Murray High School’s Latinos in Action President Will Diaz was dishing up portions of Ají de Gallina, a Peruvian cream chicken dish made with ají peppers. 

It complemented the Guatemalan samples he already portioned for students and families attending the school’s multicultural night.

“It’s important everybody learns about all the cultures so people can show their true selves and share where they come from,” Diaz said, as he arranged Guatemalan currency and photos on display at his table next to the native food. “We held a multicultural night before COVID and then COVID shut down the next year’s event. We’ve been planning this along with student government since last year, getting it back up and going again.”

His mother, Zarella, is the chef behind the flavorful food.

“I’m doing this to support my son; I think it’s great to have the Hispanic community grow and I love to cook as well,” said the native Peruvian who also learned to make her husband’s Guatemalan dishes. “It’s important for our kids to know where they come from. I want them tobe proud like me of where they come from and to know their language too, because sometimes they forget to speak it.”

Diaz’ table was one of several that filled the basketball arena’s foyer. While there were several Hispanic cultures represented—Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile—there were also other parts of the world represented—Germany, China, South Sudan, Cameroon, Philippines. 

An hour-long schedule of performances from around the world followed the displays and food sampling. Students shared their cultures through music and dance. 

In addition, Miriama Kallon shared her story of how she was constantly on the run in her war-torn homeland of Sierra Leone. Her parents, a few steps behind her and her siblings, were shot and killed. Later, her brother was shot and her sister, maimed. She eventually joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving a church mission in Utah and offered hope for a world of peace and understanding.

Before the program, senior Sariah Taeoalii, who is a quarter Samoan, was offering her country’s chop suey dish to multicultural night patrons.

“It’s made with glass noodles with soy sauce and beef broth,” she said. “I made it with my grandma. My grandpa was Samoan, and he passed away so my grandma who married him when she was 16 learned to cook the dish. I learned it from her.”

Honoring her Samoan heritage is more than making and serving food for her classmates.

Taeoalii has lived in Samoa several times.

“I play for the Samoan national soccer team, its football federation. Being over just has brought me closer to my grandpa,” she said. “It helps me know who I am." 

Her team competed against other Pacific Island teams for a chance to qualify and compete in the2024 Paris Olympics.

“New Zealand usually destroys every team every year, but we were the last team in against them.We tried to score, but we ended up losing 6-0; they’re tough,” said the four-year varsity Murray High striker/forward who also played for Samoan World Cup qualifying tournaments and will go on to play at Utah State Eastern in the fall. 

Taeoalii also took part in some of the multicultural lunchtime activities during the week.

“This has been cool having all the cultures coming together. I love learning about other people’s cultures, so I wanted to share my own,” she said. “It’s part of who I am, and it’s been fun to be a part of this celebration.”