Somerville non-profit The Welcome Project is celebrating the community’s immigrant flavor, in partnership with the City’s Shape Up Somerville healthy restaurant campaign, Shape Up Approved – Eat Well. The 2014 YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City event will celebrate a city proud of its diverse immigrant history and celebrated for its growing foodie scene celebration. All YUM eateries are part of the city’s Shape Up Approved – Eat Well campaign, which makes Somerville a healthier place to live, work, play and eat by highlighting healthier menu options at participating restaurants.

The event will be held on April 10, 2014 at 7 p.m. at Arts and the Armory.

“Somerville has always been an immigrant city, and even as the city changes we have the ability to shape what kind of community it will be,” said Warren Goldstein-Gelb, director of The Welcome Project. “YUM celebrates the city’s many immigrant communities and provides an opportunity for people to connect across cultures while exploring the great tasting food offered by Somerville restaurants.

The April 10 YUM celebration and related 2014 YUM Restaurant Card, which provides a discount at participating restaurants, features the international flavors of nine immigrant-owned Somerville restaurants. Proceeds go towards strengthen the voices of immigrant families across the city. Individuals interested in purchasing tickets can do so by visiting www.yumsomerville.org.

The April 10 YUM event will feature the diverse tastes of nine Somerville restaurants as well as an exciting silent auction with Red Sox tickets, local treats, and more. Additionally, the evening will recognize Regina Bertholdo and Suzanne Sankar for their service to Somerville’s immigrant community.

Regina Bertholdo, will receive The Welcome Project’s annual Intercultural City Award. Regina is Director of the Parent Information Center for the Somerville Public Schools and co-founded the Brazilian Women’s Group. Along with her leadership as Director of the Parent Information Center and as the Schools’ Homeless Liaison, Regina is also known throughout the community as a tireless advocate and champion for Somerville’s diverse immigrant community.

Suzanne Sankar will receive The Welcome Project Founder’s Award. Suzanne was a social worker at the Mental Health Clinic at Mystic Housing in the mid 1980s when the public housing development was integrated. After seeing first hand just how poorly new immigrants were being treated as they moved in, she helped lead the effort to create The Welcome Project. Through 23 years of service on The Welcome Project board, Suzanne broadened and deepened the work of the organization. Suzanne is currently Professor of Practice and Associate Dean for Student Affairs at Simmons School of Social Work.

The nine restaurants participating in the 2014 YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City are: Aguacate Verde, Mexican, Porter Square; Fasika, Ethiopian, East Somerville; Istanbul’lu, Turkish, Teele Square; Los Paisanos, Central American, East Somerville; Masala, Indian and Nepali, Teele Square; The Neighborhood Restaurant & Bakery, Portuguese, Union Square; Sabur, Mediterranean, Teele Square; Vinny’s at Night, Italian, East Somerville; Yak & Yeti, Nepali and Indian, Ball Square.