Group to celebrate Diversity Day Sunday

Diversity Day 2007 will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday on the Woodstock Square.

Patrick Murfin, a co-founder of the festival with the Rev. Dan Larsen of the Congregational Unitarian Church, has been appointed the festival's first-ever executive director. He will co-ordinate planning and arrangements with a volunteer committee. The festival is in its 12th year.

"This year our theme, '... Skies everywhere as blue as mine' is taken from the popular hymn 'This is My Song,' " Murfin said.

"It reflects the unity of our common experience what ever our country, what ever our origin, regardless of all the things that divide us like race, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or ability."

The festival, which originated as an alternative event to a rally by the Ku Klux Klan at the McHenry County Government Center, is looking for community participants, including performers representing a broad range of cultural traditions and styles.

"This year we are also highlighting community projects that build bridges and make peace in our community, the nation and the world," Murfin said.

He encourages individuals and organizations with such projects to contact him for information on how to participate.

Nonprofit organizations, issue advocacy groups, service organizations and government agencies are invited to set up information tables at the festival.

The festival is selling advertising in its program book.

"Not only is advertising a way to support the healing work of the festival, but it is an excellent way to reach one of the few really multi-cultural audiences in McHenry County," Murfin said. "We encourage bi-lingual advertising."

For details, contact Murfin at (815) 814-5645 or DivDay@sbcglobal.net.