Photo Caption – NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm (second from right) honors Friends of Diversity Plaza Chairperson Shekar Krishnan, Friends of Diversity Plaza Board Member Eirik Davey-Gislason (first and second from left) and SUKHI New York Founder Agha Saleh (on Dromm’s right) at the 2nd Annual Family Day on Diversity Plaza.
Jackson Heights, NY – On Saturday, Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights, Elmhurst) was joined by Friends of Diversity Plaza Chairperson Shekar Krishnan, Friends of Diversity Plaza Board Member Eirik Davey-Gislason and representatives from Emblem Health in hosting the 2nd Annual Family Day on Diversity Plaza.
Family Day is a community festival and celebration of the cultural diversity that makes Diversity Plaza one of the most exciting and vibrant places in the city. Attendees were treated to a variety of international music, dance and other entertainment. At the event, Dromm presented Friends of Diversity Plaza and SUKHI New York with Diversity Plaza street signs to honor them for their early and steadfast support of the plaza which was founded by Dromm in October 2011.
Family Day included performances from Bollywood Funk, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, Deum Band, Himalayan Elders Project, the New York Mets official mascot Mr. Met, Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance and clown/puppeteer Paul VanDeCarr. Additionally, “Mimi” from Queens Community House taught a public Zumba class, and the Newtown Literary Alliance hosted a writing workshop for all ages. A number of community-based organizations tabled and provided literature to Family Day participants.
“Family Day attendees have the exciting opportunity to experience the many cultures that make up Jackson Heights and Elmhurst,” said Council Member Dromm, who founded Family Day last year. “This one-of-a-kind festival transports you from India to Ireland and from Mexico to Tibet in just one afternoon. Family Day has become a day all Queens residents look forward to and I am proud to co-sponsor it once again.”
“This weekend’s Family Day at Diversity Plaza was another incredible success,” said Shekar Krishnan, chairperson of Friends of Diversity Plaza. “From the wonderful performances from around the world to the large turnout from our community, the vibrancy and extraordinary diversity of Jackson Heights was on full display. Thank you to all our partners who helped bring this day to fruition, most especially to our Council Member Daniel Dromm, Emblem Health and to our community of Jackson Heights. We at Friends of Diversity Plaza look forward to what’s in store for our plaza—the town square of our neighborhood—and to bring more exciting programming like this in the months to come!”
The event and all performances/activities were free and open to the public.
