U of G Hosts International Resilience of Immigrants Conference
September 29, 2010 - News Release
Addressing the challenges and barriers for immigrant families is the focus of an international conference running Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the University of Guelph.
The Resilience of Immigrants Conference is the first of its kind and will bring together leading scholars from around the globe, as well as local and national organizations, to discuss the current situation facing immigrants.
“Such intensive discussions will allow delegates to gain greater knowledge about the immigration and settlement experiences in various countries, with the goal of capitalizing on each others’ knowledge and expertise,” said U of G family relations and applied nutrition professor Susan Chuang, who organized the conference. “We are hoping this conference will lead to future collaborations and partnerships.”
Guelph Mayor Karen Farbridge will join Serge Desmarais, associate vice-president (academic), on Sept. 30 in welcoming the 140 delegates.
Well-known author Michael Unger will also address the delegates and give a talk on “The Social Ecology of Resilience: Culture, Context, Resources and Meaning.” Unger, a social worker, family therapist and professor at Dalhousie University, leads an international team of resilience researchers that spans more than a dozen countries on six continents. He will also give a workshop Oct. 1 titled “Clinical Interventions to Nurture Resilience Among Culturally Diverse Youth and Their Families.”
More than 40 sessions will be held over the two-day conference covering topics such as adapting mental health services to immigrants; transnational entrepreneurship from the perspective of immigrant families; promoting resilience in war-affected youth; supporting a successful start to kindergarten for young newcomers; and channels of mother-infant communication across task, development and culture.
The conference is based in Peter Clark Hall in the University Centre, with some sessions being held in UC 441 and 442.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, or lhunt@uoguelph.ca, or Deirdre Healey, Ext. 56982 or d.healey@exec.uoguelph.ca.
