Boston
MAY 31 - JUNE 2, 2024
Pamet u glavu: Knowledge Creation & Cultural Growth
This year through our theme Pamet u glavu: Knowledge Creation & Cultural Growth, centers around a profound shared connection among attendees, united by a rich cultural tapestry of language, art, music, science, humanities, sports and history. Guided by the common regional phrase of "Pamet u glavu," the conference aims to leverage community experience to intentionally reflect on knowledge creation and cultural growth, and how it can spark meaningful change in our communities.
Let’s brainstorm!
In anticipation of our 9th conference, we want to take the time to reflect on some of the following questions listed in the next section. Our intent is not to answer every question during the conference but to think creatively about how some of these answers could be answered in collaboration with BiH residents and members of the diaspora.
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How do our institutions help or hinder knowledge creation?
How does our history and political tensions impact knowledge creation?
How can we leverage non-traditional methods of knowledge creation to propose solutions in BiH and/or the diaspora with regards to: financial insecurity, disability access, healthcare access, climate crisis, and post-war infrastructure problems?
How can we use our community knowledge to build a sustainable method for civic engagement in the diaspora?
How can we cultivate and support academic researchers in BiH and in the diaspora?
How can we cultivate and support non-traditional researchers in BiH and the diaspora, while maintaining ethical research standards?
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What kind of barriers are preventing or encouraging growth in our communities?
How can we fulfill the needs of our current generation without compromising the needs of future generations?
How do we cultivate supportive communities for community members who are: struggling financially, living with disabilities or chronic illnesses, need support due to surviving genocide, domestic violence or sexual assault?
How can we create more affirming spaces for Bosnian People of Color and/or Multiethnic Bosnians in our communities?
How can we create sustainable diaspora organizations that support our communities?
How are we cultivating new leaders in BiH and in the diaspora?
How do we cultivate and support the arts in BiH and in the diaspora?
How do we transform the ways in which we deal with conflict without causing more harm?
How do we address intergenerational trauma responses within our families, diaspora, and BiH community?
Schedule
Friday, May 31st @ 7pm
Conference Day 1
BiHDC Welcome Reception & Networking Event
17 Edinboro St 3, Boston, MA 02111
Reception will feature networking activities, Balkan Bazaar & light refreshments. We suggest you grab dinner before you attend the networking event.
Saturday, June 1st @8am-6pm
Conference Day 2
The NonProfit Center, 89 South St, Boston, MA 02111
8:00 am
Registration
9:00 am
Opening Remarks
Government of Federation of BiH Office of the Prime Minister
9:15 am
Featured Speaker
World Health Organization (WHO) Spokesperson & Humanitarian Expert
9:30 am
Opening Keynote
Hajrudin Muhić, Composer/Arranger/Pianist
10:45 am
Session A
History & Transformation of Bosnian Traditional and/or Folk Music in the Last 100 Years
12:45 pm
Session A
Empowering Individuals, Strengthening Communities Locally & Globally
A Holistic Approach
Asmira Alagić, Ph.D., Vice President of Academics at Saint Louis Balkan American Connection (STL BAC)
Alma Hukić,CPA, Vice President of Finance at STLBAC
Amina Selimović, President & Founder of Saint Louis Balkan American Connection
Nina Stefanović, Power and Automation Engineer, Mobile Makerspace Team Lead at Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation
12:45 pm
Session B
Diaspora & Migration for Growth & Development
Belma Demirović Chinchoy, J.D., Immigration General Counsel
Honoring & Sustaining Cultural Identity through Participatory Monuments & Community Archives
Tom Simpson, Ph.D., Instructor in Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy, Phillips Exeter Academy
Catherine Masud, Filmmaker & Assistant Professor, Digital Media & Design/Human Rights, University of Connecticut
Erna Alić, Program Manager for the Center for Hartford Engagement and Research at Trinity College-Hartford
Aida Gradaščević, Multi-media Artist
An Individual & Group Exploration of What Guides Us
Ivona Boroje, Community Organizer
2:00 pm
Session A
Memories & Memorials
2:00 PM
Session B
Pamet u Glavu—What’s it to You?
3:15 PM
Panel Discussion
Hasta la vista, baby: Harnessing potential & preparing for risk with AI technology
Almir Brljak, Chief Operating Officer at Sinn Studio Inc.
Ibrahim Hadžić, Research Scholar at Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Lab, Harvard Medical School & Mass General Brigham
Miralem Salihović, Solutions & Technology, Apple
Neira Pekmez, Founder/Owner, Neira Pekmez Designs
Author, Filmmaker, Humanitarian Activist, & Assistant Professor
Film Production, Northern Arizona University
4:30 PM
Closing Keynote
5:15 pm
Closing Remarks
6:00 PM
Social Activities
Made a new best friend at the conference? Ask them to grab dinner and/or find a group to go with! We intentionally leave this part of the weekend flexible so you can do what feels best for you (even if that means taking a nap). Check out Discord for more details if you want to tag along with a group of people.
Sunday, June 3rd @11:30am
Conference Day 3
Quincy Market 206 S Market St, Boston
Meet up with old friends and/or hang out with some new friends! Whether you want to go sightseeing, eat brunch, or check out Boston on your own.
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Tarik Jašarević
Tarik Jašarević received his MA in Political Science from University of Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne, and has additionally studied at University of Damascus, University of Tunis and University of Sarajevo.
Tarik spent most of his career in the humanitarian emergency sector and has worked with the United Nations(UN) Department of Peacekeeping Operations in: Kosovo, East Timor and Haiti; in addition to working with Doctors without Borders (MSF) as a project coordinator in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since 2008, he has served as a World Health Organization (WHO) Spokesperson in Geneva. As an official voice of the WHO, he frequently travels to areas of the world experiencing epidemics, natural disasters and conflict including: Syria, Central African Republic, Cote D´Ivoire, Ukraine, Yemen, Madagascar, and Saudi Arabia among others.
During the first two years of the siege of Sarajevo (1992 -1995) Tarik was a member of the BiH Army defending the city.
He currently resides in Geneva, Switzerland.
Keynote Speaker
Bill Carter
Bill Carter is an author, filmmaker, humanitarian activist, and teacher of film production at Northern Arizona University.
He is the author of three books, including Fools Rush In, Red Summer, and Boom, Bust, Boom, all critically acclaimed journalistic memoirs.
He wrote the screenplay and is an executive producer of the documentary “Kiss the Future,” which is produced by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Sarah Anthony. The documentary is based on his book Fools Rush In. He is the award-winning documentary filmmaker of Miss Sarajevo, which has won numerous awards and accolades.
He and his family live near Flagstaff, Arizona.
Keynote Speaker
Our Fiscal Sponsor
The BiH Diasporic Conference is an event fiscally sponsored by the Bosnian American Genocide Institute & Education Center, a 501c3 nonprofit organization registered in the United States.
I want to attend but I can’t afford to register…
We think everyone who wants to attend deserves an opportunity to attend regardless of ability to afford the registration fee. Our sponsors generously make this a possibility. So if you cannot afford to attend please apply here.