Connecting in times of crisis - Sharing stories to build coalitions - 1st presentation

Group Submission Type: Special Session

Description of Session

Have you been impacted by rapidly emerging political changes in the United States? Do you know people around the world in precarious conditions? The CIES community has been affected directly by the changes in the current political climate, with ramifications that have immediate and long term impacts.


This facilitated session offers a caring space to share lived experiences and create solidarity for those of us who call CIES our professional home. Current events are affecting our community in a wide range of ways. From those of us who are students, to those of us who are front-line workers in all corners of the world, all aspects of our personal and professional lives are being touched whether we are development or higher education practitioners. By framing this session with intentional hospitality to meet this moment and all the emotions it brings, we are soliciting stories to be shared as the entrance point to first have deeper conversations with each other to learn about what people are feeling and thinking.


We invite you to share personal stories or those of family and friends in a supportive space. This dialogue is an opportunity to process recent events and foster creative approaches to a disruptive agenda. By building camaraderie, fostering community, and standing in solidarity with one another, we seek to cultivate persistence in turmoil. Through the sharing of experiences and the intense power of storytelling, we seek to facilitate this session to build coalitions while also fostering a desire to choose to find hope in otherwise troubled times. During this upheaval, our members can learn from and stand alongside one another and we hope you can join us for this participatory session.

Sub Unit

• General Pool

Chair

• Jeffrey Lee, Community Development Network, NGO

Invited Speakers

• Supriya Baily, George Mason University

• Betsy M Scotto-Lavino, George Mason University

• Laura Wangsness Willemsen, Concordia University, St. Paul

• Jeffrey Lee, Community Development Network, NGO