LEXINGTON — The 5th Annual United by Culture Festival was hosted in Lexington over the weekend, which celebrates the diversity found in the multi-ethnic community.
Gladys Godinez, co-founder of United By Culture Media, said it was “surreal” for the coordinators to sit down and realize they have been hosting the festival for half a decade.
Godinez said she is continually grateful for the reception of the festival by the community.
The first event of the weekend was a showing of the Apple TV+ series, “Little America,” at the Majetic Theatre during afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 23.
Little America looks to “go beyond the headlines to look at the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring and unexpected lives of immigrants in America, at a time when their stories are more relevant than ever,” per a Deadline Hollywood article.
Godinez said they reached out to Apple TV to bring two showings of the series to Lexington, which features immigrant and refugees.
On Sunday, Sept. 24, the main festival kicked off with a full day of events in Kirkpatrick Memorial Park.
The events throughout the day included: The Dancing Man Music, Mariachi Alexis y Sus Caballeros and Gurukulam Center for Indian Arts Omaha.
Godinez said the festival organizers strive to bring brand-new acts to each year’s festival.
The closing act was The Many Moccasins Dance Troupe.
“The Many Moccasins Dance Troupe performs many Native America dance styles through an elaborate and visual setting. The dancers showcase their beautiful regalia, precise footsteps and wonderful culture. It is an educational experience with a visual impact. Audiences of all ages will enjoy this experience as dancers share and interpret Native American culture,” according to the National Park Service.
In addition to the performances, there were 61 different vendors featured throughout the park, offering services, hand-made goods and of course – food.
Godinez said, “there was so much good food,” and thanked the individuals who shared their love and culture through their cooking.
For the second year, there were also student vendors who were able to get in on the entrepreneur experience, Godinez said they were happy to include the younger generation in the festival.
Around 1,750 to 2,000 people attended the festival, said Godinez.
When asked how the committee members felt, Godinez said after the hundreds of hours of work put in to make the festival a reality, they were justifiably tired but were already thinking of ways they can elevate the experience next year.
Godinez said she is appreciative of the continued community support and for all the performers, vendors and visitors. “We are very grateful,” she said.
United By Culture Media
“It all started with the need to help our immigrant community members. In late 2016, Maricela Novoa, Nancy Pinedo, Karina Lupercio, Rosangela Godinez and Gladys Godinez were meeting to find the best way to respond to a possible immigration raid in the community of Lexington, Nebraska. During various meetings and understanding that as a group, we could help our community with more. Karina said, ‘Let’s throw a party!’ and that’s how the United by Culture Festival started,” per the United By Culture website.
In 2021, the group decided to expand its reach and started United by Culture Media, Inc., to highlight and uplift stories of diverse backgrounds.
Gladys Godinez and her husband, Chris Cox, initiated the process to formalize United by Culture Media to make sure that diverse rural stories exist.
Some of the work done by United By Culture Media is communication.
Cox hosts the podcast, Courageous Voices, its goal is to build a positive cultural identity among young adults living in the Heartland. The United By Culture mission is to create a safe and authentic space where the diverse rural story exists.
Offering young adults a physical space with educational amenities and making sure the space is conducive to learning and exploration while being safe from ridicule, persecutions, racial and sexual prejudice.
Godinez also hosts, Courageous Mujer Podcast, which embraces, support and celebrate Latina women in Nebraska. Latinas in Nebraska have continued to make a large impact in Nebraska and their stories have been missing. The Courageous Mujer podcast makes sure there is a space where Latinas can share their stories, mentor others and reach a larger audience in Nebraska.
- United By Culture Mission: To create a safe and authentic space in which the diverse story exists.
- United By Culture Vision: To build a positive cultural identity among people of color living in the Heartland.
- United By Culture Values: We believe in authenticity, respect and collaboration. Everything we do, we do together.
- United By Culture Racial Equity Statement: At United by Culture Media, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is in the heart of our work. We are committed to these values in everything we do.
