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More than 150 members of Leadership DeKalb gathered Saturday evening at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center for the annual reunion. This year’s reunion, World Party 2010, was a salute to both the diversity of the organization’s membership base and to the diversity of DeKalb County.

Setting the tone of an international event, guests were welcomed to the Sanford Center by students of the Chinese Cultural School demonstrating masterful yo-yo techniques and a six-member percussion group called the Percussion Kings of Africa who were playing traditional drum-based African music.

Inside the facility, the international theme was displayed on the dining tables with centerpiece arrangements with Asian, African, European and Hispanic trinkets, statues and fabrics that were contributed by members of the planning committee. Cuisine for the evening included Mexican, Chinese, Caribbean, Italian, Vietnamese and traditional Southern.

Following a brief introduction and welcome by Leadership DeKalb Executive Director Sara Fountain, host sponsor representatives Delores Crowell of AT&T and Chris Morris of DeKalb County Community Development Authority, attendees were entertained by the dancers of Eve Hao Dance Studio performing “Flowers in the Water,” a traditional Chinese Dai Zu cultural dance. A performance steeped in Brazilian and African music and movement—Capoeira, which is a centuries-old combination of martial arts, dance and play, followed.

Proceeds from World Party help provide scholarship funding for Youth Leadership DeKalb. Fountain commented “Youth Leadership DeKalb is an exceptional 10-month program designed to develop the leadership skills of young people in DeKalb County so they may confidently become our leaders of tomorrow. Participation in the class can become a life-changing experience for the students.”