LAFCU Heritage Fest celebrates culture, connection and community

Fourth annual celebration brought area residents together to share traditions, experience different cultures & strengthen sense of belonging

By Ines Tomic, Neighbor

Oct 26, 2026 9:59 AM EDT

This post was contributed by a community member.

Hmong dancers pose with the colorful LAFCU letters during LAFCU Heritage Fest. The fourth annual celebration brought community members together to experience and share cultures and traditions represented throughout Greater Lansing (Gregory D. Productions)

For LAFCU, building stronger communities goes beyond providing financial services. The credit union's annual LAFCU Heritage Fest is one way it brings people together to learn from one another and celebrate the cultures and traditions that make the Greater Lansing region unique.

That spirit was on display when LAFCU's fourth annual Heritage Fest filled its West Lansing headquarters with music, dance, cultural traditions and activities for all ages. The free event drew families, neighbors and community members for a day of shared experiences and cultural discovery.

"LAFCU was founded on the idea of people helping people, and we believe that responsibility extends beyond financial well-being," said Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, LAFCU chief marketing officer and chief diversity officer. "Strong communities are built when people feel welcomed, valued and connected. LAFCU Heritage Fest creates an opportunity to learn from our neighbors, take pride in our own traditions and discover something about someone whose experiences may be different from ours. Those connections are how stronger communities are built."

Throughout the day, guests experienced cultural performances and educational presentations, including an opening drum performance with Baba Shomari, Ballet Maria Luz, Hmong dancers, a Habari Gani welcome dance, Afrobeat and an interactive hip-hop performance and history presentation from All of the Above Hip Hop Academy. Guests also learned a bit about people with disabilities.

The celebration extended beyond the stage, with horseback rides provided by Michigan Heritage Rodeo, henna, a bounce house, a video game truck, the LAFCU Money Machine, raffles and an artifact table showcasing items from Nigeria. Food and opportunities for guests to participate throughout the event added to the family-friendly atmosphere.

What began four years ago as an opportunity for LAFCU team members to celebrate and learn about different cultures has grown into a public community celebration. Opening the event to the broader community brings LAFCU's people-helping-people philosophy to life and reflects its commitment to supporting both the financial and cultural well-being of the communities it serves.

Ballet Maria Luz dancers perform traditional Folklórico dance during the 2026 LAFCU Heritage Fest, showcasing Mexican culture through vibrant costumes and movement (Gregory D. Productions)

Dr. Maxine Hankins Cain, diversity and inclusion facilitator, and Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, LAFCU chief marketing officer and chief diversity officer, connect during LAFCU Heritage Fest (Gregory D. Productions)

A stilt walker poses alongside a Ballet Maria Luz dancer, adding to the sights and entertainment at LAFCU Heritage Fest (Gregory D. Productions)

The Habari Gani welcome dance at LAFCU Heritage Fest brings cultural expression to the stage at LAFCU’s West Lansing headquarters (Gregory D. Productions)

A young performer from All of the Above Hip Hop Academy demonstrates break-dancing during LAFCU Heritage Fest, part of the event’s lineup of performances celebrating different cultural traditions (Gregory D. Productions)

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch? Register for a user account.