Students in Kent State鈥檚 Multicultural Living Learning Community in Wright Hall had the opportunity to get to know a different culture through food at the Cooking with Culture event, hosted on Dec. 8, 2023.
The event's goal was to create a sense of community with the attendees and culturally affirm their identities through a guided discussion revolving around food and culture.
Josiah Ragin, intercultural aide and a sophomore majoring in physical education and sports performance taught the group how to make a dish called New York Chopped Cheese. Ragin, who is from Harlem, New York, enjoys sharing New York cuisine with his friends.
鈥淲e wanted to use this opportunity to highlight his [Ragin's] passions and skills for cooking, and have everyone bond over food and culture,鈥 said Alice Fermaintt, program coordinator in the E. Timothy Moore Multicultural Center.
Attendees shared how their culture shows up in the food they ate when they were younger, and how they incorporate that in the foods they eat now.
They discussed how their hometowns also have significant dishes 鈥 such as deep-dish pizza in Chicago 鈥 which help create a sense of community within that city and pride for the culture within it.