Man grills during a community cookout at Gunpowder State Park. Photo by Rukwaro & Associate / Courtesy of Global Civic Fora.

The savory aroma of goat meat permeated the air, while the soft crackle of roasting corn and the hum of various languages filled Pavilion 3 at Gunpowder Falls State Park on July 12.

It’s a familiar scene for many East African immigrants who’ve gathered there annually for decades.

“Well, we just picked an American holiday — the Fourth of July being Independence Day — and we, as Kenyan-Americans, felt that it’s nice to also remember our heritage in the same spirit,” said Mugo Gachucha, one of the event’s longtime organizers.

The annual cookout began more than 30 years ago with a few families and a single pot of food. Now, it’s a cornerstone event for the Kenyan dia

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