Tegan Wendland/WRKF Monika Oliver and Felipe Martinez

WENDLAND: Why does an event like this matter? What's the importance?

OLIVIER: When I first began with this I was thinking "world peace," so that was a goal, but then I began to understand maybe going a little bit too far. Though I thought giving people an opportunity to see each other and learn about each other's differences and really appreciate the differences and we can do that because we usually have some forty or so different countries represented and the beauty of that is that they're represented from people from those countries who live in Baton Rouge and it's a great sign of how diverse we are.

WENDLAND: And why do you participate, Felipe?

MARTINEZ: Well, I'm interested in it from a relationship standpoint. We have developed, through the sister city program just some wonderful cultural, educational and trade relationships that have resulted from these activities that Monika has mentioned and it's just been a terrific introduction to the community, to our sister city Cordoba, Mexico has been a wonderful partner. We've had kids who've come to live in Baton Rouge and learn to love the culture and the folks and we're trying to maintain that and expand on it.

WENDLAND: How would you say your individual backgrounds have motivated you to do this kind of work in our community?

OLIVIER: Well, I can tell you what has motivated me. I grew up in northern Germany and moved here when I was in my late 20's, and I immediately fell in love with Louisiana and I will not leave - I am definitely going to stay here. But I also saw the different ways of life and it took awhile to get accustomed to the differences and I just felt that everyone should have the opportunity to learn about the rest of the world. And this is one way to do it.

WENDLAND: And what about you?

MARTINEZ: My background was in international banking, so foreign trade and relations have always been of interest to me, but, more importantly, I left Cuba as a refugee when I was ten years old and when I got to the United States I was welcomed everywhere I went and it's just kind of a way of repaying that kindness that was shown to me.

WENDLAND: Is that true though, that the motivation is coming from a sense of being welcomed to the community, or is it from the sense that something's lacking here and maybe you feel like it's important to educate people and maybe expand them to better understand the various cultures that are represented here in Baton Rouge?

OLIVIER: Do you think I would really admit that on the air?! (laughs) It's a mixture of many different things and I'm just really happy that Baton Rouge offers this opportunity and that it's providing the support.

WENDLAND: But is one day enough? Is the variety of our culture represented enough in our community? I feel like, you know...I met some folks who attend the Armenian church on Florida Boulevard and I sometimes shop at the Korean grocery on Lee Drive and I feel like I don't often see those communities represented boldly in Baton Rouge unless I go to those places and seek them out.

OLIVIER: Well, you know there are also signs that not everybody wants to be really seen. They want to be part of the community and be included and that's what we do, and actually the organization BRCWA does many other things, not just this festival, it's just the biggest deal that we are able to put together.