Costa students and community members gathered at the Joslyn Community Center on Sunday, Feb 22 to celebrate cultures from around the world at the MB United Multicultural Festival.
Hosted by an independent public health care district serving the beach cities of Los Angeles county called Beach Cities Health District,and MB United, the festival brought together several of Costa’s cultural clubs, each hosting a booth featuring poster boarding, traditional clothing, jewelry, food, and interactive activities representing different regions of the world.
“The event was a combination of different cultural clubs on Costa’s campus, and each one had their own part to play in organizing the event,” said senior Dora Tuitupou, president of the Pacific Islanders Club and Social Justice Club. “They featured the St. Michaels club, Pacific Islanders club, Latino Scholars Union, Black Scholars Union, North African club, and the Mira Costa Mariachi Band.”
For many Costa volunteers, celebrating culture extended beyond just presenting facts on a poster board. The festival created a space for connection within Costa and with the broader community, helping students reconnect with their roots and peers while teaching attendees about different cultures and traditions.
“Celebrating different cultural traditions helps me feel more connected to my family and ancestors, and it gives me something to bond over with my friends who have the same background,” said senior Kimaya Mata, co-president of the St. Michael’s Club.
Cultural representation was a common theme among volunteers, especially for students who feel their identities are not always visible on campus. Events like this serve as a reminder that there are many diverse voices present on campus, all deserving of recognition.
“I think cultural events like this matter to the community because they show that there is a Black presence at Costa, and that it is a culture that’s also important to recognize,” said junior Zola Pickens, president of Black Scholars Union (BSU) club. “I hope that people left with a deeper appreciation of Black culture, and realize how important it still is today.”
To encourage attendees to visit every booth, organizers incorporated a passport activity, where participants received stamps from ‘all around the world’ after learning about each region. The interactive element encouraged participants to engage more deeply with each booth.
“A lot of people were walking around just trying to get their passport stamped, so I would try to teach them a little bit about Latin American culture before they would [walk away]” said senior Sarabeth Mullenhoff, president of the Latino Scholars Union (LSU) club. “I was able to help people learn about different languages and kinds of music, and I just wanted people to learn so I was happy that they did.”
Beyond education, volunteers emphasized the importance of representation in a community that may not always reflect the diversity of its students. The festival strengthened unity among volunteers and attendees, while honoring individuality and spotlighting the many backgrounds of Costa.
“Events like this really matter in our community because it helps make a more cohesive, united front,” said Tuitupou. “I think it’s good that everyone gets to have their own representation and celebration.”
Leave a Reply