Union Settlement will once again present the 23rd Annual Ethnic Festival to be held on Saturday, May 16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will close down 104th Street between Second and Third Avenue.
Like last year, there will be an outdoor stage with a large variety of multi-cultural entertainment, over 50 independent, local vendors and exhibitors on the street, and other activities going on throughout the day for all age groups. This year’s theme of “Empowering East Harlem” will be experienced through various featured activities found in our “Power Stations.”
The Power of Health: Thanks to the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, we will be able to provide free blood pressure or bone density testing, and health education and counseling in English, Spanish and Mandarin.
The Power of Good Nutrition: Cooking demonstrations and tastings by SMART University, local cookbook author Eris Garriga and area restaurants, such as Blue CoCo.
The Power of Exercise: ZUMBA and Tai Chi exhibitions on the main stage.
The Power of Art: We’re showcasing a Mini Museum Mile brought to you by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Transit Museum, the National Jazz Museum, the Museum of the City of New York and El Museo del Barrio.
The Power of Craft: Arts and Crafts are recognized forms of improving mental health. They’re also downright fun!
The Power of Beauty: Enjoy makeovers from the experts from MAC Cosmetics.
In addition, the event will bring back two special activities that have been particularly popular among the little ones: a wild animal zoo and pony rides in our community garden. In addition, we will have face painting, a clown, popcorn, cotton candy, a basketball tournament and fashion shows for the young adults.
Union Settlement Association is an on-the-ground resource for East Harlem residents of all ages and a strong advocate for the needs of underserved communities. Since opening its doors in 1895, Union Settlement has brought education, wellness, and community-building programs to the people of East Harlem—a neighborhood rich in culture and diversity that also is one of the lowest-income communities in New York City. By helping our neighbors realize their goals, we build the vitality and success of East Harlem. Its offerings—from youth and adult education, to Meals-on-Wheels, mental health services and programs for seniors–span more than a dozen locations across our neighborhood. They are designed to touch every member of a family and support the needs of every generation and culture in our neighborhood.
Union Settlement Association has served the people of East Harlem since 1895. One of the largest settlement houses in New York, Union Settlement serves more than 10,000 East Harlem residents of all ages each year through its education, health, senior services, youth development, childcare, counseling, and economic development programs. With a population greater than that of Albany, New York, East Harlem has long been a portal community to waves of immigrant populations.
With each new generation—beginning with the Irish, Eastern European, and Italian populations of a century ago, to the more recent mix of Hispanics and African Americans, and the latest arrivals from Central and South America, West Africa, the Caribbean and China—Union Settlement has been able to transform itself to meet new demands and has proven to be a sustained and sustaining community bedrock.