Schedule
The schedule for the inaugural International ‘Conversations’ Conference hosted by the Dalhousie University School of Social Work and organized by the School's Diversity and Equity Committee is now AVAILABLE on the conference website. The interactive International ‘Conversations’ Conference will be held online from September 26 and September 27, 2024, via Microsoft Teams Webinar.
All presenters must use the desktop app to present as it will ensure their cameras, microphones and sharing features are active. Click on this link to download Microsoft Teams for desktop. Anyone (conference attendees and presenters) who does not have a Microsoft Teams account will need to create one to use the Microsoft Teams app. Once the Microsoft Teams app is installed, persons may either sign in or create an account. Here is a link with instructions on how to do this.
International ‘Conversations’ Conference – Presenter Abstracts and Bios
Conversations: An International Conference Schedule |
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ADT (GMT-3) |
Event |
Thursday, September 26, 2024 (DAY ONE) |
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8:30AM – 9:00AM |
Registration |
9:00AM – 9:05AM |
Land acknowledgement and Openings Traditional Mi'kmaq Welcome: Catherine Martin, Director, Indigenous Community Engagement, Dalhousie University |
9:05AM – 9:30PM |
Remarks by Partners |
9:30AM – 10:15AM |
Keynote Speaker Indigenous Women’s Transformative Leadership: Working Toward Indigenous Self-Determination in Canadian Universities Dr. Candace Brunette-Debassige |
10:20AM – 11:50AM |
PANEL ONE |
Concurrent Session A |
Indigeneity, nationhood, and sovereignty |
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In the wake of McGirt: Indigenous Nationhood, Tribal economics, and the interplay of scholarship and sovereignty Brian Hosmer, History Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater |
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Nation-State as a form of 'Body-politic' Reza Khodarahmi, University of Alberta, Department of Political Science |
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Unveiling The Paper Genocide of Indigenous Peoples in Xaymaca Robin Cunningham. Dalhousie University, School of Social Work, Africentric Cohort, Halifax, Canada |
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One Land Two Hearts: Where We Stand Cyrus Sundar Singh, CERC in Migration, Toronto Metropolitan University |
Concurrent Session B |
Erasures/Omissions in service conceptualization, design, promotion, accessibility, delivery and utilization |
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Fostering Respect: Indigenous Cultural Safety in Social Work Education Ashley Quinn, University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, Canada, Ontario, Toronto |
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Moving Forward Together: An Africentric Approach to Healthcare Research Terrence Lewis, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Wanda Thomas Bernard, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Shirley Hodder, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Kofo Iziomon, School of Social Work, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario |
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Towards a Safer Harbor: Unpacking K12 International Students’ Experience in Canadian Homestays Patricia Quan, University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, Friends of Ruby (non-profit), Strategic Initiative Department; Toronto |
11:50AM – 12:00PM |
BREAK |
12:05PM – 1:15PM |
PANEL TWO |
Concurrent Session A |
Erasures/Omissions in service conceptualization, design, promotion, accessibility, delivery and utilization |
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Foreign Credentials, Domestic Disparities: Understanding the value of de- and re-skilling Catherine Bryan, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Shahidur Rahman, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia |
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My Migration Story: Cross-Border Exchange of Indigenous Knowledge Gbenga Adejare, University of Calgary, Sociology, Alberta, Calgary |
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Centering race, systems and structures in mental health and substance use (MHSU) service delivery to youth of African Descent in Nova Scotia Ifeyinwa Mbakogu, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Lotanna Odiyi, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia |
Concurrent Session B |
Activism as healing, resistance and liberation |
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Voices from the South: Exploring transnational feminist approaches to menstrual education to catalyze a transformative development agenda Estefania Reyes, Western University |
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Community and territory in social work education in Chile: between new approaches and terminological placebo Felipe Saravia, University of Bio-Bio, Social Work School, Chile, Biobío region, Concepción city. |
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Beyond “Wu Nai” (being hopeless about the experiences of racism): Documenting Activism and Advocacy Efforts Against Anti-Asian Racism during the COVID-19 Pandemic Izumi Sakamoto, University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, Toronto, Canada |
1:20PM – 2:50PM |
PANEL THREE |
Concurrent Session A |
Colonial and postcolonial harms |
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From Discomfort to Accountability: Exploring an Ethical Relational Approach to Teaching Anti-racism and Decolonisation in a Canadian Introductory Social Work Classroom Prince Chiagozie Ekoh, University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work, Alberta |
