Engagement with the Community: Culture is representation of human behavior that arrives from language, ideas, beliefs, customs, rituals, and ceremonies. United States, the concept of “cultural diversity” stems from a representation of different racial and ethnic groups in a community. BCS strives to be an integral part of the cultural diversity in USA by organizing events to showcase cultural heritage of Bengal, with an ulterior aim to promote and appreciate such cultural diversity. The objective of the program is extending awareness of Bengali culture to the diversity community of NE Ohio, fostering engagement with the audience from diverse cultural backgrounds and facilitate cross-cultural dialogue between the participants and the audience. While BCS members take pride in showing their cultural richness to the audience, the audience (representing people from a diverse Indian and American community) will be able to experience the richness. Participants interact with the audience during the meet-n-greet that follows the show, where they will be able to ask questions and learn more. Many such interactions foster cross-cultural collaboration among artists from different genres. Furthermore, participation in BCS events is voluntary and open to all who have an interest in this Indian culture. We continue to invite and include other artists from the community. BCS makes a conscious effort to include people from all race, gender, age, ability, sexual identity, faith and nationality. BCS makes it top priority for all participants to feel welcome and treat everyone equitably.

Engagement with the Next Generation: Sangeete Sanglaape Baisakhi  provides cultural education to children, many of whom are children of BCS family members and contribute to their intellectual upbringing. The children who participate in the program can experience their cultural roots through performing arts and help BCS carry the message to the next generation. When these children grow up, they carry the inspiration with them and take part in Bengali/Indian cultural activities in their college and institutions. Many of the BCS members have non-Bengali or non-Indian spouses. Children from such mixed cultural identity are able to adapt to Bengali culture through such cultural experience. BCS hopes that performing in and viewing such cultural activities will help these children grow and develop holistically. Such cultural immersions will help them appreciate cultural diversity in the nation, become culturally balanced, and become better human beings.