Diversity in Delicious Dishes

By Seraphina Shi

April 24, 2025

On February 14th, parents in the Jericho community brought foods from around the world to Jericho Middle School for students to taste, promoting togetherness on Diversity Day.

The International Food Exchange introduced students to a variety of different foods, such as butter chicken, popping boba, bulgogi, and more. Over 10 different cultures were represented, including different parts of China, South Korea, India, Sweden, Italy, Taiwan, and Japan. Mrs. Murphy, the organizer of Diversity Day and the International Food Exchange expressed, “This is amazing because it's like all the world is sitting here on these tables, right in front of [the] middle school, and [students are] getting an opportunity to give a food to try that maybe [they] would never have had the opportunity to try.” 

Students felt that the food was delicious, and they were delighted to have this chance to try foods from all over the world. Grace Jeon, an eighth grader, stated: “I feel like everything is … diverse, and I honestly personally very enjoyed the potluck and I feel like it was really nice of the parents to bring food for the students to try out from different countries.” Eighth-grader Angel Shah added, “It’s amazing. There’s so many different varieties of food and I would love to try everything.” 

All this food didn’t come out of thin air. It was given generously by Jericho families, who volunteered to cook and share their cultures with students. Mrs. Murphy thanked the families for their help, as they were essential for the outcome of this food exchange: “The parents really spearhead the cultural food exchange, and we meet a few times, and then, I really rely on their assistance to help put together and bring together all these parents that are willing to come in and cook … it's a very big commitment, because you have to make three big trays for each grade: one for grade six, one for grade seven, and one for grade eight.” The only payment they receive is to watch others enjoy the food they lovingly made, showing just how much this community cares for each other. 

It’s safe to say most people enjoy eating delicious food. It gives people a satisfying feeling when they eat something that fulfills their cravings. When asked about diversity, Catherine Liu, an eighth-grader, said that when students experience more diverse food offerings together, “they will be nicer to each other.” Phrased differently, Catherine expressed that eating food with others builds connection and relationships.

This is an opportunity for other cultures to express themselves through a common interest and to bond over it, allowing students to connect as a community. “It's really giving kids an opportunity to engage in conversation and learn how they are sort of interconnected,” Mrs. Murphy says. “And also, if you are very tied to your cultural community, it's really beautiful to see that other kids feel that same way and that they're displaying your culture for others to see.”

What does diversity mean? Why is it significant? These questions play a vital role in building a distinctive community. Mrs. Murphy highlighted how essential diversity is, “particularly for middle school students, you're all trying to find where you fit in, what’s my place, who are my people?” Students often feel insecure and uncertain about their place in the world at this age. 

 Tong Xi Zhou, an MC and performer in Diversity Day, explained, “This potluck is everybody bringing their cultural foods and sharing it with everyone, so everybody can experience it all, and all of the food … contributes to diversity.” 

The International Food Potluck was an event at Jericho Middle School that indeed brought students together, promoting diversity and community. Though it took a lot of effort, the final product was amazing. Mrs. Murphy agreed, saying. “It was just so many things that we were all taking into consideration to make that day the smash success that it was.”