COLDWATER — People came and went over the six hours at Saturday's Cultural Jubilee in the Tibbits parking lot.
Tibbits Opera House Executive Director Chris Delaney said, reflecting on Saturday's Jubilee, "For a first-time event, I was just ecstatic."
Long-time residents and others who moved to Branch County over the last few decades, bringing their own cultures, gathered during the event.
Participants shared exhibits, food, music, and dancing with those who dropped by.
Delaney began suggesting a cultural exchange last year. Others and local organizations joined in the program. "I think I speak for everybody on the committee, it was very successful."
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Delaney said sponsor Sunrise Rotary of Coldwater Township shared Midwestern culture. The club served meatballs with five kinds of barbecue sauce as an example of American food.
Bronson's Polish Festival brought in Tasteful Creations to serve Polish fare.
Japanese began arriving in Coldwater in 1996 with the opening of the ASAMA foundry.
ASAMA president Kazumitsu Takeoka and friends attended with others. A woman and daughter presented traditional Japanese dancing.
Numerous local Arabic booths display the culture that came to Coldwater in the 1970s. The city estimates that the mostly Yemeni community makes up at least 20% of its population.
Shawarma Station offered food and drink, and other sold sweets.
The Moslem Society displayed a drawing of the new Perkins Street Mosque, which they hope will be completed by winter.
A popular taco food truck shared that cuisine.
Main Street Coldwater offered salsa samples from local restaurants so the public could vote for their favorite.
Music started with a mariachi band on the steps of Tibbits Opera House.
Drummers and dancers from the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi invited members of the crowd to join them dancing in the street.
Delaney said the Jubilee's goal was "For us to gather with our neighbors. I think every one of us who's been involved with this project is 100% behind that goal."
Sunrise Rotary President Joe Hughes said, "Diversity is good for this community."
Coldwater Community Schools Superintendent Paul Flynn said about a quarter of students are Arabic, with an increasing number of Hispanic students. This past year, there was an influx of Haitian French Creole-speaking students. "We're looking at the opportunities to improve our services for all kids and figure out how to do that best for each unique culture."
The superintendent does not see a significant problem among the children. "You're putting almost 1,000 kids in (the high school) building together. You're gonna have kid issues. I don't see it as a cultural thing or racism. Kids are kids," he said.
Delaney said the organization that sponsored the Jubilee will discuss whether to hold another next year or look toward other ways to promote diverse cultures in the community. "The overall effort will always continue."
The shift in population diversity has been dramatic over the last three decades.
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In 1990, the U.S. census population of Branch County was predominantly white, including Middle Eastern residents, with approximately 97.3% white. By 2020, the proportion of white residents decreased to 86.4%.
In 1990, 1% of Branch County's population was Hispanic or Latino. By 2020, this percentage had increased significantly to 6.5%.
In 1990, the Black population accounted for only 0.9%, which increased to 2.8% by 2020. That number has grown in the last two years, doubled by recent Census Bureau estimates.
— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com
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