Minka 2017 | Host to Home
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Minka
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Through story sharing, dialogue and experience, we will explore the journey of settlement in our Waterloo Region communities and, together, discover how we can move from acting as hosts to creating a home of belonging.
We are seeking to understand and enhance the refugee settlement experience in the Waterloo Region.
SPEAKERS
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About the Speaker
Marlene Epp is Dean and Professor of History and Peace & Conflict Studies at Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo. Her research and teaching includes a focus on the history of immigrants and refugees in Canada. Her most recent publication is a short booklet on the history of refugees in Canada, published by the Canadian Historical Association. Marlene has also volunteered for refugee-supporting agencies in Waterloo Region.
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About the Speaker
Dr. Neil Arya is a family physician in Kitchener, Ontario. He is the president of the Canadian Physicians for Research and Education in Peace (CPREP), Chair of the PEGASUS Global Health Conference. He remains Assistant Clinical Professor in Family Medicine at McMaster University (part-time) and Adjunct Professor in Environment and Resource Studies at the University of Waterloo. He is a past Vice-President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), which won the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize and of President of Physicians for Global Survival (PGS) and has written and lectured around the world about Peace through Health. He was the founding Director of the Global Health Office at Western University and has conducted research around international experiences as well as the impact of overseas electives on host communities and students. Dr. Arya continues as founder and Director of the Kitchener/Waterloo Refugee Health Clinic in collaboration with the Kitchener-Waterloo Reception Centre where he provides case-specific care to newcomers and those in need of specialized care. He was lead physician developing the Psychiatric Outreach Project, providing mental health for those homeless or at risk in St. John’s Kitchen in Kitchener.
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About the Speaker
Sandra Kuppek is an English Language Program Manager at St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Development Studies from Renison College and an Early Childhood Education Diploma from Conestoga College. She has worked with Newcomers for 18 years in the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada program (LINC)
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About the Speaker
Pauleen Payne is an English Language Program Manager with St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a TESL Certificate from Conestoga College. She has worked in the St. Louis English Language Program for over seven years.
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About the Speaker
Gosia Freiburger is an Instructor with the St. Louis Adult English Language program and a site Supervisor for the St. Louis International Languages Program. Gosia has a Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Warsaw, Poland and a TESL Certificate from Conestoga College. She has volunteered with the Literacy Program, the YMCA Host Program and the St. Louis International Languages Program. She worked in Chicago and Poland as an ESL/EFL instructor.
DONATIONS
At St. Jerome’s University, our Minkas are an opportunity for us to bring people together to dialogue about a social justice issue we are facing in our local community. The Minka is an opportunity to dive into the complexity of the issue and be part of developing approaches to making change in our community.
In 2017, St. Jerome’s University is partnering with Reception House Waterloo Region to offer Host to Home -an opportunity for the Kitchener-Waterloo community to come together to better understand the challenges of the refugee settlement experience in KW and through human-centered design practices, dialogue and create action plans around ways we can transition our community from being hosts to being a genuine home to newcomers.
This campaign will help offset the cost of registration for community members who can not afford the full registration fee. We want to ensure that there is access to the conversation, especially for those who have experienced the settlement experience first-hand. We want to be sure that everyone's voice is heard at the table, and that everyone has an opportunity to share their gifts in the work towards making our community a better home.
We welcome your donation!
REGISTER
REGISTER your participation in MINKA! Tickets are $50/person.
