PAAIA OC Strengthens Community Bonds at Irvine Global Village Festival

 

Irvine, CA, October 3, 2011 – October 1st, 2011 marked the 10th Anniversary of the Irvine Global Village Festival in Irvine, CA. Each year the City of Irvine hosts the Irvine Global Village Festival, featuring cultural entertainment, food from around the world, community partners, exhibitors, and activities reflecting Irvine’s diverse population. PAAIA’s Orange County Chapter hosted a booth at the Festival featuring information on PAAIA and community resources for Iranian Americans including the new CalOptima Persian language resource.

 

According to BAM 6.6 Director/Producer and PAAIA Volunteer Jahangir Golestani-Parast, “PAAIA’s booth was a big success!” Golestani-Parast volunteered the entire day for PAAIA at the Festival and helped introduce PAAIA to many attendees. PAAIA volunteers enrolled 24 new  members and successfully outreached to attendees from various cultural and religious backgrounds.

 

Irvine City Council Members Steven Choi and Jeff Lalloway, along with Irvine Community Services Commissioner Lynn Schott also visited the PAAIA booth and commended the organization for its community building and outreach efforts.  “This is very wonderful” commented Council Member Choi with respect to PAAIA’s programs and outreach.

 

Brian Fisk, Irvine’s Director of Community Services, said “an event like this is great because it promotes unity and educates the community about just how multicultural we are. I don’t think people realize how many cultures are represented in the community until they get here and taste the food and can see and learn about all the cultures.”

 

To learn more about PAAIA’s  Orange County Chapter visit us at www.paaia.org or email to OCchapter@45.33.40.89.