Switchboard

Confluence Event 2024

Bridging the Gap

and Resettlement

WELCOME TO CONFLUENCE

Switchboard’s Confluence Event is an exploratory ​and interactive in-person gathering that integrates ​cutting-edge technology, promotes engagement, ​and strengthens collaboration for future growth ​with partners and refugee service providers.

Join Switchboard YouTube Live to participate virtually ​and access keynote speakers and panel discussions. ​These sessions will showcase innovative, technology-​integrated program models for refugee resettlement ​and humanitarian services across various industries.

Venue details

Our event will take place at the University of Utah, in ​the J. Willard Marriott Library. On both days, we will ​begin in the William R. & Erlyn J. Gould Auditorium, ​with the Tech Playground conveniently located ​directly above.

For your convenience, there are two restrooms adjacent to ​the auditorium and a single-use restroom directly above. ​During breaks and lunch, feel free to relax and enjoy the ​patio and outdoor areas of the library.

Marriott hotel PARKING

If you are parking or staying at the Marriott Hotel, ​you can use the complimentary shuttle service to ​transport you to the conference. No need for ​campus parking.

CAMPUS PARKING

J Willard Marriott Library

Wednesday all day and Thursday morning

295 S 1500 E, Salt Lake City

Map to parking

pay by kiosk—use coupon code

CONFLUENCE for free parking.

Additional Parking

Utah Museum of Fine Arts

Wednesday evening

410 Campus Center Drive, Salt Lake City

Map to parking

Free parking in UMFA stalls, bring license

plate # to front desk

Red Butte Visitors Center

Thursday afternoon

300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City

Map to parking

Free parking

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

8:00 – 8:45 AM

Pickup from Marriott Hotel to Marriott Library

3:30 – 4:00 PM

Pickup from Marriott Library to Marriott Hotel

4:50 – 7:00 PM

Shuttle service between Marriott Hotel and

Utah Museum of Fine Arts

Thursday, September 12, 2024

8:00 – 8:45 AM

Pickup from Marriott Hotel to Marriott Library

1:00 – 1:30 PM

Pickup from Marriott Library to Red Butte Garden

3:00 – 4:00 PM

Pickup from Red Butte Garden to Marriott Hotel

Shuttles will run continuously during the designated ​times, with each shuttle seating up to 30 passengers.

Please be ready at the designated pick-up times to ​ensure smooth and efficient transportation.

wifi Access

Select the UGuest wireless network.

1. A browser window will open, directing you to ​the UGuest web portal.
   
2. Click the link to receive an access code and ​enter your mobile device number.
   
3. An access code will be sent to your mobile ​device via SMS.
   
4. Enter the access code and your mobile ​phone number in the UGuest web portal.
   

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE & LINKS

Confluence Overview and Introduction to Co-creation

September 11, 2024, 9:30 AM

JIWE Studios—Community Gaming and Research

September 12, 2024, 9:30 AM

Digital Assistant Panel

September 11, 2024, 10:45 AM

attire and lodging

ATTIRE

• Dress code is business casual.
  
• On Thursday afternoon, wear walking shoes and ​bring sun protection for the Walk & Learn activity.
  
• Expected weather: Daytime temperatures in the ​90s (°F) and nighttime temperatures in the low ​60s, mostly sunny.
  
• The indoor venue is air-conditioned.

LODGING

• A hotel room has been reserved for you at the Salt ​Lake City Marriott University Park if requested ​during registration.
  
• For inquiries, contact the hotel at +1 801 581 1000.
  

Contact information

For emergency support, please contact:

Sara Dadkhah

EMAIL

sara.dadkhah@rescue.org

PHONE or TEXT

+1 858 603 1639

agenda day 1

9/11/24

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Registration and Light Breakfast/Coffee

9:00 – 9:45 AM

Opening Remarks and Introduction to Co-creation

9:45 – 10:30 AM

Keynote: ASU’s Resilient Visions CoLab “Bridging ​Borders” AI Storytelling Project

10:30 – 10:45 AM

Break

10:45 – 11:45 AM

Digital Assistant Panel

11:45 AM – 12:45 PM

Lunch from Noor Al Sham, Spice Kitchen Incubator

Whole Office Approach to Digital

Inclusion Workshop (75 mins)

Break and transfer rooms

Tech Playground

Break and transfer to Auditorium

3:30 – 4:00 PM

Shuttles to Marriott Hotel

BREAK

4:50 – 7:00 PM

Shuttle Loops from Marriott Hotel to

Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA)

