Tickets
Tickets are on sale until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11th. Purchase your ticket(s) here. If you have missed the cut-off and want to attend, email connect@intervivos.ca as soon as possible.
Topics of discussion
We sought input and invited Edmontonians to share their feedback on the pandemic and its effects on women and gender-diverse people. Click here to find out more.
Over 50 diverse Edmontonians participated in the anonymous survey. Five topics were identified that our community would be most interested in discussing:
Mental health impacts
Work-life effectiveness & setting boundaries
Growing a career in the face of uncertainty
Championing diversity & allyship
Access to healthy safe spaces
Thank you to those who participated and shared your opinions. Thank you to Doughnut Party for providing some prizes.
Ground rules
interVivos is a non-partisan nonprofit organization. We understand that many attendees may have opposing viewpoints and discussions may become heated. We ask that all attendees remain respectful of one another.
We want to create a safe space for brave conversations. Here are some understandings that we’d like to set in preparation for the event:
Patience and compassion for yourself and others
Respect for everyone in the room
Listen to understand rather than to respond
Embrace ambiguity
Challenge your own assumptions
Speak honestly and with intention
What we share in the group stays in the group
Expect unfinished business
Meet our emcee
Sarah Chan
Pronouns: She/Her
Twitter and Instagram: @albertamentors @misssarahchan
Sarah is a thoughtful and charismatic leader gifted in building community connectivity. Currently, she works as the Community Engagement and Relationships Lead at Alberta Mentoring Partnership. She’s also a musician, small business owner, social advocate, and parent. Sarah credits the pandemic with allowing her to edit her life and become more mindful. She also knows first-hand the delicate balancing act of homeschooling and working remotely. Several years ago, Sarah was a speaker at an interVivos event focused on women. We are pleased to have her as our emcee for thank u, next.
Meet our speakers
Cynthia Decore
Pronouns: They/Them or She/Her
Instagram: @DisabledDiscourse
Cynthia Decore is a writer and advocate with a passion for social change. They are disabled, neurodivergent, queer, and non-binary. During the pandemic, they’ve felt inspired by the collective care networks within the disability community working together to protect those who are marginalized or vulnerable. Cynthia will be leading the discussion about a topic that is top of mind for many Edmontonians: access to healthy and safe spaces.
Elli McDine
Pronouns: She/ Her
Twitter: @fashionableELLI
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellimcdine/
Elli is the Director of Member Journey Transformation at the Alberta Motor Association. Living through the pandemic allowed her to connect with her authentic self and experiment playfully with her gender expression. She recently came out as a transgender woman and discovered a life of joy, community, and creativity. Elli will be leading an impactful discussion about growing your career in the face of uncertainty.
Funke Olokude
Pronouns: She/Her
Instagram: @funkyloks1
Funke is the Executive Director at Ribbon Rouge Foundation and a Top 40 Under 40 award recipient. She is energetic, innovative and cares deeply about the well-being of her community. The pandemic allowed her to rediscover what is most important as we journey through life: relationships. Funke will be leading our breakout discussion on championing diversity and allyship in a post-pandemic world.
Odion Welch
Pronouns: She/Her
Instagram: @odionwelch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/odionwelch/
Odion is a Mental Health Coordinator at the Africa Centre. As a former interVivos protégé, she is driven to show the next generation that they can become the person they needed growing up. The pandemic encouraged Odion to create boundaries that support her goals and mental well-being. She will be bringing her expertise to our virtual table and leading the discussion about mental health.
Soni Dasmohapatra
Pronouns: She/Her
Instagram: @lunarwomb0
Soni is a strategic planner, project manager, facilitator, and creative leader. Her Edmonton-based business, Lunar Womb, focuses on health promotion and wellbeing. The pandemic taught her to live in the moment and enjoy the present. As a mother of three, Soni knows the importance of balance and self-care. She is also a former interVivos protégé and mentor. She will be leading our discussion on work-life effectiveness and setting boundaries.
Event flow
6:45-7:00
Zoom waiting room opens
7:00-7:25
Opening comments and speaker intros
7:25-7:35
Getting to know you
7:35-8:05
Breakout room discussions with speakers
8:05-8:15
Intermission
8:15-8:35
Breakout room discussions with speakers
8:35-8:40
Door prizes
8:40-8:50
“Thinking canvas”
8:50-9:00
Closing comments
Event sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors.
Presenting Sponsor: Park Power
Event Sponsors: pipikwan pêhtâkwan, Ruby Gorgeous Salon, the bamboo ballroom, The Common, Token Bitters, Mock-Ups Mocktails, Pieter deVos Consulting, and Doughnut Party.
