Conference Announcement: African Lessons on Language and Citizenship, Gallaudet University, April 19 and 20, 2012

[audrey cooper]

**Please circulate widely. Apologies for any cross-listing/posting**

*African Lessons on Language and Citizenship: *

*Local Action and Transnational Partnerships*



Gallaudet University invites you to participate in a mini-conference, *African
Lessons on Language and Citizenship: Local Action and Transnational
Partnerships*, to be held on April 19 and 20, 2012, at Gallaudet University
in Washington, DC.


Unlike conferences that position Africa and linguistic minority members as
development “needs,” this conference foregrounds the positive social,
political, and economic impacts of language-centered initiatives within and
between African countries and other locations. With this as the base, the
conference also aims to provide a forum for participants to discuss
relevant gaps between social policies, institutional structures, and access
to resources. We expect that conference activities will contribute to
thinking and practical action related to a variety of projects with
language at their center, as well as to new shared visions of social
futures.


Building on the momentum of the 16th international meeting of the World
Federation of the Deaf and the third conference of the World Association of
Sign Language Interpreters both held in Durban, South Africa in July of
2011, this conference brings together social-change workers, scholars, and
policy-makers to promote knowledge exchange, operational expertise, and
critical coalition-building among deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing groups
engaged in projects of linguistic and sociopolitical self-determination.



Invited presenters hail from Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, and the
United States.  Presenters include (among others):

·      Bruno Druchen, National Director of DeafSA; member of the Organizing
Committee for the World Federation of the Deaf ‘s16th World Congress,
Durban, South Africa

·      Nassozi B. Kiyaga, Executive Director of Deaf Link Uganda

·      Euphrasia Mbewe, President of Africa Deaf Union and Board Member of
the World Bank’s Global Partnership for Disability and Development

·      Jeffery Bowden, ASL/English Interpreter, U.S. Department of State;
member of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters, National
Alliance of Black Interpreters, and Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

·      Alem Hailu, Professor, African Studies Department, Howard University

·      William L. Leap, Professor, Department of Anthropology, American
University; founder and organizer of the Lavender Languages and Linguistics
Conference

·      Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, USAID Coordinator of Disability and
Inclusive Development; former High Commissioner on Human Rights, South
Africa

·       Chloe Schwenke, Senior Governance Advisor, USAID Africa Bureau



Topics include:

·      Creating Political and Legislative Inclusion for Signed Language
Communities in the New South Africa

·      How deployment of "Gay" Policed Race and Class in 1990s Cape Town

·      Tracking Language Use, Social Inclusion, and Development in Western
Central African Region Countries

·      Connections between Signed Language and Identity in Uganda

·      Citizenship and Conflict Resolution Initiatives

·      Research Partnerships and Kenyan Sign Language

·      Exchanges Between Local, National, and World Associations of Sign
Language Interpreters

·      Community Dialogue between Deaf Peoples’ Organizations and
Non-Governmental Organizations

·      Communication and Media in West African Social Change

·      And more…





Registration is free. Gallaudet University is encouraging the widest
possible participation, which may result in limited seating. To secure your
place, we kindly request that you register at: *
http://www.gallaudet.edu/Educational_Foundations_and_Research/Conference_Registration.html
*



Conference agenda coming soon to the conference website at:



http://tinyurl.com/AfricanLessons



We look forward to seeing you at the conference!



Conference Co-Organizers



Audrey C. Cooper, Ph.D                                              Khadijat
Rashd, Ph.D

Visiting Scholar, International Development               Professor,
Department of Business

Gallaudet University                                                      (and
by courtesy, International Development)
                                  Gallaudet University

*
*

*Additional Information:*

*Event Locations and Times:        *

Gallaudet University  800 Florida Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002

* *

*Thursday event (6 to 9pm):* Opening Ceremony, Panel I, followed by
Reception

Atrium, Sorenson Language and Communication Center (SLCC)

*Friday event (8:30-4:30):* Panel II, III, IV and Networking Activity

Kellogg Conference Center and Hotel, Swindell’s Auditorium

Friday registration and continental breakfast opens at 8:30am. Conference
starts at 9am. Afternoon coffee break provided.

*
*

*Hotel Accommodations:*

Available on Gallaudet’s campus at the Kellogg Conference Center and Hotel:

(202) 651-6000.



*Support Services*:

Available upon request. Please email the conference staff at:
africanlessons at gmail.com

-- 
Audrey C. Cooper, PhD
MSW, MS, CI/CT