Behind the stories of the evolution of major well-known festivals -- from the Brazilian Carnival and the New Orleans Mardi Gras to Taste of Chicago and local festivals like the Eno and Durham Blues -- are the same ideals as the ones harbored by The Community Chest Inc., a nonprofit organization that supports community enrichment with innovative, project-based initiatives.

TCC's first project is the Taste of Durham Festival. The mission is to create positive platforms with hopes to invigorate a good vibe, bring people together and celebrate the essence of the good life with an international twist. I think when this opportunity and environment is evident, it can be a motivating factor to keep us open-minded to preserve cultural diversity and history of a community, embrace new members, gain awareness of community needs and participate in creating solutions to enrich lives.

Taste of Durham, happening May 23, exemplifies this idealistic vision and the commitment to making a positive impact on lives for many communities and various sub-communities. The festival format is inspired by the diversity of Durham County and serves many constituents with deliberate, inclusive and varied programming.

Going on our fifth year, Taste of Durham has grown quickly and adapted to the challenges and to our growing audience. New segments for 2009 include "too much fun zone," Snow in May, Ice Carving and other activities, as well as another level of FUN. The eclectic restaurant lineup is better than ever, the music and dance schedule is infused with international and cultural showcases, and wine and beer tasting segments will continue to offer another dimension to our slogan, "festivals within a festival."

Finding a large venue to accommodate our growth and comprehensive logistics was an inherent issue from the start. Trying to find suitable land became like finding a needle in a haystack. Our current location in Durham at the Imperial Center alleviates many issues that are crucial for the continued success and sustainability of the festival.

We focus on many arts, music and cultural themes. It is my strong belief that these platforms and mediums can bring out the best of our humanity. Whatever form it may be, it can communicate messages in profound ways that cannot be explained but must be experienced first-hand. People may view it as just another festival, but as the founder and creator of Taste of Durham, I designed it to serve multiple groups and causes.

The content of the programming is to nurture respect for diverse cultures and provide an accessible and affordable opportunity to experience a high-end entertainment, arts and cultural event. Another focus is to create a quality platform to showcase talents for artists and musicians who deal with many challenges and trends in the music and entertainment arena.

The festival platform also offer ways to stimulate the economy by offering opportunities for businesses to showcase their services and connect directly with a large, diverse and attentive audience. With the state of the economy, we need as much support to keep the economic cycle perpetuating, which is a component of a thriving community. The main ingredients for such lofty goals are the sharing of food, musical talents, dance, and an ambiance full of beauty, graciousness and hospitality.

In this welcoming and inclusionary approach is the discipline to create a "sense of belonging and feeling at home." That is what we try to do with the festival, and we welcome residents and businesses from all areas of Durham. During our economic times and amid constant reminders of division, exclusion and varying levels of hostility in the daily news, working together and contributing to the quality of life for people in vast community groups is responsible, smart business and good for community engagement and relations.

We could not produce such "magic and love" without the businesses, organizations, participants and contributors from various communities. Call me idealistic, but don't call me late for dinner.