For nearly 40 years, the Baha’i, a faith founded in Iran, have celebrated Race Unity Day in Ames.

In October, Ames will host its first city-wide celebration of racial and ethnic diversity in an event called FACES, or Families of Ames Celebrate Ethnicities.

The purpose of these events is to raise awareness of the many cultures right here in Ames, as well as in the rest of the country. By bringing together Ames residents in a celebration of what makes our many cultures so different, we hope that it will be easier for us to see what it is that links us all together.

Though a single celebration cannot change the attitudes of every resident in Ames, it at least gives us an opportunity to stand together as a city and appreciate our differences.

FACES and Race Unity Day will not wipe out stereotypes and prejudices on a large scale, but having these events will at least allow Ames to embrace a multicultural population and be proud of the varied backgrounds of its citizens.

The goal is not to change the world, but to make us all aware of what can be discovered when we take the time to learn about other cultures and to explore other worlds.

We encourage everyone to take advantage of events such as FACES. Attend the celebration, or be a part of the festivities by joining one of the planning committees.

Even if it is something as simple as spending a day celebrating with our own neighbors, we should all be thankful for these opportunities to embrace diversity.

editorialboard: Michelle Kann, Tim Paluch, Jocelyn Marcus, Zach Calef, Ruth Hitchcock, Cavan Reagan