NATCHEZ — Miss-Lou residents will have an opportunity to learn about different cultures at a multicultural fair at Natchez High School next week. And if they have something to share about their own culture, event organizers say they’re welcome to participate.

The multicultural fair will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 7 in the Natchez High School gym. It’s being hosted by the Jobs for Mississippi Graduates program, and JMP Jobs Specialist and fair co-coordinator Linda Bowers said the group will be hosting a museum-style show open to the entire community.

“We are wanting to acquaint those within our community with the diversity that we have, and help others to maybe overcome obstacles that they have come to because they are culturally different,” Bowers said.

A similar multicultural fair was hosted last year, but this year is the first time the entire school and the community will be involved. It’s part of a larger, holistic effort the school has been making across the curriculum to teach students about cultures around the world, NHS librarian and fair co-coordinator Sandra Peoples said.

“One of the benchmarks that the state department would like for us to achieve is that our students are well versed in cultural diversity,” she said. “We are hoping to give our students a better understanding of other cultures and people around the world.”

And even though one of the goals of the fair is to educate students, it also has the aim of educating the community.

“We want to make the community a more closely-knit community where we understand each other, to do away with some of these different (cultural) myths,” Bowers said.

That’s why the fair is open to the community, both in attendance and in participation. Several local groups have already agreed to participate, including representatives from the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and Jefferson College.

“It is more than looking at different geographic cultures, but at cultures as they have evolved over time, including Natchez cultures,” Peoples said. “They’re going to talk about how the cultures and people have changed over time, and how things have changed and sometimes remained the same.”

Bowers said the fair will have performances of the arts from cultures around the world.

“It isn’t just a look see, you are going to get some entertainment as well,” she said.

For more information about the fair or to set up a booth, Bowers can be reached at 601-334-1273 and Peoples can be reached at 601-445-2860.