Rose State College cultural festival in Midwest City will feature Haiti

Clark, a former Army medic, had flown into the neighboring Dominican Republic and drove to the Haitian capital of Port au Prince, where he went to work giving medical care.

After returning to the United States, Clark founded Boots on the Ground, a nonprofit organization that provides medical care, clean water, food, shelter and education to those in need in developing nations.

Clark will be one of several visitors on hand next month at Global Oklahoma, an international cultural showcase held annually at Rose State College. Now in its 24th year, the showcase will feature the people, history and culture of Haiti.

During a preview of the showcase Monday, Clark said he was pleased to have the opportunity to share what he knew of Haiti and its people.

“It's a wonderful culture,” he said.

The showcase will be Oct. 6. Although the annual festival generally features a different nation every year, more than 20 nations and cultures will be represented.

Showcase director Lisa Price said the college chose to feature Haiti in this year's festival because of the recent earthquake there. A magnitude 7 earthquake hit the country Jan. 12, 2010, causing catastrophic damage in and around Port au Prince. The earthquake left 316,000 dead and 300,000 injured, according to official estimates.