University at Albany hosts a "Human Library" Tuesday, March 27

The "books" in the Human Library are faculty, staff, and students who agree to share their life experiences and expertise.

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Fardin Sanai

ALBANY, NY (03/22/2018) (readMedia)-- EVENT DETAILS:

The University at Albany invites its students, faculty and staff to check out "books" from the "Human Library" – a project designed to foster conversations with "people on loan" from various backgrounds who have experienced stereotyping or prejudice. The event will be held from 4:15 to 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in the Campus Center West Addition on the uptown campus.

The event is cosponsored by the University's Office of Vice President for Undergraduate Education, the Office of Student Engagement, the Division of Student Affairs, University Libraries, University Auxiliary Services, and the NYS Writers Institute.

MEDIA RELEASE:

Albany, NY - The University at Albany invites all its students, faculty and staff to listen to and learn from diverse personal stories in its "Human Library" project from 4:15 to 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in the Campus Center West Addition on the uptown campus.

The "books" are faculty, staff, and students who agree to share their life experiences and expertise. Originally conceived in Denmark in 2000, the Human Library™ is designed to build a positive framework for conversations that challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue.

According to the Human Library website, the project gives visitors a space where they can speak one-on-one or in very small groups with "people on loan" or human "books" from various backgrounds who have experienced stereotyping or prejudice or who have undergone a life experience that is often mischaracterized or misunderstood. Members of the media are encouraged to contact Paul Grondahl (pgrondahl@albany.edu) if they would like to attend or to speak with any of our "human books."

Below is a list of the Human Library "books" who will be sharing a conversation with UAlbany students and the public 4:15 to 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in the Campus Center West Addition, UAlbany uptown campus:

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Fardin Sanai: Journey of a refugee from Iran

Fardin Sanai is Vice President for Development at UAlbany, where he has worked for 10 years. He escaped the repressive regime of Iran with an aunt when he was 18 years old. Sanai made his harrowing journey to America through Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Denmark. His rise in the administrative ranks of higher education is a story of resilience and determination.

Will Brown: The son of a coach and his challenges dealing with disease

UAlbany Men's Basketball Coach Will Brown grew up in the gym, the son of a high school basketball coach, and eventually become a coach himself. But his journey was complicated by a diagnosis at age 15 of Crohn's Disease, a disease for which there is no cure.

Vivien Ng: Still under construction

Professor, storyteller, filmmaker, social justice warrior: these may well be chapter titles for my book. But I am much more than these labels. I am always under construction.

Charles Rogers: The road to Albany

Charles Rogers is the Associate Director of Residential Life. As a young man, coming to Albany meant leaving poverty, a difficult home life, and friends that didn't share his goals. Once he arrived, he felt he was destined to live in Albany. His life's journey includes decisions that ultimately led him to the ministry.

Winsome Foderingham: Visions and Maps: Rivers and sports brought me to UAlbany

As a teenager in Jamaica, I was obsessed with maps and taking the time to study and reproduce them, particularly for my North America geography class. Maps have boundaries; in life we can usually traverse regions as we wish through travel and adventures. We also have many choices for where we call home.

Tomasz Siuba: Embracing life's challenges

Tomasz Siuba is a member of the UAlbany grounds crew assigned to Dutch Quad. He has worked at UAlbany for 13 years. He spoke very little English and did not have a job lined up when he emigrated to the U.S. from Poland with his pregnant wife in 2004. "She wanted to find the American Dream," he said. He was a lieutenant in the Polish Army and a chemical weapons expert and later served as a military police officer during Poland's transition away from communism and Soviet control. "We started from zero here in America and we've made a good life. Don't be afraid of a challenge," said Siuba, who became a U.S. citizen with his wife, Marioloa, in 2009. Their teenage son was born in the United States.

Victor Asal: Cutting Both Ways: Discrimination, mobilization and political violence

Victor Asal will discuss the impact of life events growing up, discrimination, mobilization, protest, and violence.

Yanna Liang: Journey to the West and then Northeast

A passion for learning has been with me since I was little. A stable and comfortable life was not what I desire. An adventure to the West is full of kindness, support, and grace.

Souhimbou Doh Kone: A legal immigrant's journey in the USA from the Ivory Coast

Souhimbou Doh Kone is a scholar, artist, published writer, actor, filmmaker, artist, and entrepreneur from the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire. He immigrated with his family in October 2011 after they were awarded a green card. Now a senior in the Public Health program at UAlbany, Ebu plans to graduate and further pursue an education in clinical pharmacy and epidemiology, as well as entertain his passion for the arts.

Free and open to the entire UAlbany community, the event is cosponsored by the university's Office of Vice President for Undergraduate Education, the Office of Student Engagement, the Division of Student Affairs, University Libraries, University Auxiliary Services, and the NYS Writers Institute. For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online at www.nyswritersinstitute.org.

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