SS02 Cultural Awareness for Everyone (C.A.F.E.), c. 1986 - 2014

Sub-Series

Identifier: RG06_SG005_S04_SS02

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This sub-series includes records of the Cultural Awareness for Everyone (C.A.F.E.) Club and consists mainly of photographs of club members for annual yearbooks and photographs of club activities, namely the club's Cultural Night events over the years.

Articles and photographs about C.A.F.E. and Cultural Night can also be found in yearbooks starting in 2012, school publications, and Spectator, the student newspaper.

Dates

c. 1986 - 2014

Biographical / Historical

Cultural Awareness for Everyone (C.A.F.E.) Club was created in 1986-87 to "help ease the transition of incoming and minority students".

The club's activities included casual, creative cultural dinners and in 1994-95, the club announced their intention for the first "Cultural Night" event, a night where "people of all cultures from Nightingale would express their cultures in various forms such as dance, music, art, literature, and drama." Cultural Night was originally a small event that club members and their families participated in, which grew into a larger school-wide event for all students and families that combined cultural celebrations through entertainment, workshops, and food. Since at least 2005, the Parents Association has assisted in planning and managing Cultural Night activities, which the entire Nightingale community enjoys annually.

C.A.F.E. Club ceased to exist around 2019-20 as the school administration increased support of students of color.

In 1999, alumna who were members of C.A.F.E. during their school years and prior club advisors came together for a reunion at Nightingale.

Sources: 1988 Yearbook; Spectator, Sep. 1994; Transcript, interview of Terri Davis-Merchant '95 (2018); analysis of yearbook club photos and Cultural Night programs and invitations.