On Saturday, February 24, Clark’s ISSO (International Students and Scholars) Office will host the 6th Annual Third Culture Kid (TCK) Conference. This year’s theme is “Peace within the Pieces.” You never know who a TCK person is until you learn of their amazing and often intricate stories.
A TCK is a person who may have parents from different cultures, which may be different from the one the TCK is a citizen of, the one they were raised in, and/or the country they are being educated in. What does this mean for these kids? No doubt, most TCK’s are exposed to more international experiences in their childhood than many people can imagine experiencing in a lifetime. However, these kids may struggle to find a sense of identity and belonging, compared to those who have a single citizenship and country of identity. Through this conference, we will explore together the unique perspectives of being a Third Culture Kid.
This conference is for both TCKs, and for those who work with TCKs. Conference attendees will hear first-hand accounts from those who have navigated the world from their unusual lens. TCKs will find a sense of belonging among peers and will have the opportunity to “unpack” challenges and find camaraderie with others who have a similar way of looking at the world.
This year’s featured speaker is Clark University IDCE Professor Anita Häusermann Fábos Anita Häusermann Fábos Ph.D. | Faculty | Clark University. (I encourage you to click on her name to read more about Anita’s unique perspective.) Along being a mom of a TCK child, Anita has done in-depth academic research combined with practical outreach to populations of displaced and migrant people. Anita has “walked the walk” and is an expert at “talking the talk.”
Some of the sessions range from a discussion on the politics of food to the mental health and emotional wellbeing of constantly moving individuals. We will also have an alumni panel, where Clark TCK alums will return to campus and talk about their experiences after graduation. We have presenters from Clark, WPI, and Babson. Here is a link to the conference registration, with breakfast and lunch included: https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashneti/selfserve/storehome.aspx
Sign up costs $15 for students, $30 for non-students. A limited number of sponsored registrations are available for Clark students.
Clark students: Sign up here!
