CEHD delegates at Tupiniquim indigenous communityLocal visits included a meeting at Tupiniquim indigenous community in Aracruz, Espírito Santo.

Forging connections in Brazil

A CEHD delegation fosters cross-cultural bonds at a global conference

A delegation from the college received a warm reception at the 5th World Conference on Remedies to Racial and Ethnic Economic Inequality in Vitória, Brazil, in September. The group represented five of CEHD’s seven departments. Together they presented a session where they shared research and reflected on struggles and remedies. On a keynote panel, associate professor Muhammad Khalifa got a rousing response from the audience.

In addition to attending the conference, the delegates met with educators and students in the surrounding communities, including a meeting at Tupiniquim Indigenous community in Aracruz, Espírito Santo.

“It was a profound experience,” said Liz Wieling from family social science. Her response was echoed by the others, who cited the opportunity to deepen understanding of their research areas and forge connections with colleagues in Brazil, from other nations, and among each other.

The conference was conducted in English and Portuguese. The delegates expressed gratitude for the hours of intensive translation provided by CEHD international program director Marina Aleixo, a native of Brazil, who provided support for the group. Aleixo also connected with local resources to make possible meetings with colleagues and communities beyond the conference site.

College delegates were not the only ones from the U or from Minnesota, but, “I hope you know CEHD was the star of the conference!” said conference planning committee member Sam Myers from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at a debriefing in October. The school’s Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice partnered with Brazil’s Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo for the 2018 conference.

The CEHD delegation with the flag of Brazil, L-R, Muhammad Khalifa, Oliver Williams, Liz Wieling, Tania Mitchell, Mary Hermes, Ken Bartlett, Nimo Abdi, Na’im Madyun, Marina Aleixo, Michael Rodriguez, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo student and liaison Washington Galvão, Vichet Chhuon.

The CEHD delegation was made possible with support from the college global initiatives, the dean’s office, and the University’s Global Programs and Strategy (GPS) Alliance.

Learn more about global initiatives in CEHD.

Story by Gayla Marty | Photos by Marina Aleixo | Winter 2019

categories:    Engagement    HP-Sub Story  

tags:  Diversity   Faculty   International