About Us

About Us

FusionFest Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to celebrate the people and the many different cultures that make Central Florida awesome by showcasing talents, sharing stories, driving innovation and building community based on respect and understanding.

FusionFest is a project of the Orange County Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs.

 

Our Story

It all began when Guenet & Sam Roberts of the Caribbean American Passport and Yves Bouele of the African Leaders Council approached Terry Olson about creating some kind of international event. While there are dozens of festivals centered around one heritage or another in our community, we thought, What if we all came together at the same time?

In November of 2016, about 40 people from various heritages, including co-founder Thali Sugisawa, gathered to brainstorm the best way to share our heritages. In the following month, a Steering Committee began to take shape and has been meeting monthly ever since.

Some of the early stepping stones to the festival were bimonthly “Gathering of Nations” events with a few people from every heritage we could find in Central Florida (currently we have more than 140 heritages identified). Each of the Gatherings was focused on a particular aspect of culture – Food, Dance, Music, Clothing, Games, Literature. These explorations helped us envision what a “fusion” festival would look like – a place where we honored our heritages while celebrating how we influence each other as we shape our own unique identity as Central Floridians.

 

Awards

  • Award of Excellence at the 2019 Golden Brick Awards by the Orlando Economic Partnership

  • Community Outreach Program at the 2020 SunSational Awards by the Florida Festivals and Events Association

  • Best Sponsor Partnership, Promotional Mailer and Instagram at the 2021 SunSational Awards by the Florida Festivals and Events Association

  • Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation at the 2021 National Association of Counties (NACO) Achievement Awards

  • Award in the Arts Category at the 2021 Golden Brick Awards for by the Orlando Economic Partnership

  • 1st Place- Community Outreach Program 2024 SunSational Awards by the Florida Festivals and Events Association

  • 2nd Place- Children’s Programming 2024 SunSational Awards by the Florida Festivals and Events Association

  • 2nd Place- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative 2024 SunSational Awards by the Florida Festivals and Events Association

 

FusionFest Today

OUR MISSION: To celebrate the people and the many different cultures that make Central Florida awesome by showcasing talents, sharing stories, driving innovation and building community based on respect and understanding.

WHAT WE DO: We organize weekly and monthly, both virtual and in-person, events that keep the community engaged and connected to the cultural diversity in Central Florida. We participate in parades and create dining experiences and workshops from January to November. Our signature event on Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving Day in Downtown Orlando is a free, two-day, festival that draws people from more than 110 different cultures to experience music, dance, food, visual arts, spoken word, games and interactive activities.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Keep an eye on our social media and website to join in one (or several) of the events we host or partner with:

  • Diversitastic! Dining Experience – Monthly

  • Diverse Orange Talk Show – Weekly after June 1, 2024

  • MYgration Films Watch Party – Monthly

  • FusionFest Parade Unit – Varies

  • Two-Day Festival – Annual

WHEN IS THE FREE FESTIVAL: Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving Day.

FESTIVAL HOURS: Saturday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM & Sunday Noon – 6:00 PM

WHAT WILL YOU FIND AT THE FESTIVAL:

  • Opening Spectacle & Diversitastic! Choir

  • Citizenship Ceremony

  • Kaleidoscope – The Wonders of Creative Collaboration

  • International Food Court & Marketplace

  • Stages featuring music, dance, spoken word, cosplay and fashion

  • Film Station screening the MYgration Films in partnership with Global Peace Film Festival

  • Art Gallery

  • Family Village

  • Interactive Experiences & Art Classes

  • Cardboard Village of the World

  • Cultural Displays

  • Exciting Prizes

  • Global Street Dance Party

  • Scavenger Hunt

  • Country Meet-Up & Group Photo

WHERE: At the Seneff Arts Plaza at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Orlando.

WHO IS BEHIND IT: FusionFest Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and a project of the Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs office. Since 2016 a Steering Committee of 40 members with heritages from around the globe meets monthly to shape the project.

