Are you craving jerk chicken, crispy spring rolls, or homemade falafel? You didn’t need a passport to try them — PS/IS 206’s Multicultural Night brought flavors from around the world right to our school.
On May 20, 2026, approximately 75 students from various cultural backgrounds came with their families to enjoy a night filled with excitement and diversity. To start off the night, the band People of Earth returned to PS/IS 206 to put on an interactive, engaging, and captivating performance. The band consists of 5 members, and they all played different instruments depending on the song. The lead singer often invited people onstage to create a song that represented everyone’s culture.
After the show, guests were invited to the cafeteria to enjoy an international dinner featuring more than 15 dishes and more than 10 desserts. Everyone was welcome to dance, listen to music, and socialize with people from other cultures. To get a better understanding of the band, we interviewed People of Earth’s main singer.
What songs are you performing today?
“We’re not sure yet, but we know we’ll be performing different songs than last time. Some confirmed songs are Baile Inolvidable by Bad Bunny, Masacote, Bilongo, and Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing by Stevie Wonder.”
How do you prepare for an event like this?
“An hour before the show, we set up the audio by doing a soundcheck. Once we get comfortable with the audio, we rehearse many times and exchange ideas on how to make the performance better.”
What is your favorite part about performing at schools?
“Students give us crazy energy that we don’t get at normal concerts. It’s extremely different from the energy adults give us. We get honest feedback from kids, but they’re also more supportive.”
What culture does your music resonate with?
“Mainly Latin culture, specifically Cuba, Puerto Rico, here in the US, Dominican Republic, and Brazil.”
Do you think music helps people from different cultures come together?
“Yes, we believe music is the cure for human sickness”
How long have you been a band?
“We’ve been a band for ten years, mainly performing for adults, but we do prefer performing for kids.”
Students especially enjoyed the opportunity to try new foods and learn about different cultures. “I really like meeting people of different ethnicities and eating foods that are different from my own cultural dishes.” Said Samanta Dumpis, a 4th-grader from Lithuania wearing traditional dress from her country. What she loves most about her culture is the language, dance, and songs. She loves Lithuania’s national dish, “cepelinai,” for its unexpected texture. Similarly, Melissa Alizada, a 3rd-grade student, said that her “favorite part about being from Azerbaijan is the delicious food and beautiful dances.” She also loved the trumpets that were played during the performance.
Most parents believe their children should stay connected to their culture, as it’s important for them to take pride in where they’re from. Jesse Cahill, mother of 7th-grade Thai student Charissa Cahill, explained that “a lot of Thai people have adapted to American culture and I don’t want her to do the same.”
Events like multicultural night help families celebrate their heritage while learning about the traditions of others. Through music, dance, and food, the evening brought our school community together and highlighted the diversity that makes PS/IS 206 special.
