An Evening of Culture, Food, Fashion, and Fun at GAP School

On May 21^st, GAP School’s Student Leadership Board held their first Culture Night Fundraiser! This event brought students, staff, and supporters of GAP School together for a colorful and joy-filled evening celebrating the many different cultures of our students.

The evening started with food sampling from local vendors, including Pimento Jamaican Kitchen, Eggroll Queen, Beirut Lebanese Kitchen, and El Burrito Mercado. While sharing food, guests were able to connect, and reconnect, with former staff, students, and friends. Reminiscing and looking forward to exciting futures ahead, the food really brought our GAP School community together.

The highlight of the evening was a student-led Cultural Fashion and Talent Show. Students modeled beautiful traditional outfits representing their cultures. Cultural music played throughout the show, adding to the joyful atmosphere. The colors of the outfits were stunning, and students were proud to show them off! Ethiopian, Somalian, Eritrean, Turkey, Lao, and Hmong cultures were represented in the show.

GAP School’s Student Leadership Board has put in a lot of work this year for the school, but this event was extra special. Student Leadership Board staff representative and teacher, Rachel Studley, said “It was so special and feels so well-deserved. We originally wanted to put on Culture Night in March, but with Operation Metro Surge, we had to pause and it almost didn’t happen at all.”

This event was made possible by the YouthBuild Innovations grant and Burlington Fund award. Because of these grants, all proceeds from ticket sales go directly back to the Student Leadership Board fund to carry on supporting our students throughout the year!

Pictures by Alla Boulos (GAP School Teacher)