Meet Your Neighbors: A Human Library Event- September 14, 2024

The Mortenson Center, in collaboration with the New American Welcome Center The Urbana Free Library and Illinois International- Global Relations will have a Human Library Event as part of the events featured during 2024 National Welcoming week. The event will feature immigrants and international students living in Champaign-Urbana as human books. Each human “book” will be available during the event to interact with “readers” and talk to them about their native country. Topics covered in the conversations include among others geographic location, cuisine, languages spoken and culture. Snacks, arts & crafts will be offered as part of the event. Open to all ages!

When: Saturday September 14 at 3:30-5:30pm.

Where: The Urbana Free Library, 210 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801

 

Eleven countries will be  featured : Algeria,  Argentina, Brazil, Congo, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kazakhstan,  Russia, South Africa,  South Korea and Yemen. In keeping with the mission of the Mortenson Center, the event aims to introduce the concept of “internationalization @ home to the University of Illinois community and to foster intercultural competency and global understanding as well as welcome newcomers to the community while embracing diversity and fostering a sense of belonging.

 

SILL Training Workshop offered by Bibliotheca Alexandrina at AlMaadi Public Library, Cairo, Egypt

Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt provided a second SILL (Strengthening Innovative Library Leaders) workshop on August 21-22 at AlMaadi Public Library, Cairo, Egypt.  The training was offered in person, and in both Arabic and English. Thank you Samia Abouhany, Sara Elgabalawy and Heba Eldeek for facilitating the workshop.

SILL Training with Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The Mortenson Center partnered with Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt, in providing the first in-person SILL (Strengthening Innovative Library Leaders) training since the pandemic.
  • When: February 13 – 14, 2024
  • Time: 10:30AM- 4:00PM each day
  • Where: Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt
  • Format: In-person
  • Cost: Free for all invited/ registered participants
  • Language of Instruction: Arabic/ English

Congratulations to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Professional Development Division for hosting and presenting the workshop, by the local team of organizers and facilitators: Joseph Makkar (lead facilitator), Samia Abouhany, Sara Elgabalawy and Neveen Nagy (co-facilitator).

To learn more about SILL Training and find more resources visit our website at: https://www.library.illinois.edu/mortenson-leadership/about/

International visits and Collaborations: Rwanda and Kenya- July 10-21, 2023

The Mortenson Center Team- Prof. Dr. Clara Chu and Dr. Peggy Nzomo had an opportunity to attend and present at the Peace Education Conference held in Kigali, Rwanda. While there, they took the opportunity to visit several libraries in Rwanda and Kenya and discussed potential collaborations with the Mortenson Center.

 

Kenya Visits included:

  • Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya: School of Information; University Library
  • University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya: Department of Information studies; University Library
  • Key School Libraries: St. Joan’s Academy; Little Lambs School; Kapsabet Boys High School
  • Kenya Library Association
  • Kenya National Library Services
  • Technical University of Kenya

Rwanda visits included:

  • Children’s Peace Libraries
  • University of Rwanda Library
  • Rwanda National Library Services
  • Kigali Public Library