Edgewater is one of the most diverse communities in the nation with more than 50 nations represented and over 70 languages spoken. In honor of our diverse neighborhoods, the first annual 48th Ward International Unity Day event will be held next weekend to celebrate our rich heritage.

Alderman Harry Osterman and the 48th Ward office will be holding the International Unity Day event on Saturday, November 18, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway. The program will include traditional music and dance performances from different cultures, tables with information and artifacts from more than 20 cultural organizations, storytelling sessions and samples of global cuisine from seven local restaurants.

The Alderman has been planning on doing such an event for some time now and thought this was a great time to begin. They are expecting International Unity Day to encourage a positive cultural exchange where we can learn from one another and celebrate all the different cultures that make Edgewater so special.

“We are hoping there will be some positive connections between neighbors at the event,”said the 48th Ward’s Ally Brisbin. “We are hoping people will be seen and respected for the different backgrounds that they bring to our community.”

Attendees at the 48th Ward International Unity Day will also have a chance to participate in a workshop that will help create a new large-scale mosaic in the Broadway Armory’s entrance. With their work all around Edgewater and the City of Chicago, this will be the newest public art mosaic installation managed by Green Star Movement.

“At the end of the event, we will be inviting everyone that is dressed in traditional garb from their home countries to participate in an international fashion show,” Brisbin added. “Those people will be able to walk the runway and show them off.”

Brisbin said that the office has really enjoyed putting the 48th Ward’s International Unity Day together and it is coming together rather well. The planning committee had so many ideas that they were not able to pull them all off this year, but are looking forward to implementing them in the future to help grow the event.

If your organization is interested in participating, please email the Alderman at harry@48thward.org. If you are interested in volunteering, click here to sign up.