World Beat Welcomes New Board Members

Salem World Beat Festival - Salem-News.com photo

(SALEM) - The Salem Multicultural Institute, the non-profit organization that operates the annual World Beat Festival and World Beat Gallery, welcomes three new board members to help the organization as it continues to grow.

Gregg Peters joins the board as a long-time supporter of the Salem Multicultural Institute. Gregg is owner of Oil Can Henry’s in Stayton, a business he purchased and expanded after he retired from a career with Hewlett-Packard. While at HP, Gregg received the Founders Award from the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund for his work in providing technology to historically black colleges and universities. Gregg has an MBA from George Fox University, and committed to work with the World Beat because SMI is an almost entirely volunteer organization that makes a real difference to Salem in strengthening our community.

Elizabeth Pickett has also joined the SMI board. Elizabeth has been a long-time volunteer at the Festival. A resident of Salem for 16 years, Elizabeth is a real estate agent with Prudential and has served with a number of area non-profits including the Salem Keizer Education Foundation. Elizabeth is committed to SMI because the organization helps to educate the community on the important asset that we have here in Salem, a diverse community. As a realtor, Elizabeth recognizes the valuable role that SMI plays in creating a higher quality of life for all residents, contributing to families and businesses alike.

Kathleen Fish has rejoined the board of directors. Kathleen is one of the two original founders of the organization back in 1997, when she committed to help create a response to incidents of local racial intolerance.

SMI programs include the annual World Beat Festival, the World Beat Gallery, and a Performance & Lecture Series. World Beat celebrates its 15^th year in the community through 2012.

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