Two events organized by Strait Talk for anyone interested.
Established in 2005, Strait Talk is a non-partisan conflict transformation movement that empowers young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the rest of the world to collaborate in transforming the Taiwan Strait conflict. It is the world’s first and longest-running initiative that enables direct dialogue on politics and identity between people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, the United States and Canada with the goal of moving toward mutual understanding and peace.
Students and early-career professionals (broadly defined, roughly ages 18-40) with an interest in the Taiwan Strait conflict and US/Canada-East Asia relations are invited to apply to two workshops held in May 2023. The workshop will introduce selected participants to interactive conflict resolution and transformation skills and techniques through intensive dialogue facilitated by leading practitioners in conflict resolution, and enable participants to deeply engage with other young people coming from different backgrounds and perspectives on the Taiwan Strait issue. At the end of the symposium, participants will be invited to join Strait Talk’s thousand-strong alumni network and continue working on individual peace projects in their home communities.
Strait Talk George Washington University
May 19-21, 2023 + follow-up virtual meeting
George Washington University
Application deadline: April 16, 2023, 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Sponsored by the George Washington University’s Taiwan Education and Research Program, Strait Talk George Washington University is a special dialogue workshop designed specifically for early-career professionals working in or engaged with DC-based policy communities. Fifteen participants (five who identify as being from mainland China, five from Taiwan, and five from the United States) will be selected to participate in intensive dialogue facilitated by a multi-national team of trained facilitators, advised by Dr Tatsushi Arai, Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Kent State University.
The 2023 GW Strait Talk Symposium will take place in person from May 19 to 21 (Friday through Sunday) and may include a follow-up virtual meeting in the several months following the completion of the in-person workshop. Final session dates and times will be communicated to accepted symposium participants. Applications must be submitted by April 16 (Sunday) at 11:59 PM EDT (Washington, DC time). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are submitted. The symposium is free of cost, but participants will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.
Inquiries may be directed to gwstraittalk@gwu.edu.
Strait Talk University of Alberta
May 26-28, 2023 + follow-up virtual meeting(s)
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Application deadline: April 16, 2023, 11:59 PM Mountain Daylight Time
Sponsored by the University of Alberta China Institute and Taiwan Studies Program, the 2023 Strait Talk Canada: Alberta Symposium will be the first iteration of Strait Talk in Canada, geared toward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as early-career professionals, based in Alberta and the rest of Canada. This three-day intensive dialogue workshop will invite fifteen participants (five who identify as being from mainland China, five from Taiwan, and five from Canada) and be facilitated by Ryan M.C. Chiu, who earned an M.S. in Conflict Resolution at George Mason University and currently serves as Director of Operations and Conflict and Negotiations Specialist Consultant at TransLegal Shanghai and Director of Program Design and Evaluation at Strait Talk.
The 2023 Strait Talk Canada: Alberta Symposium will be held in-person from May 26 to 28 (Friday through Sunday) and may include follow-up virtual meetings in the several months following the completion of the in-person workshop. Final schedule details will be communicated to accepted symposium participants. Applications must be submitted by April 16 (Sunday) at 11:59 PM MDT (Edmonton, AB time). Applications will be reviewed shortly afterward and shortlisted candidates will be contacted for short virtual interviews. The symposium is free of cost, but participants will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.
Inquiries may be directed to straittalkcanada@gmail.com.