I-House Connection November 2016

November 15, 2016

Laurie Ferris

November 2016

I-House Connection: Message from Hans, Big Give video and alumni contest, Mindful Self-Compassion workshop

Message from the Executive Director
Throughout its history, International House at UC Berkeley has been a place that brings diverse people together, helping them bridge their differences, and not separating them in artificial or derogatory ways. We believe strongly in removing barriers between our residents, visitors, and guests and building a world of greater understanding.

I-House will continue to pursue its mission of fostering intercultural respect and understanding, lifelong friendships and leadership skills for the promotion of a more tolerant and peaceful world in the most vigorous way possible. This mission is even more important now than ever as the international debate and dialogue about cultural and economic differences will continue to be carried forward at all levels of government and society.

Your participation in, and support of, this mission is most deeply appreciated at this time and for the future. We will continue to position I-House as a place where our voices are lifted up toward bridge-building, peace-making and finding even more ways of creating a more dynamic and stronger sense of unity among the peoples of the world.

Sincerely,

Hans Giesecke, Ph.D.
Executive Director
International House, UC Berkeley

Join us for Big Give:
Thursday, November 17, 2016

International House will be participating in UC Berkeley’s Big Give, a 24-hour online fundraising blitz. All contributions made to I-House between 9 p.m. PST on Wednesday, November 16 and 9 p.m. PST on Thursday, November 17 make a big impact! Watch the video below to see the top 3 ways to participate in the Big Give.

Morgan Randall, as featured in The Promise of Berkeley.

Big Give I-House Alumni Contest

One lucky I-House alum who donates on Big Give day will win a detailed portrait drawn by I-House resident Morgan Randall, who is shown drawing in the video above.

Contest details: Winner will be selected after 11/18 and contacted by phone or email. If the winner is local, they can meet Morgan at I-House for a portrait session. If they live elsewhere, they can provide a photo for him and the finished portrait will be mailed to the winner. This is Morgan’s last semester before he graduates so the deadline for portrait session is December 10th.

We are grateful to Morgan for lending his talents as a Big Give Ambassador! If you would like to be a Big Give Ambassador, there are other ways you can help. Contact Laurie Ferris at lferris@berkeley.edu for details.

Mindful Self-Compassion: Core Skills Training:
December 9-10, 2016 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m
I-House Chevron Auditorium

Featured Speakers: Kristin Neff, University of Texas, Austin; Christopher Germer, Harvard Medical School
Sponsor: The Greater Good Science Center

This two-day workshop is an introduction to Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), an empirically-supported training program based on the pioneering research of Kristin Neff and the clinical perspective of Chris Germer.

MSC combines the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion to enhance our capacity for emotional wellbeing. Mindfulness is the first step—turning with loving awareness toward difficult experience (emotions, sensations, thoughts). Self-compassion comes next—bringing loving awareness to ourselves. Together, mindfulness and self-compassion comprise a state of warm, connected presence during difficult moments in our lives.

Alumni, share your news!

Calling All Alumni We’re working on the Fall I-House Times Newsletter and would love to hear from you. Email your updates to ihalumni@berkeley.edu. Photos are welcome!

Best regards from Berkeley,

I-House Development, Alumni Relations & Communications Team



Joy Iwasa Director of Development & Communications	Laurie Ferris Communications Strategist	Laurel Anderson Communications Coordinator	Teresa Magallón Development Associate