Download the 2008 Scholarship Application.
Finding the Center Conference
Office of Diversity and Community
University of Idaho
Admin 104C
PO Box 443157
Moscow, ID 83844-3157
(208) 885-6448
Off Campus Address:
Finding the Center Conference
112 W. 4th St., Suite #4
Moscow, ID 83843
(208) 892-8220
|
|
Each participant will be able to attend two workshops
- Track 1: Higher Bridges, Lower Walls: Using Social Justice Activities to Overcome Barriers
(Paul Wesselmann)
Would your classroom, organization or community benefit from a deeper appreciation of difference? This highly interactive session will allow participants to experience several easy-to-facilitate activities designed to create conversation and encourage respect for diversity. In addition to learning how to administer and process the activities, participants will examine options to adapt them for a variety of settings and audiences.
- Track 2: Challenging Hate and Stereotypes in a Time of Crisis
(Corey Saylor)
In America’s recent past one of the most persistent and virulent forms of racism has been based in stereotypes and hate directed towards Americans of middle eastern descent. Many, but not all, of this ethnic group are members of the Islamic community of faith. This sad trend has increased dramatically with the United States inception and leadership of the so-called “war on terror”.
- Track 3: Building Bridges: Reducing the Harmful Effects of Prejudice and Discrimination
(NCBI— The National Coalition Building Institute)
The National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) is a nonprofit leadership training organization based in Washington, D.C. Since 1984, NCBI has been working to eliminate prejudice and intergroup conflict in communities throughout the world.
NCBI's proactive approach begins with a corps of community leaders who are taught effective bridge-building skills to combat intergroup conflicts. The local leadership team embodies all sectors of the community, including elected officials, law enforcement officers, government workers, educators, students, business executives, labor union leaders, community activists, and religious leaders. These community leaders work together as a resource team, offering prevention-oriented programs to deal with prejudice and intergroup tensions. The Washington Post published a front page story on the significance of NCBI's work with young people. ABC World News featured NCBI as a "program that works." At the Finding the Center Conference for 2006, all conference participants attending the final day of the conference will take part in the “Building Bridges Workshop.”
Typically presented as a one-day seminar, Building Bridges (also know as the Prejudice Reduction Workshop) is a participatory program which reduces the harmful effects of prejudice and discrimination, and begins to explore the cycle of systematic oppression. The workshop increases awareness and teaches specific skills which empower individuals to be effective allies on behalf of others. NCBI recently established a chapter at Washington State University.
- Track 4: Emerging Leaders: Developing and Nurturing New Leaders for Future Human Rights Efforts
(Michael Chin)
Led by Michael Chin, this track will offer a panel of young leaders in the field of human rights and diversity examining such issues as:
- What attracts young people to become active in human rights issues?
- What barriers might this field present? What training should future leaders seek?
- Is there an age barrier to work in this field?
- What can younger people accomplish?
- What would encourage younger people continue to in this field?
- What could society do to facilitate the involvement of young people in this field?
|
|
