Isaac School District, which serves approximately 7,200 K-8 students in a 6.8-square-mile area, celebrates in high fashion each February with a multicultural fair and parade that pull together students, parents, and the community. Students in the district are predominantly Hispanic (94 percent), with about 6 percent each black and white. In 1997, the district's governing board created UPEM (Unidos Padres, Estudiantes y Maestros/ United Parents, Students and Teachers) to celebrate the community's cultural differences and strong family ties.

All of the schools participate in the parade and the multicultural festival. The two-mile parade begins at the Isaac middle school and winds through town.

Students, parents, teachers, politicians, and business leaders participate in the parade. To represent the different countries of the world, students and parents wear colorful uniforms, sashes, and traditional costumes. Board members, administrators, and volunteers ride horses in the parade, which also includes fire trucks and motorcycle-riding police officers.

The festival held following the parade includes music by a mariachi band, horse rides for children, and opportunities to see fire trucks up close.

Preparing for the event is a year-round undertaking that brings the whole community together, including lots of parent volunteers who do thousands of hours of work. Students can be found working hard after school on banners, floats, and presentations for an annual multicultural fair.

Because most of the work for the festival and parade is done by volunteers, the costs for the event are minimal, although there are two parent liaisons at the school who work part-time on the festival throughout the year as part of their regular duties.

In the five years since UPEM was formed, the parade and festival have grown in popularity, with about twice as many participants as when it started.

Working toward a positive community event that celebrates their cultures is a point of pride for the district's students.