Conference Events
Complete listing of Pre-conference and Conference events April 4th - April 16th (.pdf format)
Saturday, April 9 – Saturday, April 16th
Changing Worlds Photography & Oral History Exhibit, NEIU
Location:NEIU, Student Union: 1st & 2nd Floors
(Funding provided by MSTQE & MLED)
Monday, April 11th: 2:25 - 3:40 p.m.
Where I am From: Students Share their Chicago & Immigration Stories in Prose
Moderator: Sonia Oliva, Sociology, NEIU
Where I am from Assignment
Student Poems
Location: NEIU, Lech Walesa Hall: 3109
Monday, April 11th: 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Poster Presentation of NEIU STEM and NPU Science and Environment Community Partnership Projects & Reception
Organizer: Stephanie Levi, Student Center for Science Engagement
Location: NEIU, Science Building: 135
Monday, April 11th: 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Challenges and Opportunities for Undocumented College Students
Moderator: Maria De La Torre, Justice Studies, NEIU
Erica Meiners, Educational Leadership, NEIU
Ireri Unzueta Carrasco, Immigrant Youth Justice League
Carla Navoa & Cindy Agustin, Immigrant Youth Justice League
Arianna Salgado, Nuestra Voz
Location: NEIU, Fine Arts: 108
Monday, April 11th: 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Grappling with Environmental Issues in Albany Park
Moderator: Ken Nicholson, Chemistry, NEIU
Jim Macdonald, Volunteer Site Steward, Gompers Park
Jean Hemzacek, Earth Science, NEIU
Debra Shore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Location: NEIU, Student Union: 003
Monday, April 11th: 7:05 - 8:20 p.m.
Ethnic Businesses &Economic Development in Albany Park
Moderator: Liz Griffiths, Albany Park Chamber of Commerce
Host: Jianfeng Jiang, Marketing & Management, NEIU
Panel: ZB Stryjecki, Branch Manager, Foster Bank
Johny Mseih, Owner, Balanda Jewelry
Location: NEIU, Lech Walesa Hall: 2081
Monday, April 11th: 7:05 - 9:00 p.m.
Sustainable Design and Community Participation: Sculpture Park and Healing Garden in Ronan Park
Premier Documentary Short Video: Sculpture Park & Healing Garden in Ronan Park
Moderator: Mark McKernin, Art Department, NEIU
Panelists: Rebecca Rico, North River Commission
Kompha Seth, Cambodian Association
Shencheng Xu, Art, NEIU, Happy Family
Respondent: David Jones, Geography & Environmental Studies, NEIU
Location: NEIU, Golden Eagles
Monday, April 11th: 7:05 - 9:00 p.m.
Innovative Approaches in Addressing Diversity: Social Work Practice, Aging, and Community Outreach in Albany Park
Moderators: Jin Kim, Social Work Program, NEIU
Panelists: Kulsum Ameji, Legal Assistance Foundation
Paula Basta, Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, Levy Center
Janet Harrison, Metroplex
Hyeyoung Lee, Senior Services and Public Benefits, Korean American Community Services
Radhika Sharma-Gordon, Healthy Albany Park-Albany Park Community Center
Location: NEIU, Student Union: 003
Tuesday, April 12th: 7:05 - 9:00 p.m.
Addressing Human Rights at the Community Level
Host: Cris Toffolo, Justice Studies, NEIU
Speaker: Lilian Samaan, World Relief-Chicago
Location: NEIU, Fine Arts: 153
Tuesday, April 12th: 7:05 - 9:00 p.m.
Geography & Responses to Natural Hazards in Greater Albany Park: The Chicago River
Moderator: Jerry Mostek, Geography and Environmental Studies, NEIU
Panelists: Nelson T. Benitez, Asociacion Ecuador Unido
Pete Leki, Waters Elementary School
John Friedmann, Horner Park W. Neighborhood Association
Frank Villa, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Location: NEIU, Student Union: 003
Wednesday, April 13th: 11:00 - 11:50 a.m.
