17
thePeorian.com
The Present
Helping American and other
cultures connect with each other
leads to harmonious existence,
said Julia Issa of Peoria, who
came here from the Middle East
during the first Gulf War. A
Lebanese who grew up in Qatar,
she came to attend Bradley Uni-
versity and stayed after meeting
and marrying Peoria attorney Leo
Ghantous. Issa teaches French at
Illinois Central College; it is one
of four languages in which she is
fluent.
What she has found is that
each ethnic group in Peoria is
very proud of its heritage, from
the oldest to the newest.
That’s why, Issa said, she
believes it’s important the groups
embrace each others’ cultures
through various events and
festivals. She said she participates
each year in several, including
the Lebanese Food Festival at St.
Scharbels.
“
These are the way people can
learn about the different cultures.
Food is a very important part of
every culture. It is nice when we
can embrace the multiculturalism
and bring it to light. This commu-
nity, I think, does that,” she said.
Issa said she is proud to be
Lebanese and proud of the
Lebanese in Peoria. “They have
worked for everything they have
and they have done so much for
this community,” she said.
If she had a criticism of Peoria,
it would be that its schools need
to do more to integrate children
of foreign cultures into Ameri-
can cultures. “Like Americans
do when they go abroad, people
who come here from other coun-
tries have to adapt. The schools
need to help the children to adapt.
“
I don’t want to sound critical.
I have always found Americans
to be very accommodating, nice
and friendly and Peorians are
among the kindest I’ve known.
Peoria is small and yet it is rich
with the different cultures,” she
said.
309-693-8664
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