#fort wayne Albert Metel

[downtownfortwayne]

Albert Metel is the head of the International Village Multi-Cultural Council. His parents and grandparents were born in Estonia. After the Soviet Union took over in 1921, his family was sent to Siberia. Estonian farmers adapted to the conditions in Siberia and created farms. He told me that the male farmers were then arrested so the rest of the family would not survive. Albert’s grandfather and uncles died in prison. Later, his grandmother received a letter that they were wrongly imprisoned until their deaths. During World War II, many people escaped Siberia, including his mother. Albert was born in Georgia and then his family followed a German army into Germany. After the war, the United Nations took survivors into camps. He lived with his family in a camp for five years until they found a sponsor in America. They took a boat to the United States and lived in Pennsylvania where they worked to pay off debts to their sponsors. After, they settled in in Fort Wayne, Indiana and he has lived here since 1952.

This is one of many stories that lead families to Fort Wayne over the years. It’s his background that makes Albert not only incredibly compassionate but also passionate about the International Village at Three Rivers Festival. This year, the festival will be held over two days from Friday, July 14 until Saturday, July 15 in the Club Soda parking lot from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. There will be a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. on Friday to kick things off.

Over twenty countries will be represented during the festival and there will be authentic food, entertainment, story telling, dancing, and lots of music. He wants to show the different cultures that make up Fort Wayne. There are seventy-two different languages spoken and over fifty countries represented here. Albert tells me that "we are a small version of that melting pot and this is a way to learn the different traditions of all of our residents.” He explained how the people that participate in the International Village do it with a desire to be assimilated into American culture while keeping their heritage. They want to be part of America and keep their identities. This is the sixth year for the event and a great opportunity to learn and connect with others.

by Stephen J. Bailey for your Downtown Improvement District