The Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Club brought different cultures together for holiday cheer as its members gathered at the township municipal building on Dec. 2 to decorate their community tree.
The tree is adorned with unique ornaments that represent various cultural traditions, symbolize unity and capture the inclusive spirit of the township. Club secretary Lisa Witherspoon shared insights into the inspiration and collaboration behind the decorations.
“Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Club was inspired by the different cultures of our community,” she explained. “We have a melting pot of diverse people who harmoniously and respectfully share the same values of inclusion of all.”
The ornaments showcased the club members’ rich backgrounds, with representation from Muslims; Christians; Hindus; and Buddhists, among others.
“It was relevant to include all in a visual forum through the holiday tree,” Witherspoon noted.
The creative collaboration was seamless. Members contributed ornaments reflecting their own cultural identities to create the tree display.
“The collaboration was the easiest part,” Witherspoon recalled. “We all know each other’s cultural identity, so we just elected to bring it all together with our own cultural identities through a visual display. The only thing we had to buy was the Santa Claus. We did get a chuckle out of that one.”
The club wants the tree to represent a powerful message.
“We are hoping to convey that, though we have different cultures, we can collectively, creatively display a collaboration of unity for everyone to enjoy universally,” Witherspoon emphasized.
Looking ahead, the club wants to continue fostering cultural understanding and inclusion with events like an upcoming trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
“Guests are welcome!” Witherspoon insisted.
