What does it mean to go home for a Cuban? For an African? For an American?
The 17th REACH Across Dayton annual conference will explore that question and others on Feb. 26.
The goal of REACH is “to promote cross-cultural understanding and education” between all ethnic communities in the Miami Valley, according to their mission document. Tess Little, the project coordinator for REACH, said the program was started to celebrate the similarities between people of different cultures.
“It was started to bring people together from different backgrounds and to talk about how we have more in common than we have differences,” she said.
The conference will feature artist Eduardo de Soignie as the keynote speaker. Soignie’s address will focus on his experiences in Cuba and America and the duality of simultaneously being a part of both cultures. Both artists and Sinclair Community College faculty will serve as speakers and facilitators.
During the conference’s breakout sessions attendees can participate in art, music, language, performance and discussion to explore the ideas of identity and home. Little said the use of such activities is intentional.
“We’ve always used the arts and humanities to bring people together,” Little said. “We just use that as a vehicle, as a way to talk about who we are and why we are.”
Students are encouraged to attend the conference, Little said. The organization received a grant to pay for 150 students to attend the conference for free. All they need to do is fill out a tuition waiver to apply for one of those free spots.
“We would love to have them come,” she said.
Little said the conference was initially designed to last for three years, but instead it has lasted 17. She said that people enjoy the conference and, once they attend, they want to come back.
“It’s been very successful, very positive,” she said. “What it does is let folks get to know one another, get acquainted, and know that we are all very similar.”
The conference will take place on Feb. 26 in Building 12. Applications and waivers can be found online at http://www.sinclair.edu/organizations/reach/conference/. All applications and waivers must be turned in by Feb. 19. For more information contact Tess Little at 512-5318.