Somerset County 2nd Annual Virtual Diversity Festival Begins Oct. 1

Residents Can Share Diversity-Related Information Online

Due to the pandemic, Somerset County will feature its second annual Diversity Festival online beginning Oct. 1 through 31, in honor of Global Diversity Awareness Month. The festival will occur through an interactive multi-media platform that is open to the public and built around this year’s theme “Somerset County – Everyone Belongs Here.” For more information, go to http://bit.ly/SCDiversityFestival2020

“Somerset County welcomes, recognizes and honors people with various religious beliefs, sexual orientations, abilities, backgrounds and cultures because we know that diversity is our strength and unity is our power,” said Somerset County Freeholder Director Shanel Robinson. “Our diverse population of residents  offer unique contributions to our communities and positively impact every area of our lives.

“I encourage residents to visit the online festival,” she said. “There will be an interesting and informative, interactive platform that will offer diversity-related stories, historical information, and resources.”

Beginning Oct. 1, the public will have online access to a Diversity Festival Story Map, which will allow users to explore the history of diverse cultures in specific locations within Somerset County. The Story Map also will include a virtual resource library, and online presentations that showcase other residents’ diversity-related experiences.

Story Map Submissions

For the Diversity Festival Story Map, the public can share their diversity-related stories, resources, and information about diversity-related events and programs by submitting information through an online submission portal. Submissions will be reviewed by the Diversity Festival Team and then displayed on the Story Map.

Submissions should be diversity-related, which can include resources for- or topics about various ethnicities, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, ages, people with developmental and physical abilities, and people of all income levels and education. To submit diversity-related information, visit http://bit.ly/DiversitySubmissionForm

Poster Contest

As part of the Diversity Festival, a themed poster contest for grades four through twelve will begin on Oct. 1. First- and second-place winners in three different age groups will receive $50 to $100 gift certificates to a Somerset County business of their choice, courtesy of the Downtown Somerville Alliance. Submissions will be accepted online.

For more details about the 2020 Virtual Diversity Festival, visit http://bit.ly/SCDiversityFestival2020.

Somerset County welcomes – and is home to – a population of individuals from around the world. This diverse population helps make Somerset County a unique and vibrant community. It is the county’s mission to embrace all people of all backgrounds and abilities. For more information about Somerset County’s Diversity statement, visit  http://bit.ly/SCDiversityStatement

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