Huntington Multicultural Festival

September 7, 2003
Photos by Janet Fout

From Cuban to country music, fun performance dances, delicious ethnic food, unique vendors from Mexico and elsewhere, fair trade coffee and more--all were the order of the day, Saturday, September 7, in Huntington’s Ritter Park at the Huntington Multi-Cultural Festival. For the third consecutive year, OVEC participated in this culturally enriching event. OVEC staff and volunteers provided information about our Stop Mountaintop Removal Campaign and educational materials about the West Virginia Clean Elections Act. Most popular at our table was hot, delicious fair trade coffee, Café Mayaik (now available at the OVEC office for $10 / pound). 

Many thanks to Eric Fout who helped with set up and saved the day by renting an additional table at the last minute for all our materials! Also on hand to help were Maryanne Graham, our behind the scenes, but indispensable Office Manager, long-time board member, Elinore Taylor and Abe Mwaura, the newest OVEC staffer. Many people stopped by our table, lured by the intriguing and beautiful collage of OVEC’s mountaintop removal work created by the talented and tireless, Vivian Stockman (OVEC staffer, woman-of-all-trades). What a wonderful gathering of diverse culture, reflecting more and more the global world in which we are living. And the weather was simply divine!

Eric Fout lends his time and muscles to set up
for the Huntington Multi-Cultural Festival.

Tim Irr, a local newscaster, introduces Huntington Mayor David Felinton.

Huntington Mayor David Felinton awaits his turn at the mike!

Tim McPherson and son pause for a photo op
with Maryanne Graham, OVEC's Office Manager. 

Long-time OVEC members and Huntington residents,
Marty Amerikaner and Linda Spatig sign a petition at the OVEC table. 

Nancy Taylor signs an AFL-CIO form at the OVEC table to protest the latest proposed US trade agreement, the Free Trade Area of the America's. This trade bill, if passed is like NAFTA on steroids and would include up to 36 countries south of the US border. US environmental regulations and laws that benefit our workers will be further undermined if the FTAA is enacted. 

Abe tells a former candidate for the WV House of Delegates about the WV Clean Elections Act, which would provide for public funding for candidates who voluntarily choose not to raise any money for their campaigns and adhere to strict spending limits. 

Maggie Fry and baby pose for the camera at the
Multi-Cultural festival in Huntington's Ritter Park.