Source: University of Waikato
University of Waikato Professor Asad Mohsin is determined to break down barriers and bring Waikato ethnic communities together.
A day of engagement and learning is set to take place tomorrow, with the community coming together to find ways to improve social well being, provide information and increase support for the safety, security and health for the ethnic community.
Postponed for more than a year because of Covid, the Waikato Community Inclusivity Symposium ‘From crisis to transformation’ will be held at University’s Hamilton campus tomorrow.
A range of organisations and support services will participate, including NZ Police, NZ Red Cross, Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Rototuna Islamic Centre, Hamilton City Council, Waikato Refugee Forum, Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust, Hamilton Boys High School and Frankton Mosque.
Hamilton’s Mayor Paula Southgate, the Minister Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan and a range of community and service leaders will be attending and sharing thoughts, views and perspectives.
“We really want to understand what inclusivity means for different people, and learn from a variety of experiences,” Professor Asad Mohsin says. Professor Mohsin is the driving force behind the symposium and brings together many threads of the ethnic community in Waikato.
“The University has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Waikato Muslim Association and has recently also signed one with the Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust. We are making real progress in connecting our communities and this symposium is a wonderful opportunity to come together, share ideas and make a plan for the future.
“The key themes are inclusivity in communities, social issues and social transformation. With an emphasis on breakout sessions where everyone participates, discussions from the day will inform a Regional Strategic Plan based on diverse and inclusive social values with a future focus.”
Professor Mohsin says people will be mixed up for each session, to gather a range of perspectives and ideas.
“It’s about engaging with people, building relationships, creating new pathways for engagement,” Professor Mohsin says.
Keynote speakers include global voice of peace, Farid Ahmed who survived the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks; Muhammad Cajee, the youngest person every to be named partner by Deloitte; and Susan Hassall, headmaster of Hamilton Boys High School.
