International Taste of Columbus goes virtual

This year, you might not be able to sample the food during the International Taste of Columbus, but you can still engage in the culture.

Hosted by the nonprofit US Together, the 46th annual event will be fully virtual amid the coronavirus pandemic. The celebration takes place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday via livestream on the organization’s Facebook page.

“We will talk about the resilience of our organization and the resilience of the communities that we serve,” said Nadia Kasvin, co-founder and co-director of US Together, which provides essential services to immigrants and refugees. “And we will celebrate the diversity of our communities, and how it enriches the fabric of our lives here, and reacquaint people with all the diverse tastes we have.”

In the past, the event was held in different locations around the city, such as the Africa Event Center at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, drawing up to 150 people, Kasvin said. Typically, the focus would be on a specific, cultural cuisine, but this year’s theme, “Dumplings of the World,” stretches across cultures, as many have their own spin on the dish.

US Together interviewed multiple local restaurants about their dumplings, and will show a compilation at Thursday’s event. (Each video can be viewed separately on the organization’s website and Youtube channel.)

Beyond the food, US Together’s staff and volunteers will speak about their services, which they have been able to offer both in-person and remotely amid the pandemic. Kasvin is especially passionate about the assistance provided to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, noting an increase in the latter in recent months.

During the live broadcast, US Together will present its “New American Champion” honor to Reynoldsburg councilman Bhuwan Pyakurel, believed to be the first Bhutanese American elected to public office in the U.S. Columbus poet Sara Abou Rashed also will perform.

US Together is hoping to raise $15,000 this summer for its programs. Attendees can donate through an online auction on the website.

“It’s important to support because we provide essential services to the most vulnerable in our communities,” Kasvin said. “And we provide it in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.” ethompson@dispatch.com @miss_ethompson