Workshop Topics:
1. Leadership Mindset
2. Latin Dance
3. Sustainability
4. Business/Entrepreneurship
5. Event Planning/Fundraising
6. Technology
The event is off to a bit of a late start, people are milling around, networking with one another. The volunteers speak a mix of English and Spanish to each other, while upbeat Latin hits of 2014 play in the background.
Sponsors include: CUSA, The Print Shop, Carleton Office of Student Affairs
Main topic of conversation among groups is travel, languages spoken, cultural differences and similarities. A diverse group of majors, year of study, genders, and nationalities are in attendance.
Student Affairs Office remarks on the theme (INSPIRA- to inspire), "the world is a challenging place, but it's also full of inspiration."
Social media hashtags: #holasinspira #inspireandbeinspired
Keynote speaker 1: Majeed Mogharreban. Speaking about his book, "Winning at Life." The book is a fill-in-the-blank, as a conversation to help people learn to lead themselves. Teaches that self-leadership is the first step to becoming a leader. You are the centre of a ripple: if you want to change the world, you must first start with yourself.
Delegates have broken off into workshop groups. There are approximately 30 delegates, which is significantly less than the 300 expected. Co-ordinators and speakers have noted that small groups are more of a private tutorial or lecture, in a way that a group of 300 could never be.
"We were kind of surprised people didn't come this morning- but it is Saturday, so people want to sleep in. The workshops are good and the speakers are good so it would have been better to have reached more people, but the people who are here are interested and going to get a lot out of it." - Melissa Torrado, VP External and Alexandra Noguera, VP Finance.
Workshop: SUSTAINABILITY by Glenn McRae, Carleton Professor
- about 8 people in attendance
- not much active discussion, passive listening
- lecture on natural resources, Wall Street, how to close the gap between rich and poor
- "the rate of waste generation should not exceed the capacity of the environment"
"This workshop taught me that the actions we think are most damaging to the environment might not actually be, and some actions we think are okay can actually be really damaging to the environment." -Melanie Dalliain, conference delegate
Workshop: TECHNOLOGY by IBM
- 14 people in attendance
- some people taking notes, a bit of interest
- discussing IBM projects and internships
- exploring available tech tools that IBM uses/developed
"This workshop made me really excited for how future technologies are going to solve problems. It's a new way of tackling issue, which is what leaders should always be striving for." -Fredrico Naranjo, conference volunteer.
Workshop: FUNDRAISING AND EVENT PLANNING by The International
- 14 people in attendance
- The International are the organizers of Latin Sparks
- workshop on how to efficiently raise money on a limited budget
- mock event planning going on: barriers such as exams, surprise costs, etc. being brought in
- very energetic, everyone is focussed and competing
"This workshop was really cool, very realistic. I liked that it was like I was actually doing it. Very student oriented." -Carole-Ann Filiatreault, conference delegate
IBM are "a top tech team trying to attract top tech talent," according to representative Sonu Lall. The company actively seeks out university students before they graduate by attending conferences for recruitment. They don't discriminate by type of event, which is why they are looking for tech talent at a humanitarian/leadership conference.
AIESEC is an organization that offers leadership opportunities to university students through international internships and work experiences. With a conference focus on Latin America, AIESEC is highlighting Spanish opportunities abroad.
CUSA Vice President Internal Sofia Dala has been a H.O.L.A.S. member, executive and sponsor. Half representing CUSA, half attending the conference, Sofia is glad that CUSA was able to have such an active role in the planning of the conference. Their interest is not to recruit or raise awareness, but just to be present at the event they help co-ordinated.
Keynote speaker 2: Yasmina Proveyer. Speaking about her humanitarian experience, focussing on the YMCA-YWCA Newcomer Services. To become a leader, you have to understand who you are, and what experiences shape you. Yasmina is a leader in her circles at the YMCA, because she is an immigrant and draws on that in her job.
Closing ceremonies has commenced!
INSPIRA delegates and volunteers are getting certificates of recognition. Each volunteer is taking a picture with the executive.
Some info from the Conference's Facebook event:Estimated Attendance: 300 Delegates, 3-4 Main Speakers, 6-8 Workshop Leaders, 10 Local Businesses and 10 Student Startups, Student Clubs & Societies/University Businesses or Offices.All profits will be donated to the Winter Humanitarian project TBA by the end of February.
Delegates pose with Majeed (third from left, front row), and his book, "Winning at Life."
