Passport to the World-Chile

Sunday, August 5, 2012 2-4 p.m.

O’More College of Design, 423 South Margin Street, Franklin, TN  37064

Come and learn about Chilean demographics, politics, religion, weather, novel prize winners and immigrants groups.  Look at its traditions, culture and folklore, dance of “La cueca” and live folk music. Chilean culinary culture with a taste of typical food, and information about exportation of wine, fruits and sea food.   Enjoy an exhibit of copper, ceramics, books, pictures, videos, leather, clothing and textile artifacts.

Marlene  Vergara  was born in Temuco, a city in the south part of Chile. She moved to Calgary, Canada for a few years, and then she moved to California. She has lived in Williamson County for the last 19 years, where her 2 daughters went to school. She’s currently employed as a Pre-K social worker with Franklin Special School District.

Cecilia Melo-Romie was born in San Javier, Linares in the center part of Chile. In 1967 she moved to Princeton, New Jersey then to California and in 2005 moved to Franklin in Williamson County where she has been an active public servant.  She is owner of CMR Marketing & P.R. and she is part of the Multicultural Team of Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.

Rosario Langlois was born in Puerto Montt, a city in the south of Chile. She graduated with a BS in Early Childhood Education from the Catholic University of Valparaiso, Chile.  In 1998 she moved to Nashville, where she started working in the non-profit area with the Spanish speaking population. Currently works with First Steps Inc. as the Director of Outreach Programs serving children birth to three years old with disabilities.

The next installment in the Passport Series on June 3rd will take fellow travelers along a journey around the globe through the portal of ancient Persia.  Two multi-instrumentalist musicians with Persian heritage will weave together a tapestry of sounds with a varity of indigenous musical instruments invoking the experience of the sacred in all traditions.

True to a Persian custom of inclusivity, tolerance and respect for all traditions, religions and political views, based on the “first Human rights” declaration on the Cyrus Cylinder dated 539 BC following the Persian conquest of Babylon, there will be a free form discussion on the theme of Art and Creativity as related to human evolution.

This global musical journey will include the experience of hearing selections of Rumi poetry recited in native Farsi (Persian), discussion on its translation/ interpretation and a tasting of Persian foods as well as a selection of artwork.

Massood Taj is a musician and artist. He facilitates creative programming and conducts group workshops with the premise that collaborative creativity builds intimacy and community and “is what brings us closer as humans.”  He promotes creativity in everyone through an artist organization he co-founded in 2006 called Full Circle Art. He is the director of arts programming for the Williamson County Cultural Arts commission.

Roxana Imami  completed her studies at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in Clarinet Performance and Music History. A classically trained clarinetist, vocalist, instructor, composer/arranger [multi-instrumentalist - with a specialty in world music, folk and early instruments]

Watch for more information on our next Passport Series on Persia on June 3, 2012 from 2-4 at the Williamson County Library.

What a great turnout today for the Passport Series on France. Thank you Doug Sharp for putting this together! Our April event will be on India.

Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County begin their 2^nd year of the highly successful series Passport to the World Series by traveling to France, at the Williamson County Library.  The discussion will be held Sunday, February 5, at 2 p.m. and feature Amelie de Gaulle, from the France Agency Consulate in Nashville.   The discussion will begin with a short history of Paris, a lesson on French wines and a taste of French cheeses with an expert from the Whole Foods cheese counter.

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