Watermelon Festival

By Anna Hagen
Contributing Writer

As I walked into a playground full of colorful faces, dozens of kids running around with
dirty fingers and toes, games galore and a sidewalk freckled with watermelon seeds
and rinds, I knew that this year’s Watermelon Festival sponsored by CHARISM (a
neighborhood support center) was a hit.

The event was held at McCormick Park in Fargo this past Friday, the 23rd of July.
Basketballs were being passed around and tossed into the air in one corner, whooping
and hollering across a slip-‘n-slide was filling the air in another and buckets full of sidewalk
chalk, games and food framed the remainder of the park.

“It’s our big event of the summer,” explained Shanda Bultsma, Youth Development
Director for CHARISM, “We try to host between three and four big events like this a
year to create positive growth, build community and just get people out of the house.”

And it definitely did—nearly 100 area children showed up hungry and ready to play.
Parents came out to enjoy the warm weather. And with the help of faculty and staff from
Rasmussen College [in Moorhead], there were enough hands to go around.

“We try to create a backyard feel for these kids,” explained Sarah Dixon, Director of
Marketing and Fund Development. With 64% of participants being refugees or New
Americans and 100% of participants living at or below poverty level, it is important to
prevent social problems by strengthening neighborhoods and families.

And with CHARISM’S award-winning reputation, it is having a major impact
on its catchment area in South Fargo, which includes the McCormick Park and
Stonebridge neighborhoods. Each month, it opens its doors for over 1500 visits
from neighborhood residents participating in everything from after-school enrichment
programs to holiday parties and summer camps, such as Girls Group and Helping
Children Learn. They include children ages six to fourteen (though the community
events are all-inclusive). “All of our after-school programs focus on building skills in
the areas of literacy, leadership, healthy choices and positive socialization,” explained
Dixon, “We offer…a safe and positive environment.”

CHARISM is the only neighborhood-based family resource center operating in Fargo
and has been reaching out to the community for 16 years. They partner with over
40 businesses including city government, the business community, local schools and
colleges and other non-profit agencies for the preservation of quality neighborhoods.
“It’s fun collaboration,” explained Dixon.

If you would like to lend a hand in one of CHARISM’S volunteer opportunities,
consider becoming one of their many collaborating partners, or simply learn more
about the organization, check out http://www.charism.org. A Back-to-School Barbeque is
already being planned for September in which hot dogs, bingo and school supplies
will be the highlights.

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