March 2003

Events welcome families

	Members of the all-student Danzantes del Alma folklórico troupe perform at La Raza Cultural Days. (Debbie Aldridge/UC Davis Mediaworks)

Spring is the season of festivals at UC Davis, and families are enthusiastically invited to attend. While the largest and most familiar event is the Picnic Day open house April 12, some parents may feel drawn to one of the others, especially if their own student is involved.

Cultural weeks at UC Davis have a long history. For example, the Powow, now a part of Native American Culture Days, began in the late 1960s. The event draws Native Americans from all over the West and Southwest, as well as a diverse audience including many people with no previous knowledge of the culture.

"It's great to see the multigenerations together," says Theresa Montemayor, a staff member who helps students coordinate cultural events. "The UC Davis student is the Powow chair, and the father is dancing, and so is a grandchild. It's just amazing."

The Native American event runs from March 31 to April 6. The other cultural weeks also have flagship events that draw entire families, whether or not they belong to the group being celebrated. Food is an attraction, as are the entertainment and educational events. Often faculty members participate.

The next festival is Asian Pacific Culture Week, April 21-25. Then come La Raza Cultural Days, April 28 to May 3, and Black Family Week, May 12 to 17. If you prefer a throwback to the '60s, Whole Earth Festival features handcrafted wares, outdoor music, and ecological information on Mother's Day weekend May 9 to 11.

Montemayor urges parents to look at these events from several angles. Parents can come for their own pleasure or to see their child, but they can also support their student in becoming familiar with the event and perhaps taking part in the future.

"This is a critical part of the college experience," says Montemayor, a 1979 UC Davis graduate, who admits she wasn't crazy about schoolwork but found herself when she became a student organizer for the Asian Pacific event. "For me, it's how I began to think as an individual and as a member of society. We all function in groups and we need to learn to communicate in groups."

Explaining why the events are so important on campus, Montemayor affirms, "Our purpose is to educate and celebrate."

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