Diversity

T he exhibition, "Three Artists, One World," at the Burbank Creative Arts Center Gallery, highlights three markedly different artists in style and media. The common characteristic that threads the three together is their passion for the world, human equality, animal rights and children's security. The sculpture, painting and mixed media of Toni Scott commemorates the journey of "ceiling shattering" African Americans and honors their heritage with a clay bust of a Mangbetu woman.

When flags representing Mexico, South Korea, eco-justice and gays and lesbians were stolen from St. Luke's of the Mountains Episcopal Church - leaving just the American flag standing - the message was conspicuous and unwanted. So on Sunday, as community leaders gathered to reinstall the flags after weeks of fundraising, the message to the perpetrators was just as clear: “You brought the community back together again,” one said. Speaking to the crowd during the dedication on Sunday, church Vicar Bryan Jones said his congregation offered up donations to replace the flags the day after the flags were stolen on May 19. “They left one flag standing and that was an American flag,” Jones said.

Students were free to choose the styles and concepts without being tied down to a particular theme for this year’s Annual Student Art Show at Glendale Community College. That diversity is what makes this show a standout, said Roger Dickes, gallery director. “The work is very diverse and the show doesn’t have a theme,” Dickes said. “There are so may different approaches that students engage with.” The show also provides an opportunity for prospective art students to learn about the art courses that are available to them, Dickes said.

Apparently, international recording artist Andy has left a not-so-positive impression on Glendale residents. Known as the "Persian Elvis" to his fans, Andy made an appearance at the Glendale centennial celebration and performed in front of an ethnically diverse crowd. A number of residents who witnessed Andy's performance expressed their discontent about the lack of diversity in his music. Andy sang in Farsi and Armenian; two languages that were only reflective of the Armenian and Persian communities in Glendale.

Patients looking for a little comfort and healing from the Rapid Care Medical Center in Glendale might also get a healthy dose of diversity with their prescriptions. About 60 black-and-white photos -- taken by amateur artists from Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena -- are on display in the facility. The photographs were entries in a Tri-City for the Arts photography contest called "A Neighborhood of Nations." Entrants were asked to take photos that depicted the artists' own visions of ethnic diversity in the three neighboring cities.

Alex Coolman SOUTHEAST GLENDALE -- Friday night was time for Glendale's kids to shine as the Central Public Library debuted an exhibit of their artwork. "Celebrating Community" is an exhibit of work from kids in preschool through eighth grade. Dozens of pieces of art in a variety of media deal with the subject of cultural diversity and understanding difference. The exhibit, which is in its fifth year, is sponsored by the Glendale Human Relations Coalition.

Jackson Bell Wilandrea Blair wants show her 3-year-old kid the world. So she loaded her family up and spent Sunday afternoon in Verdugo Park, soaking in the cultural atmosphere of the city's third annual Unity Fest. "The Glendale community is so diverse," said Blair, a Glendale resident. "Events like this are the basic foundation for a community to understand each other, share with one another and come together." Thousands of people flocked to the park for that same reason.

Josh Kleinbaum Bob Yousefian's message is simple: Got a problem with me? Come and dunk me. Yousefian, a councilman who is never short on words, will be inside the dunk tank at Sunday's Unity Fest, a daylong celebration of the city's diversity. "All those people that wrote all those letters, this will be their opportunity," Yousefian said. "I heard that they had discussed this at the [city's] staff meeting. I have a feeling everybody on the staff is going to show up just to take a shot at me. And the money that we make out of there will go to the city to pay for this event."

Claudia Peschiutta GLENDALE -- Former Glendale Mayor Larry Zarian will be looking to teens to provide insight into how students at local schools are dealing with diversity. Recent Hoover High School graduates Raffi Djihanian and Cindy Paladines will be the guests on the "Larry Zarian Forum" on Thursday. Zarian said he wants to talk to the teens to find out what is causing tensions among students and find ways to deal with the issue. The show will be broadcast from 7 to 8 p.m. on Charter Cable Channel 36. Viewers can call in with questions at 547-3668.

Karen S. Kim Rapid Care Medical Center is inviting the community to celebrate diversity while becoming more familiar with its facilities. During its open house event Thursday, the center's medical staff will host an awards ceremony for the Tri-City for the Arts photography contest, a competition that required entrants to photograph different examples of diversity in the community. Called "A Neighborhood of Nations," the photography contest attracted about 60 black-and-white photos showing the different cultures represented throughout Glendale.

