Immersive Online Conference Offers a Transformative Cultural Experience for All

April 15, 2024 admin Featured, news, sods, threads

Credit to Author: Guest Author| Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2024 13:57:16 +0000

Excitement is building as the date approaches for 4th annual edition of Threads: Cultural Conversations, a cornerstone event in our community’s calendar.

Set to take place on May 22 and 23, 2024, this year’s virtual conference promises to be a transformative experience for attendees of all backgrounds, as it continues to be for the organizers and speakers. Hosted by the Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS), Threads promotes equity, diversity and inclusion, through an impressive lineup of speakers and artists.

“Threads opens a window on other cultures. It provides a powerful space for promoting a more understanding, inclusive and vibrant society by sharing first-hand and unheard stories of experiences,” says Ali Abukar, SODS Chief Executive Officer. “By discussing cultural practices, beliefs and traditions, we can break down stereotypes and develop a deeper appreciation for the richness of human experience.” Himself a Threads speaker for the upcoming event, Abukar will share his own story, from his arrival as a refugee to paying it forward to the community that supported him.

Jennifer Podemski, Indigenous film and television actress and producer.

The event will feature over 60 speakers from all walks of life, including but not limited to the late award-winning biologist and primatologist Frans de Waal (1948 -2024), film/TV actor, director and producer Jennifer Podemski, YouTuber Ed People, privacy and ethics expert Ivana Bartoletti and chef Jenni Lessard, along with authors and artists from Indigenous communities, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Australia, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine, China, the Netherlands, Uzbekistan, UK, Iraq, South Korea, the USA and Canada.

The theme of the fourth edition is “evolving.” How do we evolve as social beings? How does our cultural environment condition our habits of thought? How have technology and science influenced our place and role on the planet? What can Mother Nature teach us? And how do stories shape our mindsets?

Anahit Falihi, Director of Settlement and Community Support Services at SODS, maintains that these cross-cultural conversations can promote a sense of belonging among people from diverse backgrounds. “They engage individuals and communities to celebrate their shared heritage while welcoming newcomers. They broach and discuss the root cause of biases, and promote curiosity and respect in the larger society. Threads is an invitation to listen and reflect.” She continues, “It promotes developing an appreciation for diversity, which sparks new perspectives, in its turn leading to engagement in creative solutions and innovation across various fields.”

Registration for the two-day online conference is now open at www.threads2024.ca, and it’s free! Sign up before May 10 for a chance to win one of many prizes, including works by the event’s acclaimed guest speakers.

Attendees can expect to be transported around the world as they witness how the vibrant tapestry of our social fabric is woven of many individual threads.

Which thread are you?