5:00 – 7:00 PM

Networking Reception at UMFA

optional

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Light Breakfast/Coffee

9:00 – 9:30 AM

Opening Remarks and Gamification

9:30 – 10:15 AM

Keynote: JIWE Studios—Community Gaming

and Research

10:15 – 10:30 AM

Break

10:30 – 11:45 AM

The Changing “Figure” of the Caseworker Workshop

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Morning Wrap-Up and Afternoon Preview

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Lunch from Prime Corn Spice Kitchen Incubator

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Tech Playground Open

1:00 – 1:30 PM

Shuttles to Red Butte Garden

1:30 – 2:45 PM

Walk & Learn in Garden Rotation

2:45 – 3:00 PM

Closing Remarks and Group Picture

3:00 – 4:00 PM

Shuttle Loops to Marriott Hotel

Switchboard

Confluence Event 2024

Keynotes

CONFLUENCE EVENT EMCEES

Krysti Nellermoe

Training Officer

Emerging Technology,

Switchboard

Milad Mozari

Assistant Professor

Multi-Disciplinary Design, University of Utah; Emerging ​Technologies Subject Matter Expert with Switchboard

OPENING REMARKS

DAY 1

Arnab Chakraborty

Dean of the College of Architecture & Planning, University of Utah

Robin Dunn Marcos

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Humanitarian

Services & Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement

Hans Van de Weerd

Senior Vice President, Resettlement, Asylum, & Integration, ​International Rescue Committee

DAY 2

Ken Tota

Bureau Chief, Office of Refugee Resettlement

Nicole Porter

Multi-Disciplinary Design Department Chair, University of Utah

RESILIENT VISIONS CO/LAB AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY (RV Co/Lab, ASU)

DESCRIPTION

Bridging Borders is an AI storytelling project that ​facilitates real-time conversations with Afghan ​Hazara individuals displaced after the fall of Kabul. ​It utilizes a novel, co-created AI narrative neural ​network that facilitates discussions with a digital ​likeness of newcomers. The RV CoLab is a research ​group at ASU, focused on emerging technologies ​and physical practices that aid in the heath of ​communities, the environment, and individuals.

PRESENTERS

Nicholas Pilarski

ASU Associate Professor and Co-Director of the RV CoLab

Mina Mushtaq

A Hazara bridge builder and ASU Master’s candidate in Public ​Affairs/Emergency Management

Fatima Rezayee

ASU Master’s candidate in Business Management

Johanna Richards

Assistant Director for Community and Public ​Engagement and Master’s candidate in Futures and ​Design at the ASU MIX Center

DIGITAL ASSISTANT PANEL

DESCRIPTION

This panel will explore how resettlement service ​delivery can be reimagined to address future ​challenges and opportunities. Panelists will present ​innovative models and prototypes for virtual case ​management, showcasing the use of AI and other ​digital tools across various formats.

RESPONDENT

Jeannie Annan

Senior Vice President and Chief Research and ​Innovation Officer, Airbel

MODERATOR

Kristy Gladfelter

Vice President of Research, Analysis, and Learning, IRC

A WHOLE OFFICE APPROACH TO DIGITAL INCLUSION WORKSHOP PANEL

DESCRIPTION

This panel will bring together six experts in ​resettlement, digital inclusion (DI), and policy to share ​their experiences, challenges, successes, and key ​insights. The discussion will be guided by facilitators ​and will include a Q&A session focusing on:

• Key factors driving the success of DI programs
  
• Real-life examples of obstacles encountered ​during implementation, and the strategies used to ​overcome them
  
• Perspectives on fostering community engagement ​and empowerment in DI initiatives
  
• Methods for measuring and evaluating the ​effectiveness of DI efforts
  
• Strategies for increasing the commitment of ​leadership, staff, and volunteers to DI programs
  

FACILITATORS

Leana Mayzlina

Digital Program Manager, Public Rights Project

Natali Betancur

Deputy Director, Center for Digital Equity, Queens University

of Charlotte

Jaleen Johnson

Program Manager, Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center

Abram Sherrod

Supervisor, South Salt Lake City Community Opportunity Center

Ze Min Xiao

President and CEO, Center for Economic Opportunity and Belonging

SMALL MODELS, BIG IMPACT: PRESERVING CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE AGE OF AI WORKSHOP

DESCRIPTION

As large language models (LLMs) become increasingly ​dominant, there are growing concerns about their ​potential to homogenize speech, thought, and culture ​globally. While LLMs offer remarkable capabilities, they ​may unintentionally diminish the rich diversity of human ​expression and cultural nuance.

