Unity in the Community

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As citizens of the United States of America, a nation of immigrants, we have an inherent desire to remember our roots and take pride in where we came from. With so much diversity within our town, residents of the Town of Islip came together to celebrate our rich backgrounds at the inaugural Unity in the Community event. The fun-filled festival was organized by the Town of Islip Unity Council and held at the Islip Grange, in Sayville, on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Unity in the Community highlighted the wide variety of cultures, languages, and religions being practiced within the Town of Islip through cultural education, entertaining performances, and delicious food.

Unity in the Community commenced as attendees gathered at the Town of Islip Cultural Arts stage for the opening flag ceremony. Local Long Island band, The Blend, performed a lively rendition of “America” by Neil Diamond, setting a cheerful mood for the opening ceremony. Town residents processed in front of the stage, adorning the stage with a variety of flags from countries all around the world, while members of the Unity Council and elected town officials processed onto the stage The Pledge of Allegiance was led by inspector John Sumwalt, the commanding officer of the Fifth Precinct, and Rachel Jarvis of The Blend sang the national anthem, before Islip Town supervisor Angie Carpenter welcomed all attendees.

“The Town of Islip is made strong by the unique individuality and diverse traditions and backgrounds of its people,” professed Carpenter. “We are a melting pot of cultures, religions, and languages… At its core, the Unity in the Community event is about bringing people together, and to inspire and uplift.”

Carpenter expressed heartfelt appreciation toward the Unity Council for all their hard work planning Unity in the Community. The Unity Council is composed of community leaders from diverse backgrounds across the town, including school officials, religious leaders, hospital officials, nonprofit directors, and elected officials. This council meets periodically throughout the year to discuss ways to engage with the community and local leaders to promote solidarity and celebrate our differences. It was during these meetings that the Unity in the Community event was planned.

Unity in the Community coincided within two days of Pakistan Independence Day, as Monday, Aug. 14 marks the 76th anniversary of the country’s independence. Many Pakistani Americans attended to celebrate the anniversary of the important moment in world history and to honor Pakistan’s independence. Hassan Ahmed, a member of the Brentwood School Board and Unity Council, formally introduced Nawab Adil Khan, deputy consul of Pakistan, during the opening ceremony. Khan addressed attendees and accepted a commemorative citation, presented by Carpenter.

“Pakistani-Americans are a group of talented individuals who have given back to Pakistan, day in and day out,” expressed Khan. “It is also a day to pay a special tribute to our Pakistani-Americans, to remain in the vanguard of supporting Pakistan and its causes.”

Following the opening ceremony, a variety of performers graced the Town of Islip Cultural Arts stage throughout the duration of the event. Girls from the Stony Brook Dance School showcased a graceful performance, and women from the Long Island Chinese Dance School proudly performed a moving, traditional Chinese dance. Musical performers honored their native languages by singing in their native tongue, and The Blend provided musical entertainment in between all the wonderful performances.

With an array of traditional cuisine to choose from, attendees were able to try delicious foods from different cultures. Among the food trucks and booths were Island Empanadas, All American Wontons, American hamburgers and hot dogs, German pretzels from Not of This World, and El Salvadorian pupusas from Pupusas City. The Catholic Health booth even offered free food tasting for all attendees.

While indulging in traditional cultural cuisine, attendees visited “The United Nations of Islip,” an exhibit showcasing information about nations around the globe. Educational posters displayed throughout the exhibit served to educate attendees about the traditions and customs celebrated in different nations.

While meandering through the grounds of the Islip Grange, attendees observed peace poles throughout the vicinity—decorated poles displaying messages of peace and harmony. Each pole displayed a unique message, designed and decorated by a multitude of organizations, including the Town of Islip, Brentwood Public Library, First Baptist Church of Bay Shore, Catholic Health Good Samaritan Hospital, and Youth Enrichment Services. During the opening ceremony, supervisor Carpenter thanked everyone who participated in creating the symbols of peace.

“That message of the peace poles, ‘May peace prevail on earth,’ is being reinforced by the creation of these peace poles,” explained Carpenter. “They are symbols of hope and recognized internationally as markers of unity, and they join the millions of peace poles worldwide as a vigilant silent prayer for peace on Earth.”

As the inaugural Unity in the Community came to a close, attendees left the event with a greater appreciation for the diversity around us, and a greater understanding of how we are united not in spite of our differences, but in celebration of them.