Reykjavík City Intercultural Conference 2024 – Að tilheyra - Belonging

Ritstjórn
By Reykjavík Pond. Ragnar Th. Sigurðsson
A group of people walking by the Pond in good summer weather

The Reykjavík City Intercultural Conference will be held at Hitt Húsið on May 4 from 10am to 3pm. This conference is a vital platform for active discussions on issues concerning immigrants and people of foreign origin. Reykjavík is an intercultural city, with a quarter of its residents being of foreign origin.

The Intercultural conference offers a unique atmosphere for people from all backgrounds to share and create knowledge, engage in lively interactions, and enjoy a great day together. The guiding principles of the conference are communication, democracy, and perspectives.

Attention will be directed to various high-priority issues such as languages, literature, inclusion, and for the first time, there will be a workshop specifically aimed at youth of foreign origin to discuss their experiences within society.

It's important to register for the workshops on the Reykjavík City Intercultural Conference website. By clicking on the workshop title, the registration page will open.

Program

10am - Opening

10:05-11am – The Intercultural City of Reykjavík

  • Presentation on diverse projects from the intercultural city of Reykjavík.

11:30am - 12:15pm - Seminars

  • Intercultural skills - Are we all at the same table?
    • Micro-course on intercultural competency.
  • Can a good translation of literature embody inclusion?
    • Eliza Reid, the First Lady, leads a seminar where Hallgrímur Helgason, Veronika Egyed, and Luciano Dutra discuss the importance of translations in literature.
  • How do we develop community interpreting in a changing society?
    • Birna Imsland talks about the growing need for community interpreting, what is done well, and what can be improved in the profession.

12:15pm-12:45pm

  • Lunch break. Light refreshments from Á Bístró

12:45pm - 1:30pm - Seminars

  • Open, safe, and courteous conversation - discussing diversity and empowerment
    • For young people of foreign origin aged 13-16.
  • Speaking Icelandic with an accent - does it affect daily communication?
    • Stefanie Bade discusses talking Icelandic with an accent, how the accent relates to individuals’ self-identity and more.
  • "Go back where you came from" - a conversation about cultural prejudices
    • Sema Erla Serdaroglu discusses cultural prejudices in both international and Icelandic contexts.

1:30Pm-2pm Coffee break

2:15pm - 3pm - Panel discussion

  • Nothing about us without us - Women of foreign origin in public discourse
    • W.O.M.E.N invites you to a panel discussion with women from diverse sections of society. They will talk about the status, challenges, and opportunities for women and will take questions from the audience.
  • Cultural Ambassadors
    • Meet our Cultural Ambassadors. Mirabela Blag will introduce their work and the many challenges they have faced.

3pm - Closing session

Everyone is welcome.