May "Joy in the Park" was a beautiful welcoming event that entertained everyone with music, dance, photography, face-painting, craft and more!

The event began with live music by Aline Morales, Carlos Cardozo, and André Valerio, who came together to form an energetic band that ignited the stage with their electrifying fusion of forró, blending tradition with innovation. 

Right after the music, attendees enjoyed the physical dance piece One Couch by Throwdown Collective, where three friends, confined to a small couch, worked together to navigate life in close quarters.

One of the highlights of the event was the unveiling of Jamii's new photo exhibition The Pavilion, curated by Sabrine S. Hakam, with artistic advisor Sarah S. Ahmad, showcasing the talents of seven local photographers. The exhibition explored the concept of "making space" for underrepresented groups or ideas to shine in public areas. The selected photographs presented a compelling narrative of human behavior within community spaces. Attendees had the chance to learn more about the exhibit directly from Sabrine, Sarah, and the photographers.

While adults explored the photo exhibit, the young ones had a chance to high-five the stiltwalker Troy Feldman or get their faces painted by the official Esplanade face painter, Linda Epp. Linda transformed the young attendees into unicorns, fierce tigers, or butterflies with her artistic talents.

Lastly, everyone had the opportunity to get a henna design on their hands from Sonia Sumaira, an exceptionally talented henna artist from Punjab, Pakistan. Henna, an ancient art form, showcased the beauty and intricacy of traditional designs and patterns on the skin, with deep cultural roots going back thousands of years.

May Joy in the Park – What an enjoyable and memorable experience for all who attended.

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