Exploring the Ingredients of Erie's Diversity

Anna Hartvigton

Erie Arts and Culture's Folklorist-in-Residence Kelly Armour has collaborated with Wujdan Wuji Ahmad (pictured) to lead a series of Ethnic Market Tours throughout the City of Erie.

CONTINUING SATURDAY, JULY 13

This summer, Erie Arts and Culture's Ethnic Market Tours are providing a guided experience of the city's diverse New American businesses. Three of the tours will occur in July and August. The businesses on the tour represent countries like Iraq, Syria, Nepal, Bhutan, Azerbaijan, and more.

Erie Arts and Culture's Folklorist-in-Residence Kelly Armor lives on the east side of Erie and has witnessed these markets emerge over the years around her neighborhood. "They're just really exciting for me to see. These storefronts that have been empty have been activated with just incredible culture," Armor said.

Wujdan "Wuji" Ahmad will be spearheading the tours. During the tour, she leads the group around to the various storefronts and ends the tour with a meal at a New American restaurant. 

Ahmad is a New American herself from Eritrea, raised in Baghdad, Iraq. She has called Erie her home since 2001 and has often frequented the businesses included in the tour. "My family and I also like to shop at these places because they have spices and things that you wouldn't find in big retail stores," Ahmad said.

Armor explains that these businesses support and preserve culture in the refugee and New American communities in Erie, "If you talk to the market owners, they will all say, 'Oh, but we're more than a market, we're also a community hub.'"

The markets provide a diverse cultural experience for those outside of the communities represented as well. "(The market owners) are open to talking about their culture and their history and everything. I believe the tours are a really great way to see the diversity available in Erie," Ahmad said.

Ahmad encourages those on the tour to be open-minded and to ask questions: "A lot of these store owners are very knowledgeable on what's on their shelves and they're open to giving you advice and recipes."

The tour participants should also be prepared to shop, Ahmad said with a chuckle. "You will find a lot of things that you'll love. You'll find a lot of things that are not available elsewhere locally. You'll find stuff that you usually go to out of town for or shop online for. You'll find interesting things." 

July 13, 10 a.m. to noon, July 20, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and August 3, 10 a.m. to noon // $30 per person // For tickets and information visit: erieartsandculture.givevirtuous.org