Cambodian Refugees: Buddhism and Advocacy in Albany Park
Host: Ann Hoffman, Philosophy &Religion, NEIU
Speaker: Kompha Seth, Cambodian Association and Cambodian American Heritage Museum
Location: NEIU, Lech Walesa: 3005
Wednesday, April 13th: Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Wildlife Resource Management at North Park Village
Host: Charles Schmidt, Geography & Environmental Studies, NEIU
Speaker: Robert Porter, North Park Village Nature Center
Location: NEIU, B-158
Wednesday, April 13th: 1:10 - 2:15 p.m.
Immigration Stories in Greater Albany Park
Moderator: Andreas Kourvetaris, Sociology
NEIU Video: "Flavors of Albany Park"
Panelists: Ahsan Akbar, Albany Park Community Center
Mitzi Ramos, Political Science, NEIU
Kyu Young Park, International Programs, NEIU
Location: NEIU, B-158
Wednesday, April 13th: 1:25 - 2:40 p.m.
Arabic Culture in Greater Albany Park
Host: Sanaa Rahman, World Languages and Literatures, NEIU
Speaker: Mohammad Ibrahim, American Family Insurance Company, Former Owner, Holyland Grocery
Location: NEIU, Fine Arts: 218
Wednesday, April 13th: 2:00 - 3:15 p.m.
Pressing Urban Planning Issues
Host: David Jones, Geography &Environmental Studies, NEIU
Speaker: Scott Berman, Lawrence Avenue Development Corporation, North River Commission
Location: NEIU, Science: 135
Wednesday, April 13th: 2:25 - 3:40 p.m.
Chicago's Immigrant Integration Efforts: Housing, Health, Education & Family Unity
Organizer and Moderator: Diana Guelespe, Political Science, NEIU
Panelists: Xochitl Espinosa, National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC);
Brett Stockdill, Status of LGBTQ Immigrants &Immigrants with HIV/AIDS, Sociology, NEIU
Karn Saetang, Youth and the Dream Act, Korean Resource and Cultural Center
Enea Dervishi, Stopping Foreclosures, Albany Park Neighborhood Council
Location: NEIU, Student Union: 003
Wednesday, April 13th: 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Gang Activity in Albany Park - Perceptions and Reality
Organizer and Moderator: Maurice McFarlin, Justice Studies
Video clips from The Heart Broken in Half
Panelists: Danny Siguenza, Ceasefire Albany Park
Claudia Huertas, Albany Park Community Resident
Location: NEIU, Science 101—Lecture Hall
Wednesday, April 13th: 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Languages and Language Learning in Albany Park
Moderators & Session Organizers: Marit Vamarasi &Teddy Bofman, TESL, NEIU
Panelists: Joo Young Kang, Korean American Community Services
Karen Parrillo, Albany Park Community Center
Location: NEIU, Lech Walesa Hall: 2109
Wednesday, April 13th: 7:05 - 9:00 p.m.
Building Civic Hospitality
Plenary Panel: Building Civic Hospitality
Welcome and Conference Overview:
Charles Peterson, Dean of the College, North Park University
Wamucii Njogu, Dean of the College of Arts &Sciences, Northeastern Illinois University
Moderator: Susan Stall, Sociology, NEIU
Panelists: Joel Bookman, Chicago LISC, North River Commission Board
Xochitl Bada, Latin American &Latino Studies, UIC
Inchul Choi, Korean American Community Services
Sung Yeon Choi-Morrow, Asian American Institute
David Feiner, Albany Park Theatre Project
Location: NEIU, Alumni Hall
Thursday, April 14th: 8:30 - 9:25 a.m.
Coffee/Refreshments/Welcoming
Location: NEIU, Golden Eagles
Thursday, April 14th: 9:25 - 10:40 a.m
Innovative Responses to Crime and Crime Prevention
Moderator: Jaime Gutierrez, Political Science, NEIU
Panelists: Martha Hack, CAPs
Mehwish Hassan, Youth Mentor, 17th District Peer Jury
Juliet de Jesus Alejandre, Youth Organizer, Logan Square Neighborhood Association
Location: NEIU, Golden Eagles
Thursday, April 14th: 10:50 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.
Turning the Lens Close to Home: Video Portraits of Albany Park
Moderator: Cyndi Moran, Communication, Media &Theatre, NEIU
Location: NEIU, Golden Eagles
Thursday, April 14th: 10:50 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.
