Thousands to Attend “Communities United Multicultural Festival” Celebrating Diversity and Right to Vote

The festival, which will foster understanding across communities by featuring music, performances, art, food and vendors from many different cultures, is a powerful rebuke to the alarming rise in hate crimes and divisive rhetoric 

WHAT: Communities United Multicultural Festival
WHEN: Saturday Sept. 9, 2023, 4-9 p.m.
WHERE: Clark County Government Center Amphitheater
500 S Grand Central Pkwy, Las Vegas
RSVP: bit.ly/communitiesunited2023

Las Vegas, Nev. — On Saturday, Sept. 9, thousands of Nevadans are expected to attend the massive “Communities United Multicultural Festival” which celebrates the state’s diversity and encourages civic engagement, voter participation, and understanding across racial and identity lines. The festival will feature thrilling live performances, music, art, children’s activities, food and vendors from many diverse cultures. The event is a powerful rebuke and antidote to divisive rhetoric and the recent alarming rise in hate crimes, which have reached the highest levels on record. 

Over 100 partners are helping to coordinate the sprawling festival, including major unions, companies and grassroots organizations from the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander; Black; Latino; indigenous and LGBTQ+ communities. In addition to the cultural festivities, there will be opportunities to register to vote; get information about key electoral issues; and learn about citizenship training.   

“The message and vision of our Communities United Multicultural Festival is one of joy, harmony and hope – that Americans won’t let ourselves be divided by hate, but rather we celebrate our diverse cultures,” said Grace Vergara-Mactal, Executive Director of Nevada’s largest healthcare and public service union, SEIU Local 1107, which is hosting the festival along with community partners.

This year’s celebration has taken on even more urgency as Nevadans have confronted: soaring hate crimes such as the attack a few months ago on an elderly Filipino man; Clark County School District police brutality against Black students; and increasingly hostile rhetoric against the rights of women, communities of color and LGBTQ+ people. Organizers are aiming to counteract this division and discord, and create an event full of creativity and inspiration to generate positive social change.   

“We live in a country that celebrates diversity and unity, and it’s crucial that we remember that,” said Gloria T. Caoile, co-founder of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations. “America’s strength lies in its open arms that welcome people from all walks of life. Our unique stories and backgrounds only add to the rich tapestry of our nation. People of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ individuals are integral threads in the fabric of our communities, weaving in their contributions every day to help Nevada flourish. Our Communities United Multicultural Festival serves as a beacon of recognition and respect for these diverse contributions, sending a resounding message of unity.”

“Our Communities United Multicultural Festival is occurring one year out from historic elections and intends to motivate people to vote at unprecedented levels, especially union members, youth and people of color,” said Michelle Maese, President of SEIU Local 1107. “Nevada is one of the most critical battleground states in the nation, with elections next year for Congressional offices, State Senate and Assembly, the courts, school board, Board of Regents, mayor and city council, in addition to the presidency and multiple ballot measures. We’re declaring that Nevadans refuse to fall for the politics of division and are instead uniting around our shared values.” 

Partner organizations include:

African Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
African Diaspora of Las Vegas (ADOLV)
All Voting is Local
American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada (ACLU NV)
Angels of Las Vegas
Asian Community Resource Center (ACRC)
Balayan Las Vegas Association
Bamboo Bridges
Battle Born Progress
Be Smart for Kids
Bikolnon Association
Black Joy Consulting
Black Leadership Collective
Blue Cross Blue Shield Nevada
Carpenters Union
Cavite Association of Nevada
Chilean American Association of Nevada
Chispa Nevada
Clark County Education Association (CCEA)
Common Tree LV
Community Services of Nevada (CSNV)
Culinary Union Local 226
Culinary Academy of Las Vegas
Democratic Socialist of America Las Vegas
Department of Family Services
Echo
Ecube
Emerge Nevada
Everytown Survivor Network
Faith Organizing Alliance
Filipino-American Scholarship Foundation and Outreach Services (FASFOS)
Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Nevada (FACCGN)
Filipino American Educators
Foodie Fest
For Our Future
Hispanics in Politics
Humana
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
IndigenousAF
Ilocano American Association of Nevada
Kids Corner
Labor Council For Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)
Las Vegas Expo
Lovee Inc.
Make The Road
Mass Liberation
Mi Familia Vota
Moms Demand Action
NAACP
National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) NV
National Action Network (NAN)
National Domestic Workers Alliance
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation
Native Voters Alliance
Nehemiah Ministries
Nevada Conservation League
Nevada Esports Education League
Nevada Health Link
Nevada State AFL-CIO
Nevada Women in Trades
No Racism in Schools
National Organization for Women (NOW)
The Obodo Collective
One APIA Nevada
Outreach Service Nevada
Palm Mortuaries
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 525
Power Portraits
Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN)
Promotoras Las Vegas
Rising Asian Pacific Americans Coalition for Diversity (RAPACD)
Red Desert Collective
Red Rock Vegas Times
Santa Maria Ilocos Sur Association of Nevada (SMISAN)
Seek Jesus First Minister
SEIU AAPI Caucus
SEIU Local 1107
Seven Lakes International
Silver State Equality
Silver State Health
Sing Out For Autism
Spring Valley High School Key Club
Tamaitai Polenisia Samora LV (Heart of Polynesian)
Teamsters Local 986
Teriyaki Boy
The Stretch for Change Foundation
The Wealthy Place Ministries LV
Transport Workers Union
Vegas +
Vegas FAB
Vietnamese American Community of Las Vegas
Youth Voice of Nevada