At the first Glendale Unified school board election forum of the season Wednesday night, candidates discussed districtwide diversity, language programs and commemorating the Armenian genocide. About 20 people attended the event hosted and televised by the Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee. All candidates said they supported making April 24 - the day commemorating the Armenian genocide - a non-instructional day, effectively giving students the day off while district staff and teachers work on professional development and other matters.

One of Glendale's major thoroughfares will be transformed into an international street fair aimed at celebrating the city's cultural diversity this Saturday. The annual Unity Fest will take over Brand Boulevard between Wilson and California avenues from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday for the 11th year and include international foods, children's games and activities, arts and crafts, and a variety of live dance and musical performances, including bands from local high schools. “The goal is to bring the community together and celebrate the diversity in Glendale,” said Patty Betancourt, a member of the Unity Fest's planning committee.

For the last four weeks, I've had a front row seat to the laying, hatching and rearing of four baby birds, whose parents decided that the lamppost outside my window would make a great foundation for a nest. I've watched carefully, and sometimes ducked discreetly from behind the glass, as a witness to the beginnings of their awe-filled life cycle. I've heard the chirps get louder as faithful parents alternate the feeding of four featherless chicks and their quiet moments of sleep, huddled in a sturdy nest - cleverly away from any predators that could reach them.

When flags representing Mexico, South Korea, eco-justice and gays and lesbians were stolen from St. Luke's of the Mountains Episcopal Church - leaving just the American flag standing - the message was conspicuous and unwanted. So on Sunday, as community leaders gathered to reinstall the flags after weeks of fundraising, the message to the perpetrators was just as clear: “You brought the community back together again,” one said. Speaking to the crowd during the dedication on Sunday, church Vicar Bryan Jones said his congregation offered up donations to replace the flags the day after the flags were stolen on May 19. “They left one flag standing and that was an American flag,” Jones said.

While diversity at City Hall has increased over the past 10 years, the number of whites continues to dominate the top of the totem pole, according to a biennial report on city employee demographics. But even at the top, it's slowly shifting. “The bottom line is that the organization is changing,” said Human Resources Director Matt Doyle. About 61% of 301 managers and executives in 2011 were white, according to the report issued in May. But that proportion was higher in 2002 at about 70%. At the same time, whites have decreased across the entire workforce roughly 20% to 933 since 2002.

When newly minted Glendale police officers Olga Varouzian, Anna Khlgatian, Patrick Takla and Daniel Lee received their badges on Thursday, they became the latest examples of the department's efforts to better reflect the city's ethnically diverse population. Of the 17 recruits who were sworn in last year, 10 were listed as being of an ethnic background other than white. The most recent hires include six Armenian officers, one Latino and one Korean - representing the three largest ethnic minority groups in Glendale.

Glendale's cultures collided on Sunday for the city's 10th annual Unity Fest hosted by TV star Mario Lopez. Hundreds of people packed Brand Boulevard as organizers put the many cultures of Glendale up for display through dance, art, music and, of course, food. Mayor Laura Friedman called the annual event “the most colorful, the most vibrant and maybe one of the loudest street fairs that we have.” Mario Lopez served as Unity Fest's celebrity host for the second consecutive year.

For the second year in a row, TV celebrity Mario Lopez is slated to be a celebrity guest at Unity Fest, an international street fair aimed at promoting Glendale's cultural diversity. The 10th annual Unity Fest will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday on Brand Boulevard between Wilson and California avenues. Zizette Mullins, Glendale's community relations coordinator, said event-goers can expect even more diverse food than last year, larger crowds and more games for children.

Long before wars, closed borders and power struggles turned Armenia and Azerbaijan into mortal enemies and carved out an almost exclusively mono-ethnic population in both countries, they each had sizable, ethnically diverse populations living and working together. A 1970s travel guide from Russian travel agency Intourist even calls the Caucasus the most multinational area of the Soviet Union where “people of more than 50 nationalities,” including Armenians and Azeris, “live and work there as a closely knit family.” While Armenia has seen a rise in tourism - with Italian, French and German tourists feeling adventurous enough to charter the mountainous country full of ancient monasteries and historical sites and Peace Corps volunteers that are placed in unsuspecting cities around the country - Armenia remains largely, well, Armenian.

Vartan Gharpetian Age: 49 Occupation: small business owner, real estate broker, Glendale Commercial Inc. Why are you running for the board? I decided to run for a seat on the Board of Trustees, because I am well aware of and concerned about the current difficulties and challenges that Glendale Community College is facing. Two of the most important issues are the accreditation and budget. Accreditation — A warning has been put on Glendale Community College by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior College team since last spring.