Africa and its Diasporas Symposium - Global Resource Systems

Focus on Africa 2009: Africa and its Diasporas Sept. 17,18 & 19, Vancouver Please join us for this public symposium that will take a critical and retrospective look at the nature and capacities of the African Diasporas. Read below, visit our website and see attached flyer for more information. Reservations and more information at: www.sfu.ca/community/focusonafrica.htm Keynote Speaker: MG Vassanji was born in Kenya, raised in Tanzania and has made his home in Canada since 1978. Vassanji is the author of six novels and two collections of short stories. His work has appeared in various countries and several languages. His most recent novel, The Assassin’s Song, was short-listed for both the Giller Prize and the Governor-General’s Prize for best novel in Canada. When: Thursday September 17, 7–9:30 pm; Friday September 18, 9 am–4:30 pm Saturday September 19, 10 am–3 pm Where: Segal Graduate School of Business, Simon Fraser University 500 Granville Street (at Pender), Vancouver Cost: $30 (Includes all three days. Cheque, cash or money order.) Bursaries available — please email foa-2009@sfu.ca or call 778-782-5201 to make a request. The symposium will bring together a collection of prominent speakers and participants from all over the world including university faculty, graduate students, officials from government and international organizations, as well as representatives of the mass media, community groups, and NGOs. The symposium is not only for people of African descent living/ working outside Africa, but also people of diverse socio-cultural, linguistic, racial and religious identities and their descendants, who maintain some form of association/identification with Africa.The goal is to foster stronger relationships between individuals and communities in order to enable members of the Diaspora to leverage community resources in ways that have a positive impact on Canadian public policy outcomes. What can we learn from best practices here in Canada and in other jurisdictions about engaging members of transnational communities and how can we build on that? This event is hosted by SFU’s Community Education Program, and supported by the Office of International Development and Faculty Engagement, the Development Group and the Focus on Africa Working Group. It is held with the generous financial support of the Centre for the Comparative Study of Muslim Societies and Cultures, the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, the Emmett and Leo Fund, Paul Kenny, and Simon Fraser University.