Phone: 1.800.775.1797

For the past three years our Camp has been exploring in more depth the topic of racial identity, as it becomes more important to our families and children as they get older. This year the parents will be viewing a special screening of a new documentary, “I’m Not Racist… Am I?”, which follows a diverse group of teens through a yearlong exploration of racial identity. Hilary North will then facilitate a discussion of the film and help us to consider the topic for ourselves, and what it means in our own lives and families. Ms. North will also meet with the older children. She will not show the whole film, but a few selected clips, and facilitate a Q&A with them at an age-appropriate level.

HILARY NORTH, Senior Facilitator for Point Made Films, is Director of Diversity & Equity Initiatives at The Calhoun School, a progressive pre-K to 12 independent school on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in New York City. She has been an educator, facilitator and consultant, working with communities on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion for eighteen years. As a black biracial woman and transracial adoptee, Hilary often makes use of her own life experience as a backdrop for her work with educators, young people and their families.

As a young Ethiopian-American, Eden Yimam will help bring into focus the moral and practical imperatives that propelled him to join the Peace Corps. He will discuss what it means to give back to his community and the world at large. We are pleased that he will join us because he is a great role model for the kids to consider opportunities for volunteering and giving back. Moreover, he will also discuss how his Ethiopian-American identity shaped his goals and achievements – whether in his professional or personal life.

EDEN YIMAM is a young Ethiopian-American professional who is currently working as a Program Analyst at US EPA. Eden has held several professional level positions throughout his career after graduating from college. Mr. Yimam is quite unique from his contemporaries because has committed to giving back to his community by working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in both his native Ethiopia and in Guinea, West Africa. Mr. Yimam was selected to participate in the re-opening of the Peace Corps Ethiopia Health program, which partners its efforts with the National Ministry of Health. In this capacity, he was the designated volunteer to bring HIV/AIDS awareness and support to Dejen Woreda, in northern Ethiopia.

Our camp has a special focus on language, as we strongly believe language is key in connecting our kids to their heritage and culture. As such, we continue offer both children’s and adult’s language classes. As always, we have prepared the language session based on the level/interest we received as part of registration.

DEREJE DESTA is the Manager of Business, Africa, for AudioNow. Dereje was the founder and Publisher of Zethiopia, a Washington, D.C. based, bilingual (Amharic and English) newspaper where he currently serves as editor-at-large. He is a veteran journalist who has served as a television and radio host & producer, and editor for more than 20 years in the U.S. and Ethiopia. He reported and contributed to NPR’s “Latitude” show, and won an award for international affairs reporting from New America Media and the American University. Dereje graduated from Addis Ababa University, in 1991, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Ethiopian Languages & Literature. He has shared his experience in journalism at public forums in Washington for congressional staffers at the U.S. Capitol, the George Washington University, the American University, the U.S. Library of Congress, and National Public Radio.

MENLIK ZERGABACHEW is a young Ethiopian-American musician, who participated on THE VOICE, the highly rated musical competition and managed to pass several rounds of tough competiton. It is obvious from seeing Menlik and his parents on THE VOICE that he comes from a close knit family. Menlik is a young man on the move who is pursuing his chosen career with passion and determination.

Watch The Voice 2014 Blind Audition featuring Menlik Zergabachew performing “Santeria”.

SIMRET HUNT a youth panelists, is one of our own. We are quite proud to say that Simret, who attended the first Heritage and Culture Camp in 2009 as a young teen-ager, is coming back to camp as a volunteer. It is heart warming to have received a letter from Simret indicating her desire to participate and give back to her fellow campers. Here is what Simret wrote, in her own words: “My family and I attended Heritage and Culture Camp, the first time it opened. As an adoptee the camp meant a lot to me. I especially enjoyed connecting with other Ethiopian children my age. It was an amazing experience overall and I learned a lot. I would really like to help give others the same experience I had.” In addition to participating in the youth panel, she will be handling the cooking lessons for this year’s camp. Simret is currently a rising sophomore at Smith College in Massachusetts, studying Economics and International Relations.

An Intensive Dance Workshop and a performance by our own Heritage and Culture Camp Dance Group has become a unique feature of the camp. We have kids 9 years and older who have already registered for this special dance program, where they will be spending several hours a day learning Ethiopian Traditional Dance as well as words and phrases relating to dance. The dance troupe, featuring matching traditional costumes, will perform on the last day of the camp and provide the musical sendoff to conclude our program with high note

BILEN YOSEPH was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Although she came to the United States at the age of 11, she has kept in close touch with her Ethiopian roots. Bilen is also one of the lead volunteers for the Ethiopian Heritage and Culture Camp from day one. She not only spends many days and weeks in preparation for the Camp, she also takes time off from work to run the Camp with unmatched passion and dedication to kids at Camp.

The Natural Hair Care for Children is an instructive and informative seminar that will explain how to care for children’s natural hair. This fun and easy workshop will take the guess work out of product selection, braiding and twisting techniques, detangling, beading, solutions for dealing with breakage and so much more. The goal is to protect, strengthen and nurture the natural beauty of your child’s hair so that he/she may wear it with pride and confidence.

RENEE WHEELER is the owner of Heavenly Hands Salon & School of Cosmetic Arts in Harrisonburg, VA. The school offers complete, professional hair salon services for all types of hair for men, women, and children. Staff at the school are beauty experts, who are experienced and knowledgeable. More information is found at www.heavenlyhandshair.com. Renee will also be available for individual hair/skin consultation.

Every year we look forward to enjoying Ethiopian coffee – roasted, ground and brewed under the big Wil-low Tree in the traditional manner and evoking the wonderful ritual that is centuries old. Every year with all the music being played throughout the entire event, the camp ambiance is transformed to take us all back to Ethiopia! Mainly, thanks to two talented artists who have been with us from day one!

ALMAZ GETAHUN will host our Ethiopian Coffee Ceremonies. A professional dancer, Almaz, with her partner will entertain us with traditional dancing at the Ethiopian Banquet as well. In addition to being a wonderful host, Almaz will bring joy to the camp with her beautiful smile and playful nature. A great example of Ethiopian hospitality!