2014 Festival of Nations

Exploring the world of St. Louis

Alma de Mexico dance troupe delights the sweltering Saturday crowd at Festival of Nations

On August 23 and 24, more than 65,000 visitors flocked to the 2014 Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park in South St. Louis. Despite the high temperatures and unusually stifling humidity, the lively crowd swayed to ethnic music presented on four stages and ate their way around the world.

The Enterprise Main Stage featured several traditional crowd pleasers, including the St. Louis Cultural Flamenco Society, Tibetan Monks Sacred Arts, Modern Chinese School dancers and Sunshine and the Community Performance Ensemble. Kreativ Motion, main stage newcomers, also drew a large and vocal crowd.

The Wells Fargo Grand Stage featured Alma de Mexico dancers, Doorei Korean Drumming and Jamaicans King Omawale and the Majestic Lions Band. Despite the blistering heat, the Village Green attracted large groups of visitors eager to learn salsa, Irish, samba and other lively dance steps.

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Elderly Attain US Citizenship

Participating in democracy

New US Citizens proudly display their certificates of accomplishment received at the Institute's recent Elderly Services celebration

On July 31, seven new US Citizens celebrated their accomplishment with Elderly Services Program participants, staff and volunteers. These new citizens from Asia, Africa, and elsewhere have studied for months -- and years -- to reach the sometimes seemingly unattainable goal of citizenship.

"Imagine living and aging in a refugee camp for years or even decades," said Anna Crosslin, Institute President. "Then imagine how difficult it is to learn again, especially for the elderly."

"These new citizens and other elderly like them deserve praise for their hard work and diligent pursuit of a goal that requires learning history and civics, much of which many native-born Americans don't know," she added.