinions about certain groups of people or culture is because they have never met those people and they have not been told or they are not taught about those facts,” said Miranda Lin, a professor of Taiwanese at Illinois State University.
This was the first cultural arts night organized by the Not In Our School Steering Committee, but the group has plans for future events. A “Thrift For Our Rights” event is in the works. It’s a donation drive where people can donate clothes, books, and knickknacks to be sold to raise money for the National Network of Abortion Funds.
The event is scheduled for Aug. 6.