SPELLING: FusionFest is one-word with two capital Fs.

HASHTAGS: #FusionFest #FusionFestOrlando #ICanBeMeHere #ProudToShowMyColors

SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook.com/FusionFestOrlando & Instagram.com/FusionFestOrlando

Meet The Team

Terry Olson
Terry Olson Co-Founder & Creative Director
 Teuruhei Buchin
Teuruhei Buchin Co-Executive Director
 CeCe Teneal
CeCe Teneal Entertainment Director
 Gareth Edwards
Gareth Edwards Visual Arts Curator
Zion Cruz Community Outreach Coordinator
 Lori Turchin
Lori Turchin Film Curator
 Idrees Khan
Idrees Khan Fusion Cooking Contest Curator & Social Media Coordinator
 Paula Wyatt
Paula Wyatt Fashion Curator
Shawn Welcome
Shawn Welcome Spoken Word Curator
 Ray Jimenez
Ray Jimenez Spoken Word Co-Curator
Amel Okoye
Amel Okoye Volunteer Coordinator
Stacy Nale-Stadom
Stacy Nale-Stadom Vendors Coordinator
 Jae Nale
Jae Nale Festival Production Manager
Mari Fernanda Saavedra
Mari Fernanda Saavedra Cultural Exchange Curator
 Samir Fkiyi
Samir Fkiyi Cultural Exchange Co-Curator
Kadeem Stewart
Kadeem Stewart Photographer
Yves Bouele
Yves Bouele Country Photo Meet-up Host
Alexis Dorman
Alexis Dorman Fun & Games Curator
Audrey Alai
Audrey Alai Cardboard Village Architect
Thayna Romero Business Manager
Dr. Earl Mowatt
Dr. Earl Mowatt Global Exchange
David Wheeler
David Wheeler Country Meet-up Coordinator

Meet the Board of Directors

Maria Fernanda Saavedra, Board PresidentHuellas de Colombia Folkdances

Bob Allen – The Bob Allen Family Foundation

Safaa Barakat – Islamic Society of Central Florida

Yves Bouele – African Leaders Council

Kymbat Iglikova – Premium Properties R.E Service

Mai-Huong Nguyen – Asia Trend Inc

Joe Sarrubbo Valencia College

Ishaan Vadhera – Vadela Co.

Shawn Welcome – Polis Institute

Meet the Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is responsible for helping shape and grow FusionFest by contributing with ideas and serving as an ambassador within their circle and community. Meetings happen every 2nd Friday of the month via Zoom from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Africa

Patrick Odoy – Kenya
Olabayo Ogurinola – Nigeria/Yoruba
Yves Bouele – Cameroon

East Asia

Mimi Hwang – China
Jeonggyu An – Korea

South Asia

Priya Persaud – India
Mai Nguyen – Vietnam
Yves Bouele – Cameroon

North America

Logan Anderson – US French
Chris Leggett – Canada
K Charles Phillips – US-New Mexico/Border Cultures
Steve Schneider – US-German

Caribbean

Guenet Roberts – Guyana
Shawn Welcome – Guyana

Eurasia

Aleksandra Vargas – Russia/Dominican Republic
Albert Heisler – Romania

Europe

Bob Kovacevich – Serbia
Eva Krzewinski – Poland
Betsy Schreyer – Switzerland

Latin America

Tisse Mallon – Mexico
Nadia Garzon – Colombia
Silvia Huddleston – Peru
Lorena Camacho – Venezuela

Middle East & Northern Africa

Dina Aurouri – Palestine
Scott Goldberg – Jewish

Europe

Bob Kovacevich – Serbia
Eva Krzewinski – Poland
Betsy Schreyer – Switzerland

Oceania & Pacific Islands

Teuruhei Buchin – Pacific Islands
Zion Kalaniu’i Cruz- Pacific Islands

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