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News  Fenton Judicial Center Cultural Appreciation Week Event Features Cultural Fashion Show, Speeches, Musical Performances, and Feast

Attendees arrived to find beautiful cultural clothing representing such countries as the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Thailand.
10/18/2023
  • Massachusetts Probation Service

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Coria Holland, Communications Director

A group of eight people standing inside a building with brick pillars and grey tiled floor.

Attendees of the 2023 Cultural Appreciation Week event at Fenton Judicial Center in Lawrence on Monday, October 16 arrived to find beautiful cultural clothing representing countries including the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Thailand on each landing of a staircase leading up to the second floor of the courthouse where the celebration was held.

First Justice Mark Sullivan welcomed the audience. The celebration featured a stirring recitation of Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech by educator Ralph Bledsoe. The Lawrence High School Jr. ROTC Color Guard marched in. A singing group comprised of local children, enrolled in grades 3-11, performed before the standing room only audience.

A group of three women dressed in attire celebrating their cultures
Global outfits line the main stairwell at Fenton Judicial Center.
A feast of global cuisine available at the Fenton Judicial Center Cultural Appreciation Week celebration.
A group comprised of local children, enrolled in grades 3-11, performed before the standing room only audience.

Essex Juvenile Court Probation Officer April Anderson introduced the cultural fashion show which featured outfits that represented a number of countries, including the Dominican Republic, Nigeria, and Japan. The celebration ended with an enormous feast with dishes from Africa, Poland, Ireland, Korea, and more. The Cultural Proficiency Champions - Champions who planned this event - include Anderson, Dahiana Fuentes, and Danielle DuBois.

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  • Massachusetts Probation Service 

    MPS's main goal is to keep communities safe and to provide people on probation with the rehabilitative tools they need to live a productive and law-abiding life.
  • Image credits:  From left to right: Carmen Gomez, Vincent Lorenti, Dianne Fasano, Natoschia Scruggs, District Court Chief Justice Stacey Fortes, Supreme Judicial Court Justice David Lowy, Pamerson Ifill, and Michael Coelho.

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