People from various backgrounds and cultures came together to participate in open dialogue during the “Engaging the Other” conference, on October 25-28, at the Dearborn Inn Marriott.  The conference entitled “The Power of Compassion” included various panels and interactive group discussions that covered a wide variety of subjects, including race relations, tolerance, community building and identity. The multicultural conference was hosted by the Common Bond Institute (CBI), a non-profit, non-governmental agency which sponsors conferences and professional exchanges worldwide. The four day event was co-sponsored by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Michigan.  ADC Michigan Director of Policy & Community Affairs, Nadia Fadel, helped coordinate the conference.  She said that the event reinforced the importance of open dialogue on both the community and international level. “This conference is a prime example of people of various cultural and religious backgrounds coming together for a common cause,” Fadel stated.  “This event has succeeded in strengthening ties between individuals and cultivating diversity awareness.  By engaging in open dialogue with one another, we are able to break cultural barriers and move forward to build a stronger society.”

A prime example of this type of bridge building took place during a panel on crossing cultural boundaries and building personal relationships with the “other.” The discussion featured guest speakers Imad Hamad, ADC Michigan Regional Director and Senior National Advisor, and Brenda Rosenberg, an interracial and intercultural bridge builder. The session focused on bi-community dialogue efforts to promote understanding and compassion.  The panelists shared their personal stories and initial struggle to connect and form close ties with “the other.”

Hamad spoke of his journey to the U.S. as a young man, and the initial struggles and obstacles he faced as an Arab American in a new country. He told the attendees that many Arab Americans continue to face similar struggles today as a result of various events and political situations. He claimed that until a better sense of understanding is created between cultures, they will continue to face these problems.  “It is clear to all of us here our differences are reason enough to want to engage with each other,” he stated.  “Our common bond tends to be much stronger when we look beyond things like national origin and religion.  Despite the tough challenges we encounter, justice is our common link, it is what unites us.  Without it, we cannot move forward. “The core of our principles as humans is when we try to see that our differences are cause for us to interact with one another, rather than be apart from each other,” Hamad continued.  “What gives us the strength to keep going is the faith in our true American values.  If we hang on to this notion, we can accomplish many great things.  The challenge is tough, but I have no doubt that it can be done.”

Rosenberg agreed that it is important not to underestimate the power of sharing personal stories as a way to bridge the cultural divide. “For us to move from a culture of violence to a culture of peace, it is not going to come from politicians, religious leaders, or the media,” Rosenberg stated.  “It is going to come from us.  We need to come together with our unique talents and share our personal experiences.  Unless we share our stories, we will not be able to move forward.”

Another panel later that day featured The Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani, along with former Detroit Free Press writer David Crumm.  The forum, entitled “Media Images of the Other,” tackled the issue of negative media portrayals  both historically and currently, and talked about how these images have lasting effects on society.  The panelists, each with diverse media backgrounds, spoke about their professional experiences and the changes they’ve seen throughout their careers.  When asked how to better break cultural barriers and reach out to engage others, Siblani said that being open and honest is the best approach to take. “The way we engage the other is by being truthful,” said Siblani.  “In the media, you have individuals who tell stories in their own unique perspectives.  To engage with one another is to exchange information and hear what others have to say.  We have to share our experiences, and we have to listen to each other.”

The panelists went on to discuss the importance of exchanging information in an era where there is an extremely large amount of media outlets, both print and online. Other events throughout the weekend included dialogue sessions, interactive workshops, networking events, and art presentations.  The conference concluded on Sunday afternoon, with a session that focused on future community-building efforts and the development of the 2008 “Engaging the Other” conference.