Overview

What We Do​

At Culture Encounters, we create spaces where people can show up as they are, experience something new, and leave with a little more understanding than they came with.

Our work is simple, yet powerful: we bring people together across cultures using food, movement, storytelling, and conversation. Whether it's a child learning to write about the taste of Ghanaian fried plantains or an adult engaging in honest dialogue about race and identity, our programs make culture real, accessible, and deeply human.

We are the only grassroots, immigrant-led organization in the Richmond region doing this kind of immersive, cross-cultural work across both youth and adult populations. We don’t teach from a distance—we bring cultures into the room, led by the very people who live them.​
The Problem We’re Built to Solve
Richmond and its surrounding areas are becoming more culturally diverse every year—but diversity alone doesn't build community. Immigrant families often face isolation, cultural bias, and limited access to authentic connections. At the same time, many people in non-immigrant communities have never had the opportunity to truly engage with cultures outside their own. Without intentional exposure, stereotypes fill the gaps, and misunderstanding takes root.

We're here to change that—one shared story, one meal, and one cultural encounter at a time.

Culture Encounters was created to address what happens when people are excluded, misrepresented, or invisible in their own communities. As an immigrant-led organization, we are built on the belief that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and connected—regardless of their cultural background.

Amma Gatty

Founder

Culture Encounters didn’t begin as a cultural organization. In 2015, we launched as The Next Star Arts Program, pouring into young people through the arts—because I’ve always believed in nurturing potential.

But as we gathered, created, and shared stories, something deeper began to stir. It wasn’t just about the art. It was about identity. Culture. Finding a space where your roots, your voice, and your story are not just welcomed—but honored.

So we followed that nudge. We grew. What started as a youth arts program became a movement—a home—for cross-cultural connection led by immigrant voices. Today, Culture Encounters invites people to taste, move, and listen their way into deeper understanding—through food, dance, storytelling, and shared experience.

This work is deeply personal to me. I was born and raised in Ghana and now call the U.S. home. I was shaped by multiple worlds, and I’ve wrestled with how to hold tradition and change in the same hand. That’s why I believe in creating space for honest conversations and joyful encounters—where no one has to shrink who they are to belong.

To everyone who has walked with us—thank you. You’ve helped turn this vision into a living, breathing space where cultures don’t just meet—they grow together.

We’re still building. And we’re just getting started.

Gatty_Amma-6e

Founder's Notes

Culture Encounters didn’t begin as a cultural organization. In 2015, we launched as The Next Star Arts Program, pouring into young people through the arts—because I’ve always believed in nurturing potential.

But as we gathered, created, and shared stories, something deeper began to stir. It wasn’t just about the art. It was about identity. Culture. Finding a space where your roots, your voice, and your story are not just welcomed—but honored.

So we followed that nudge. We grew. What started as a youth arts program became a movement—a home—for cross-cultural connection led by immigrant voices. Today, Culture Encounters invites people to taste, move, and listen their way into deeper understanding—through food, dance, storytelling, and shared experience.

This work is deeply personal to me. I was born and raised in Ghana and now call the U.S. home. I was shaped by multiple worlds, and I’ve wrestled with how to hold tradition and change in the same hand. That’s why I believe in creating space for honest conversations and joyful encounters—where no one has to shrink who they are to belong.

To everyone who has walked with us—thank you. You’ve helped turn this vision into a living, breathing space where cultures don’t just meet—they grow together.

We’re still building. And we’re just getting started.

OUR VISION

We envision a region where cultural difference is not a barrier but a bridge—where communities thrive through connection, curiosity, and shared experience.

OUR MISSION

To ignite cultural curiosity, appreciation, and connection through the arts, immersive experiences, and open dialogue—building a more inclusive and interconnected region.

OUR STRATEGY

Our strategy centers on breaking barriers through immersive cultural experiences that spark meaningful connections. By engaging communities hesitant to embrace cultural diversity, we create spaces where curiosity leads to understanding and dialogue builds trust—fostering a Richmond where cultural celebration is a way of life.

Our Values

Inquisitive

WE SEEK TO REACH A GENUINE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW OTHERS DO LIFE.

Open

WE ARE EAGER TO LEARN FROM OTHERS AND CHALLENGE OUR ASSUMPTIONS.

Respectful

WE AIM TO VALUE EACH OTHER AND THE THINGS WE EACH HOLD DEAR.

OUR STRATEGY

Culture Encounters aims to become a driving force in promoting cultural understanding, embracing diversity, and fostering a globally interconnected society

STRATEGIC PLAN 2023-2025

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2026

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2027

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Impact Reports

Checkout Culture Encounters' Impact Reports

2023

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2024

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2025

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