Thanksgiving and Roma Folk Tales Illustrations Exhibit Opening

Thanksgiving is the most important family holiday in the U.S. this year American Corner Debrecen tied a special illustrations exhibit opening to the traditional Thanksgiving potluck dinner to truly incorporate the values and messages of the holiday in the program. The success of the program manifested in the attendance of around 140 guests including the 25 young and talented artists from True Pearl Foundation, whose sparkling and splendid pieces were on display. The folk tales’ interpreters from Wali Istvan Roma Residential School in Debrecen, the U.S. Embassy’s interns and Fulbright executive director Dr. Károly Jókay as project manager also represented the Fulbright Roma Student Project. Susanne Liaw ’15, Fulbright Roma English Teaching Assistant, editor and supervisor of the project could not be present in person, but shared her thoughts via video messaging. The event showcased a good example of intercultural cooperation where Roma and non-Roma Hungarians met to celebrate talented future generations and expressed hopes for better communication and recognition in society. Real interaction evolved at the special Thanksgiving event at American Corner Debrecen and regular AC guests, local expats, former Fulbright grantees, high school students, the Debrecen Dixieland Jazz Band, Sound-Picture Association and Maminvent social entrepreneurship positively contributed to the overall success of the evening.