Conference in English: ‘Open Minds, Open Doors: Fostering Social Change through Education’
The public is invited to attend (in person or online; meeting ID 858 5549 0846, password 127603) the conference in English “Open Minds, Open Doors: Fostering Social Change through Education” hosted by the Gabinetto Vieusseux on Friday, February 20 from 9 am to 1:15 pm, 2:45 – 5:30 pm.
ISI Florence’s director Stefano U. Baldassarri will be opening the Conference, and Serena Giorgi and Nina Peci will present the session “Florence Through New Eyes: Stories from an Inclusive Center,” spotlighting Disabilities Practicum of the Institute of Italian Studies and its powerful impact on inclusive learning.
The session will feature a short video created by ISI Florence alumna Katie Ciulla, sharing how her practicum experience helped her build meaningful connections while navigating and overcoming differences and barriers.
The conference was organized under the auspices of Florence World Heritage and Relations with UNESCO – Municipality of Florence, Italy.
Program
9 am Welcome Remarks:
Dr. Carlotta Ferrari
General Manager, Fondazione Destination Florence – Italy
Dr. Valentina Ippolito
Florence World Heritage and Relations with UNESCO Office – Municipality of Florence – Italy
Professor Stefano U. Baldassarri, Ph.D.
Director, ISI Florence – Italy
9:15 am: Dr. Athena Kritikou
Founder & President, SKEP – Association of Social Responsibility for Children and Youth – Greece “When Education Opens Minds, Inclusion Follows”
9:45 am: Professor Emerita Frosso Motti-Stefanidi Ph.D.
National & Kapodistrian University of Athens – Department of Psychology – Greece “Building an Inclusive Mindset Through Education”
10:15 am: Dr. Spyros Kogkas
Co-founder & CEO Imagine Heritage Non-Profit – Greece “Learning Together: Inclusive Education as the Soul of Europe’s Cultural Democracy”
10:45 – 11:15 am: Coffee break
11:15 am: Professor Valia Aranitou Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Scientific Director at Prorata Public Opinion Research – Greece “Tracing Attitudes, Perceptions and Behavior towards Disability”
11:45 am: Dr. Zoi Geroulanou
President of the Center “Greek Guide Dogs” – Greece “Notes on a Guide Dog’s Contibution to the Life of a Blind Handler”
12:15 am: Dr. Dimitra Kontova
SKEP’s Inclusion & Accessibility Consultant – Motivational Speaker – Dimitra lives with a mobility disability – Greece ”Breaking Stereotypes Through Education”
12:45 pm: Dr. Annalisa Baroni – Dr Marilena Pinco – Dr Eleonora Sirsi
Municipality of Florence. Education – Childhood Services – Italy “All In. From Welcome Day to In-Class Participation: Inclusive Programs in Florence’s Nursery Schools and Preschools”
3 pm Dr. Daria Coste
Dynamo Camp – Italy “Dynamo Camp – Right to Happiness: Where the True Healing Comes from Laughter and Medicine Is Joy”
3:30 pm: Dr. Ashod Derandonyan
CEO of the European branch of the US based Deaf Leaders of Tomorrow Foundation (DLTF) – Bulgaria “Beyond Inclusion: The Power of Deaf-Centric Education in Shaping an Inclusive World”
4 pm Professor Maria Bukhanovskaia
Special Education Teacher, Specialist in AAC & Early intervention, co-founder & CEO of “Patchwork”, Civil Society Organization, Krakow – Poland. “When Disability meets Refugee Experience: Rethinking Inclusion in Education through an Intersectional Lens”
4:30 pm Dr. Filippos Pierros
Former Member of the European Parliament – Former EU Deputy Permanent Representative to the OECD – France “Education for Inclusive Societies: Lessons from International Organisations”
5 pm Dr. Katie Ciulla
ISI Florence/Tulane University – Italy/US Dr. Serena Giorgi – Dr. Nina Peci ISI Florence – Italy “Florence Through New Eyes: Stories from an Inclusive Center”.
