UPDATE: This month’s Diversity Dinner has been CANCELLED. We will see you back next month, same time - same place!


In 2018, the Pelican Rapids Multicultural Committee began an experiment that became a wonderful tradition – diversity dinners at the Pelican Rapids Public Library.

Like a traditional Minnesota potluck, people brought food from home to share – some even brought a hot dish or Jello, but others brought German sauerkraut, Bosnian pita, Somali rice, Greek baklava, Mexican tacos, or Indian candy.

The people at these gatherings were as diverse as the food; young and old, Caucasian, Latino, and Black. As people began to appreciate each other, conversations ranged from "getting to know you" questions to discussions on housing, jobs, soccer, family, and school. Along the way, we became friends and built a community.

Our Diversity Dinners are the last Sunday of the month at the Pelican Rapids Public Library.

Everyone is welcome. Bring food to share and join your neighbors at the Pelican Rapids Public Library – to celebrate our diversity, our lives, and our community. We’ll provide beverages, plates, cups, and utensils (or you can bring your own.)

These informal get-togethers are opportunities to discover our similarities, appreciate our differences, build meaningful relationships, examine our biases, and eat good food. It’s difficult for most of us to step outside our circle of family and friends. That’s why we suggest that everyone bring a friend and a dish to share. These diversity dinners offer us opportunities to create connections, come together as a community, and enjoy some very good food!