The El-Hindi Center for Dialogue and Action at InterFaith Works celebrated diversity at Syracuse’s Inner Harbor Saturday. It was part of the organization’s United We End Racism and 22nd Annual Duck Race and Racial Justice Awards at the Inner Harbor in Syracuse.

“Yes, it’s a day that’s kind of a celebration of all of the work that our agency has been doing this past year around,” InterFaith Works president and CEO Beth Broadway said. “Ending racism and a chance for people to come together across all of our differences to work and play together and show the world what racism gone will look like.”

Broadway says the annual duck race is a reminder to paddle forward in the fight against racism. Various organizations decorated a duck and raced them down Onondaga Creek.

National Grid has been a presenting sponsor for the duck race and fighting against racism for 20 years.

“It’s a critical organization that we support,” said Alberto Bianchetti, regional director of Customer and Corporate Affairs for National Grid. “This event is a celebration but the real work gets done by the El-Hindi Center and InterFaith to talk about the value of diversity, which is so important for organizations like National Grid. And that’s why we’re so pleased to be the presenting sponsor.”

Racial Justice Awards were given out as well to people and organizations that promote social equity. The lifetime achievement award went to Onondaga County legislator, Linda Ervin.

“I’m very happy to be receiving this award,” Ervin said. “I’ve done a lot for the last, I don’t know, how many years I’ve been in this community. Over 40 years I’ve been in this community and done a lot and it’s good to be recognized.”

Ervin says the event highlights that racism is still alive and well.

“It brings a lot of attention to the fact that it’s necessary to do something about it and moving together, united together, makes it work,” Ervin said.