Remapping Albany Park—What Can We Learn?
Moderator: Barbara Sherry, Sociology, NEIU
Panelists: Michael Armato, Sociology, NEIU
Monika Starczuk, New American Project, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights
Location: NEIU, Student Union: 214
Thursday, April 14th: 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Stann Champion, Rhythms of the African Diaspora
Host: BarBara Scott, Sociology, African & African American Studies
Moderator: Jade Stanley, Social Work
Guest Artist: Stann Champion
Location: NEIU, Golden Eagles
Thursday, April 14th: 1:40 – 2:55 p.m.
The Globalization of Work and Worker Justice in Albany Park Video: "Pay Scale: Surviving a Low Wage/Underground Economy"
Moderator: Nancy Matthews, Justice Studies, NEIU
Panelists: Eric Rodriguez, Latino Union
Leone Jose Bicchieri, Chicago Workers Collaborative
Location: NEIU, Student Union: 214
Thursday, April 14th: 3:05 – 4:05 p.m.
Cultural Activism in Albany Park
Moderator & Presenter: Zonani Cuesta, Director of the Albany Park Arts Festival Artistic Presenters: Rawshan Nowlin
Artist: Patricio Gabler, Theater Improvisation
Location: NEIU, Golden Eagles
Thursday, April 14th: 4:15 — 5:30 p.m.
Global Connections in Artistic Representations
Host: Deberah Bernstein, Justice Studies, NEIU
Speaker: Nnenna Okore, Art. North Park University
Location: NEIU, Lech Walesa Hall: 3094
Thursday, April 14th: 4:15 - 5:40 p.m.
Exploring our Histories, Sharing our Stories Teaching Workshop — With Albany Park Teachers and NEIU and NPU Ed Students
Workshop Presenters: Kay Berkson and Karen Ekpenyong, Changing Worlds
(Funding provided by MSTQE & MLED)
Location: NEIU, Alumni Hall
Thursday, April 14th: 5:40 - 7:15 p.m.
Performing Arts in Our Backyard
5:40 - 6:20 p.m. Guatemalan Cultural Community Organization’s, Oxib K’ajau Marimba Group
Light Refreshments Served
6:20 - 7:15 p.m. Albany Park Theatre Project, Scenes from FEAST
Location for Both Performances: NEIU, Golden Eagles Room
Thursday, April 14th: 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Religion and Community Engagement in Albany Park
Organizer and Moderator: Charles Peterson, NPU
Roundtable participants:
Father Tito, Our Lady of Mercy Church
Rev. Judy McCullough, North Park Covenant Church
Bunmi Bakinsola, Jesushouse.org
Hyung Seng Sunim, Bultasa Temple
Location: NEIU, Student Union: 214
Friday, April 15th: 9:00 - 9:50 a.m.
Houses of Worship in Albany Park: Then & Now
Organizer: Lisa Berube, Sociology, NEIU
Moderator: Juan Martinez, Sociology, UIC
Presenters:
Luke Sword, Sociology, NEIU
Michael Trojnak, Sociology, NEIU
Arianna Garcia, Sociology, NEIU
Arlene Benzinger, Sociology, NEIU
Location: NEIU, Lech Walesa Hall: 2056
Friday, April 15th: 1:00 - 3:50 p.m.
Walking Field Trip to North Park Village Nature Center "How Organized Neighborhood Resistance Saved the North Park Village Nature Center from the Wrecking Ball"
Speaker: Joel Bookman, North River Commission Board, LISC
Location: Meet at NEIU, Lech Walesa Hall: 2094 at 1:00 p.m.(or 12:50 p.m.)
Saturday, April 16th: 9:30 - 10:50 a.m.
Preserving Green Space in Greater Albany Park: Planning Management
Moderator: Robyn Flakne, Geography & Environmental Studies, NEIU
Panelists: Robert Porter, Restoration Ecologist, North Park Nature Center
Rebecca Rico, North River Commission
Pete Leki, Waters Elementary School
Bill Eyring, Center for Neighborhood Technology
Location: NEIU, Lech Walesa Hall: 2020
Saturday, April 16th: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Neighborhood Tour of Albany Park & North Park
Hosted by North River Commission
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