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Coloni(inferiori)zed African Masks 'Becoming' an Assemblage Through Deluzian Thought Philip Akoje, Brock University, Faculty of Humanities, Ontario, St Catharines |
Concurrent Session B |
Colonial and postcolonial harms/ Rigidity, white fragility and institutional dominance |
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De-spiriting social work knowledge through generative Artificial Intelligence Michelle Sutherland-Allan, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Marjorie Johnstone, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, |
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Barriers to Well-Being: Understanding the Experience of Black Women in Nonprofit Organizations Timi Idris, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Health, Canada, NS, Halifax |
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Their Way or No Way: “Whiteness” as agent for marginalizing and silencing Minority voices in Academic research and Publication Buster Ogbuagu, Social Work, University of St Francis, Joliet Illinois |
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Whiteness in Academia and Knowledge Production Ellen Hickey, Dalhousie University, School of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Halifax |
2:50PM – 3:10PM |
BREAK |
3:15PM – 4:45PM |
PANEL FOUR |
Concurrent Session A |
Reinforcers of erasures and remediation strategies |
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Bringing “ethical space” to curriculums as a way to address erasures and embrace marginalized voices Kimberly Calderwood, Trent University Durham GTA, Department of Social Work, Ontario, Oshaw Sasan Issari, Trent University Durham GTA, Department of Social Work, Ontario, Oshawa |
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You can sit with us, but do so at your own risk: the banality of white supremacy in social work field education Talena Jackson, Nipissing University, Faculty of Education and Professional Studies, School of Social Work, North Bay, Ontario, Canada |
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Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in the Canadian Context; Social Policy Implications for Equity-Seeking Populations and Communities Tori Lewis, School of Social Work, University of Windsor, Ontario |
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School Violence: Towards Anti-Racist Frameworks Amanda Gebhard, Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina, Saskatchewan Courtney Chambers, York University |
Concurrent Session B |
Reinforcers of erasures and remediation strategies (PANEL) |
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Pathways to Precariousness: Canada’s Intentional Failure of Migrant and Undocumented Care Workers Veen Wong, University of Waterloo, School of Public Health Sciences, Ontario Tyeriah Philbert, Renison University College, University of Waterloo, School of Social Work Trish Van Katwyk, Renison University College, University of Waterloo, School of Social Work, |
4:50PM – 4:55PM |
Closing Remarks |
Friday, September 27, 2024 (DAY TWO) |
|
ADT (GMT-3) |
Event |
8:30AM – 9:00AM |
Registration |
9:00AM – 9:05AM |
Land acknowledgement Openings |
9:05AM – 9:30AM |
Remarks by Partners |
9:30AM – 10:15AM |
Keynote Speaker The De/Anti-Colonial Turn to Conversations on Systemic Intentional Erasures Professor George J. Sefa Dei |
10:20AM – 11:50AM |
PANEL ONE |
Concurrent Session A |
Erasures/Omissions in service conceptualization, design, promotion, accessibility, delivery and utilization |
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“Small Stories, Big Mental Space”: Immigrant Women's Artistic Expression of Mental Health and Social Support in Canada Maryam Motia, Wilfrid Laurier University, Social Work, Canada, Ontario, |
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Intention, Conversation, and Bias in the Teaching of Architecture Emanuel Jannasch, Dalhousie University, School of Architecture, Nova Scotia |
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Where is the love? Overcoming the “joy deficit” in social inequality teaching Robert Nonomura, Western University, Department of Sociology, Ontario |
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Accountability and Intervention at the Intersection of Disability and Environmental Justice: Improving Rural Endometriosis Care in Consideration of the Northern Pulp Mill in Pictou County, Nova Scotia Hannah Parks, Registered Social Worker (RSW) with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), Alumni School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, |
Concurrent Session B |
Anti-racist, anti-colonial discourse and/or frameworks, resistance or insubordination |
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Intentional Epistemological Erasures: Making a Case for Black Studies Marlon Simmons, University of Calgary, Werklund School of Education, Alberta |
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Pagsamahin: Merging culture, identity, and mental health care with 1.5 generation Filipinx Canadians in Winnipeg, MB Benito Capili, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Social Work, NL, St. John's |
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Resisting Intentional Erasures, Reproducing the Statue of Peace Nogin Chung, Department of Art and Design, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, USA |
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Centering Africentric Perspectives in Social Work: Telling our Stories Sasan Issari, Trent University, Social Work Department Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University |
11:50AM – 12:00PM |
BREAK |
12:00PM – 1:30PM |
PANEL TWO |
Concurrent Session A |
Community and collectivism as resistance |
