21/11/2025
Thanksgiving Gathering, Potluck Dinner & International Cultural Talent Show
12 pm, Tuesday, November 25
113 McGilvrey Hall – School for Peace and Conflict Studies (SPCS) Lounge & Seminar Room
All international students from SPCS and Political Science—along with their partners, children, other family members, and international roommates or housemates—are warmly invited to a community gathering featuring food, beverages, and cultural sharing. American graduate students who are enthusiastic about this international and intercultural event are also welcome to sign up. The menu includes pizza (both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options), chips, fruit juice, and w**e. Volunteers are encouraged to bring a dish of their choice for the potluck dinner.
Event Schedule
Part 1: Experience in Social Reconciliation – Lessons from Sri Lanka
12–1.00 PM
By Professor Shanti Nandana Wijesinghe, Visiting Scholar, SPCS
Professor Wijesinghe is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and Director of its Social Reconciliation Centre (SRC). He has played a catalytic role in establishing 19 SRCs across Sri Lanka’s 17 state universities (2022–2026) and previously served as Director of Social Development Affairs to the President of Sri Lanka (2005–2015) and as a member of the Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law (2021–2022). In this community dialogue, Professor Wijesinghe will share insights from decades of research and practice in promoting intercommunal reconciliation in Sri Lanka and will invite participants to explore how these lessons may inform their own lives and work.
Part 2: Potluck Dinner & International Cultural Talent Show
1.00-2.30 PM
Participants will enjoy a potluck dinner, followed by an international cultural talent show. Everyone—including children and family members—is warmly invited to share a brief (up to 3 minutes) performance or presentation showcasing their cultural talents or something meaningful about their home communities. These lighthearted, fun activities may include, but are not limited to:
🎵 Singing or playing musical instruments (please bring your own)
💃 Dancing or performing martial arts
🎭 Magic tricks or poetry readings
🎨 Displaying artwork or photos
🍲 Presenting unique traditional recipes
🗣️ Giving mini language lessons or demonstrating cultural rituals
A computer and screen will be available for playing audio or audiovisual materials.
Please sign up using the Google document by Saturday, November 23, indicating:
Your availability
The number of people attending with you
The dish you plan to bring (if applicable)
