On August 12th, Riis Settlement brought together youth participants from all Riis Academy sites for a joyful end-of-summer celebration of creativity, culture, and community at our annual Riis Culture Day! This year’s theme, “One Culture,” invited participants to explore stories significant to our shared experience. With enthusiasm and imagination, the youth took to the stage dressed in colorful costumes and brought these beloved stories to life through skits, music, and dance.
The performances showcased the magic and diversity of storytelling, featuring Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997), The Wiz (1978), The Princess and the Frog (2009), Encanto (2021), and Wicked (2024). Each performance allowed our youth to celebrate stories that inspire them and share their talents with the Riis community. Congratulations to our Culture Day winners: 166 for 1st Place, 111 for 2nd Place, and 171 for 3rd Place! And a big round of applause to all our talented young people for their teamwork and wonderful performances. Culture Day was a beautiful reminder that while our stories may come from different places and traditions, we come together as one community and one culture!
