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Keynotes, fireside chat, & General Sessions |
General Session Thursday, November 13th 12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Tamara Thorpe Fireside Chat Thursday, November 13th 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Jack Condon and Tatyana Fertelmeyster Join an engaging Fireside Chat featuring Jack Condon, a pioneer in intercultural communication, and Tatyana Fertelmeyster, one of our most seasoned inclusion facilitators. Together, they explore the evolution of intercultural communication and its impact on inclusion today. Jack shares wisdom from his decades-long career, weaving in stories of his groundbreaking work and his close ties to Edward T. Hall and Native American communities. Tatyana brings thought-provoking questions and her unique perspective as an immigrant refugee, sparking dynamic dialogue. Through storytelling and reflection, they challenge the “trusted” models and systems and inspire participants to envision a future shaped by newer, more inclusive approaches to intercultural communication in today’s shifting landscape. This session invites you to engage deeply, think critically, and take away insights that bridge historical foundations with current needs. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with two luminaries in the field.
Friday, November 14th 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Poverty: The Unspoken Diversity Issue Donna Beegle Poverty is an often-overlooked diversity issue. To reach their full potential, individuals worldwide need their fundamental human needs met. In an engaging and interactive keynote, Dr. Donna M. Beegle shares her unique perspective. Having grown up in generational migrant-labor poverty, she brings her lived experience, including 26 years of experiencing homelessness with her parents and five brothers, along with 35 years of poverty-informed work and research in 50 states and eight countries. Dr. Beegle is the only member of her family who has not been incarcerated. She provides an invaluable insider's view—illuminating the universal impacts of poverty and offering insights into its various forms, and highlighting how each context presents different obstacles to human development. Dr. Beegle also provides proven strategies to help individuals move out of, and remain out of, the crisis of poverty. As she often says, "Fight the poverty, not the people who live in it." Saturday, November 15th 8:00 am - 9:00 am ![]() Purpose, Possibility, and Progress: Listening Our Way Forward Tamara Thorpe In these complex times, the work of interculturalists and DEI practitioners is more urgent—and more scrutinized—than ever. As we gather at the 2025 SIETAR USA Conference, the question we must ask is not only what comes next, but who are we becoming as a field and as a community? In this keynote, Tamara Thorpe—leadership development consultant, global DEI strategist, and past President of SIETAR Europa—invites us to reflect on how we can reignite our collective sense of purpose, embrace emerging possibilities, and pursue meaningful progress within SIETAR and the intercultural profession at large. Drawing from her extensive engagement across the SIETAR network—SIETAR USA, Young SIETAR, SIETAR Ireland, and her leadership within SIETAR Europa—Tamara will explore what it means to practice interculturalism that is both inclusive and impactful. This year’s theme, Inclusive Interculturalism: Purpose, Possibilities, and Progress, reminds us that our field must be more than responsive—it must be visionary. We are called to move beyond representation and toward systems and practices that truly foster belonging. Informed by her decades of work at the intersection of DEI and intercultural competence, Tamara will shine a light on the promising efforts within SIETAR and challenge the audience to turn inward with as much curiosity as we turn outward, recognizing that progress begins with self-awareness, humility, and a commitment to deep listening. As we navigate increasingly polarized and complex environments, how can we re-anchor in our purpose? Where do we see new possibilities emerging? And what does real progress require of us—individually and collectively? This keynote sets the tone for honest dialogue, celebration, and forward movement. It also opens the door for the Listening Circles that will close the conference, where we are all invited to share honestly and be heard. These circles are not just a space to reflect—they are an opportunity to shape the future of SIETAR in ways that align with our highest aspirations for inclusion and global understanding. Come ready to reconnect to your purpose, reimagine what’s possible, and renew your commitment to the progress we can only make together. |