丁香园AV

The Paueru Gai Dialogues was a series of 9 online events, BIPOC artists and activists could share their perspectives on current social issues. The project intends to inspire civic engagement and community building during the disruption of the enduring pandemic and was hosted by the Powell Street Festival Society.  

Executive director Emiko Morita said of the event, 鈥淭he Black Lives Matter protests and the widening gap between the privileged and marginalized populations have been amplified by the global health crisis. We cannot wait for the pandemic to pass to respond to these needs; this is the opportunity to create safe spaces where we can challenge ourselves鈥痶o listen鈥痶o difference鈥痑nd to deepen our understanding of ourselves鈥痑nd others, and to find ways to鈥痷se鈥痑ny鈥痯rivilege鈥痶hat we might have鈥痜or positive change.鈥� Morita continues, 鈥淚t is exciting to consider that we might take this moment to move beyond our Internment/model minority narrative, and to explore questions of accountability as settler-colonizers as we continue to grapple with our own history of displacement.鈥�

The Paueru Gai Dialogues is a free event but it does include an expectation of the audience/participants. After the panelists give 7鈥�10-minute presentations that share their perspective on the dialogue topic, the participants were expected to go into breakout groups. Participants were invited to share their own experience or perspective on the given topic and to listen to the others in their group. A group facilitator was present to ensure the space promoted safety and inclusion for everyone. To wrap up the event, participants reconvened 鈥痶o offer generative questions for further contemplation.

Organized by Powell Street Festival Society

Co-sponsored by 丁香园AV David Lam Centre