This hands-on workshop will:

• Explore the fundamentals of LLMs and how they ​operate
  
• Discuss the implications of LLMs for cultural ​homogenization, particularly affecting refugee ​populations
  
• Investigate the role of small language models in ​preserving cultural diversity and autonomy
  

FACILITATORS

Nicholas Pilarski

ASU Associate Professor and Co-Director, Resilient Visions CoLab

Mina Mushtaq

Hazara bridge builder and Master’s candidate in Public ​Affairs/Emergency Management, ASU

Fatima Rezayee

Master’s candidate in Business Management, ASU

Johanna Richards

Assistant Director for Community and Public Engagement, and ​Master’s candidate in Futures and Design, ASU MIX Center

GAMIFICATION FOR RESEARCH

DESCRIPTION

This session will explore how gamification and digital ​tools can enhance learning outcomes and support ​research initiatives through interactive and engaging ​methods. It will examine using digital solutions and ​dynamic platforms to foster engaging, interactive, ​and collaborative learning environments, as well as ​enhance student learning outcomes and institutional ​success.

PRESENTER

Max Musau

CEO and Founder of JIWE Studios in Kenya, is a visionary game ​developer specializing in historical and educational games. He ​co-produced USAWA with Rodet and Donkosira (Mali), JIWE's ​fourth game, and collaborated with Trent University (Canada) on ​BUNCE ISLAND Through the Mirror, an adventure game exploring ​slavery in Sierra Leone. A former MIT research fellow, Musau has ​worked with organizations like Achtung Autobahn Studios and ​Citizen Science Africa, showcasing a diverse and innovative ​approach to game development.

Portfolio – Platforms: www.jiwe.team; VR Production: VR ​Production Design and Casting; Volumetric Filmmaking: 1001 ​Nights in Zanzibar; Game Productions: USAWA and Usoni; ​Community Worldbuilding Program: World-Building Program ​2023; Community Gamejams: Game Jam Against Slavery Winners

THE CHANGING “FIGURE” OF THE CASEWORKER WORKSHOP

DESCRIPTION

This workshop will involve small group discussions ​exploring how various tools, technologies, and ​service models can improve both virtual and in-​person case management for Haitian entrants. ​Participants will examine the broader question: What ​is the relationship between humans and technology ​in the context of service delivery?

FACILITATOR

Emmanuela Douyon

Social Impact Consultant

Walk & Learn

DESCRIPTION

Participants will take part in three "Walk & Learn" rotations ​set in the picturesque Red Butte Garden. During each ​rotation, participants will listen to presentations from ​teams who are applying emerging technologies in their ​work with resettlement agencies. This structure allows ​participants to engage with cutting-edge technology ​applications in a dynamic and interactive setting

PROCESS

Check-in

Upon arrival at the Red Butte Rose Garden, participants will ​check in and receive directions to their starting rotation location. ​The three presentation sites are:

• The Medicinal Garden
  
• The Herb Garden
  
• The Fragrance Garden
  

Rotations

• 7 minutes: Presenters discuss their current projects ​utilizing emerging technology.
  
• 7 minutes: Q&A
  
• 7 minutes: Walk to the next rotation location, with time for ​discussion and reflection on the presentations.
  
• Transitions between rotations will be indicated by gong.
  

Walk & Learn

PRESENTERS

Design in Humanitarian Spaces

Campeon Ramirez

Switchboard Emerging Technology Coordinator

(Creative Technologist)

Jareth Kimball Archer

University of Utah Digital Learning Innovation and ​Outreach, and Switchboard VR Contracted Developer

Technology Partnership

Senka Filipovic

IRC Associate Director, Gaming, International

Philanthropy & Partnerships

Thomas Winkley

Unity Technical Marketing Advocate, Social Impact—Education

Switchboard Emerging Technology

Intensive Technical Training

Heaven Tesfahiwet

Health & Wellness Coordinator, IRC Dallas

Sierra Arlidge

Supervisor, Refugees Northwest Foster Care, Lutheran

Community Services Northwest

Switchboard

Confluence Event 2024

Bridging the Gap

and Resettlement