Discrimination, racism, bias, and prejudice result from the lack of knowledge of the cultures that are part of our society, and from the absence of incentives that motivate people to interact with others from different cultural backgrounds.

For the past 28 years THE INTERNATIONAL IMMIGRANTS FOUNDATION (IIF) has sought to provide a solution to this problem through the development of the International Cultures Celebration. This Celebration of cultural harmony and unity is an indispensable element of all societal activities.

The Celebration traces its origins to the pioneering work of Mr. Edward Juarez Pagliocco, Chairman of the IIF. In the early 1980s, Mr. Juarez invited the leadership of umbrella socio-cultural organizations to meet for the first time in the history of New York, set aside all social and political differences, and start a dialogue to develop a series of events promoting positive intercultural relations. At that time, the mere thought of bringing together so many groups with such differences frightened politicians. In fact, at the time the Mayor’s office believed that bringing the City’s segregated communities together "may cause bloodshed".

Thanks to the foresight, determination, and struggles of the Celebration’s founding members, we have made great strides in overcoming social, political, and cultural barriers. Celebration programs such as the Annual International Cultures Festival, the International Film Showcase, Handshakes Around the World, the Official Presentation of Nations Flags, International Cultures Conference and the International Cultures Parade – to name a few – have served as bridges that link up populations from various cultural backgrounds.

Despite the Celebration’s significant inroads in promoting positive inter-cultural relations, fear and ignorance still dominate our society. The IIF, therefore, continues to make it its responsibility to educate the individual and the communities’ leadership through its Celebration programs. In this way the International Cultures Celebration goes far beyond rhetoric to promote cultural understanding through a unique and dynamic educational and cultural experience.

We, at the IIF, are committed to making a difference. Through the Celebration the IIF/ICM can:

• Combat fear and ignorance by educating society about the importance of cultural understanding;
• Provide educational, religious, social, and cultural organizations with multicultural experiences;
• Strengthen relations between the leadership of social and cultural organizations and their communities;
• Stimulate communication and business exchange between communities;
• Encourage an interplay of individual and collective responsibility; and
• Enhance the economic development of our society by providing mutually advantageous business opportunities.