Pictured: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe entertained the crowds at the EOD celebration. Photo by Michael Kinsey.

More than 3,000 people celebrated at Embracing Our Differences’ 20th anniversary exhibition opening on Sunday, January 22, noon-3 p.m., in Sarasota’s downtown Bayfront Park. The event featured live performances by Jah Movement, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and poets Cedric Hameed and Whit the Poet. Artists featured in the exhibition traveled from around the nation and state, including Best-in-Show Student Artist Alexis Lee, a 10th grade student from Irvine, CA; Donna Richardson from Tampa; Sahar Al-Louthai from Brooklyn, NY, and Diego Dillion from North Carolina. Local arts and education organizations were onsite with booths and activities, including Art Center Sarasota, CreArte, Florida Studio Theatre, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and State College of Florida. 

Pictured: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe entertained the crowds at the EOD celebration. Photo by Michael Kinsey.