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Speaking and Witnessing Child Welfare Truths Nancy Freymond, Wilfrid Laurier University, School of Social Work, Ontario Rhonda Andall, Wilfrid Laurier University, School of Social Work, Ontario |
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Food spaces as sites for social change (Food spaces as places of resistance) Nadine Powell, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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Resisting the Covert Control of Neoliberalism in the Non-Profit Industrial Complex: Abolitionist Alternatives to Community Care Grisha Cowal, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia |
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Feminist Pedagogy and Psychotherapy: A Quiet Resistance Lisa Trefzger Clarke, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario |
Concurrent Session B |
Dangers of discursive myths, ideological priorities and dark chapters of national histories |
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The Countering Disinformation About The 2SLGBTQI+ Community in Rural Canada Project: Project Information and Research Assistant Insights Kamryn Zboya, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS, Canada Jonah Wozney, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS, Canada Luc Cousineau, Dalhousie University, School of Health and Human Performance, Recreation Management Paulo Ravecca, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS, Canada |
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My grandfather’s Stories of Women Leaders (and Erasures of Knowledges) Patricia McGuire, School of Social Work, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario |
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Historical Harm repacked as helping: why we need to reflect on the attitudes and treatment of Neurodivergent individuals by health care professional and society Jessica Perry, Dalhousie University, School of Occupational, Nova Scotia, |
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Glorifying the external, submerging the internal and human trafficking in West Africa Ifeyinwa Mbakogu, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Deborah Tamakloe, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Lotanna Odiyi, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia |
1:35PM – 3:05PM |
WORKSHOPS |
Concurrent Session A |
Embracing Antiracism Approaches in Supporting an Ever-Growing Diverse Population: A Self-Exploration Approach to Embrace, Deconstruct and Operationalize Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization Dr. Riham Al-Saadi, University of Windsor, School of Social Work, Ontario |
Concurrent Session B
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Resisting the Erasure of People of Igbo Descent in Canada: A Workshop on History, Unity, and Collective Wellness Ikenna Okpala, Ndi Igbo Cultural Association, Nova Scotia |
3:05PM – 3:25PM |
BREAK |
3:25PM – 4:55PM |
PANEL THREE |
Concurrent Session A |
Community and collectivism as resistance |
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Understanding and addressing injustice behind the national cap on international student admissions in Canada Kedi Zhao. Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina, Saskatchewan |
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Moving Forward Together: Unsettling Racism, Silence and Violence in Health and Social Services Shirley Hodder, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Holly Johnson, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Tiffany Taylor, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia |
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Unmasking EDI: How Diversity Programs Perpetuate Erasure and the Call for Collective Resistance Laureen (Jill) Kendall, Trent University - Durham Campus, Social Work Department, Ontario, Oshawa |
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Kink and Subversive Affirmation: Pursuing Collective Emancipation through Ritualistic Rejection of Systems of Oppression and Hegemonic Sexual Culture in the BDSM Space Madeline Rae, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia |
Concurrent Session B |
Anti-racist, anti-colonial discourse and/or frameworks, resistance or insubordination |
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Psychiatric Consumers and Survivors’ (Lackluster) Engagement Indigeneity and Anti-Racism Walter Wai Tak Chan, Algoma University, Social Work, Canada, Ontario, Sault Ste. Marie Bawating |
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Experiential Learning as Resistance: ACMP’s Role in Empowering Afro-Caribbean Students Against Anti-Black Racism in Canada Warren Clarke, University of Manitoba, Department of Anthropology, Winnipeg Richmond Opoku, University of Manitoba, Department of Anthropology Kevin Tachie, University of Manitoba, Department of Sociology Stanley Oyiga, University of Manitoba, Department of Anthropology |
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Erasing Indigenous identities at Dalhousie: The perspectives of Inuit faculty and students Debbie Martin, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Evan Powell, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Doctor of Medicine/ Faculty of Medicine, NL, St. John’s |
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Conversations about International Erasers: Revisiting UNESCO (1978) Declaration on Race and the Elimination of Racial Prejudice & Contemporary EDI Initiatives Juliana West, Thompson Rivers University, Social Work, BC, Kamloops Christine Lwanga, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work - Graduate Studies and Research, Manitoba, Winnipeg |
5:00PM – 5:15PM |
Closing Conversation and Remarks |