Each year, the Concord Multicultural Festival brings people together to celebrate the cultures, traditions, stories, food, music, art and experiences that make our community unique. At the heart of that celebration are individuals who use their own experiences and creativity to help others feel seen, welcomed and valued.
We spoke with Emelyne Adios, this year’s coordinator of the Festival’s global fashion show. Originally from Burundi, Emelyne’s journey has taken her through Uganda and ultimately to New Hampshire, where she has built a life centered on community education and service.
Tell us a little about your background and your connection to the Concord Multicultural Festival.
I have always been driven by a strong work ethic and a dedication to serving my community. Since I was six years old, I dreamed of becoming a broadcast journalist because I was inspired by the idea of using my voice to connect with and inform people. While living in Uganda, I studied communication and gained experience working in radio while I was in high school.
Moving to the United States changed my path completely. I had to overcome a language barrier and, in many ways, start over. I worked in food service while remaining determined to rebuild my career and continue my education.
Since 2018, I have served the local community as an interpreter, helping bridge some of the same linguistic gaps I experienced myself. My experiences in communication, human services, and healthcare naturally connected me to the Concord Multicultural Festival. It is a space that reflects two values that have shaped much of my own journey: resilience and inclusion.
Why are events like this important for bringing the community together?
The Festival is an important space for New Hampshire’s immigrant and refugee communities. In everyday life, newcomers can sometimes feel pressure to adapt, code-switch or minimize parts of their traditions in order to fit in. The Multicultural Festival provides an opportunity where people don’t have to minimize their identities. Through traditional movement, music, clothing and food, people have the freedom to show up as themselves and celebrate where they come from.
I also believe opportunities for this kind of authentic connection shouldn’t be limited to one day each year. I would love to see inclusive spaces and opportunities for cultural connection continue throughout the year so that we can keep building mutual understanding and a stronger sense of community
How do you use fashion or other forms of creative expression to celebrate and share your culture?
For me, fashion is a nonverbal way of telling a story and honoring identity and heritage. I have a lifelong passion for textiles, especially the textures, structures and emotions different fabrics can communicate. Through my clothing brand, House of Collective, I design apparel that brings together African roots and contemporary styles.
My philosophy is that fashion isn’t defined by the price tag on a garment. It is about the dignity, confidence and authenticity with which someone carries themselves. True style should be an extension of your internal confidence. You should never feel that you need to compromise your identity simply to fit someone else’s expectations.
Beyond designing, I use my experience as a fashion producer and personal stylist to help people develop their personal image, organize their wardrobes and, most importantly, feel confident embracing who they are.
Tell us more about the inspiration for this year’s runway show.
The vision began this past May during a creative collaboration with a close friend, but the inspiration behind the runway’s theme also goes back to an experience I had with a model named Deja, whom I first met while working on a fashion show in Durham in 2019. She associated me with color and movement and called me a “Dancing Queen.” I have always told people that I am not a traditional dancer, but her words stayed with me. They eventually helped inspire this year’s theme: Dancing in Fabric.
The idea explores the ways we move within our heritage. Even without traditional choreography, our spirits can dance through the history, colors, textures and emotions woven into cultural attire. It is about how you feel when you wear the fabric and allowing yourself to move according to that feeling.
I want the runway to be an empowering space where participants can step into the spotlight and truly feel seen. I also hope attendees leave with a deeper appreciation for clothing traditions from around the world and a greater understanding of how cultural diversity enriches our local community.
What role can local businesses and organizations play in creating a welcoming and inclusive community?
Local businesses and organizations have an important responsibility and opportunity to be open to the diverse talent that exists within our community. This is where people live, invest, work and hope to build sustainable futures. One of the greatest challenges facing immigrants and refugees is not necessarily a lack of ability, but how their abilities are perceived.
A lack of fluency in English should never be confused with a lack of intelligence or skill. Many newcomers arrive with significant education and professional experience from their home countries and then face the enormous challenge of starting over. Businesses can make a difference by looking beyond linguistic differences, providing accessible training and creating genuine pathways for people to build their careers.
Through my community youth initiative, For Together, we also mentor young newcomers and encourage constructive milestones, including financial literacy, spiritual grounding and athletic engagement. When businesses partner with initiatives like these and invest in immigrant professionals, they can help dismantle stereotypes and open doors to opportunity.
The talent is already here. Sometimes, people simply need a fair opportunity to demonstrate what they can do.
The 2026 Multicultural Festival will be held on Sunday, September 20th from 11 AM–5 PM at Keach Park. To learn more about the festival and view a list of vendors & activities, use the button below.
Incorporated in 1919, New Hampshire’s state capital chamber of commerce—the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce—develops economic opportunities, strengthens the business climate, and enhances quality of life in the Capital region. As the largest chamber in the state, it is deeply invested in the local community and dedicated to shaping competitive economic development strategy, advocating for policies and projects that benefit the region, and promoting Concord as a culturally vibrant visitor destination.