Past FIND Fall Dialogues

2020: Virtual, Thank You: Sa Susonod Na Lang

The theme for this year’s Fall Dialogue is Thank You, Sa Susunod Na Lang. Through a series of 3 workshops, we encourage delegates to bond with others across the East Coast and to acknowledge the happenings in each other’s lives. Our latter half of the title Sa Susonod Na Lang is to convey a hopeful mindset in order to motivate delegates to address their experiences, both positive and negative from this past year, and to say Thank You, Sa Susonod Na Lang - Thank you, here’s to next time. We hope Dialogue 2020 will encourage participants to not only reflect on the effects of these last few months but to also inquire about the essence of being where they are in their lives and what more there is to be done for the rest of this year and onwards.

2019: District IV & V: The College of New Jersey, Barangay: Fostering Community

This year’s theme was “Barangay: Fostering Community” and was carried out by a joint collaboration between District 4 & District 5.

Barangay is the Filipino term for “neighborhood.” This year, delegates were asked to focus on their community and to understand how the people and places that surround them are crucial in contributing to one’s development, one’s self, and moreover, one’s survival. The individuals that make up a community are just as important as the community as a whole is to each individual.

Delegates were challenged to be mindful of who or what they consider their communities to be, what connects these communities together, and the overall importance of the community that we surround ourselves with.

2018: District II: University of Connecticut, Binhi: Growth Through Action

Binhi (bin-HEE) is Tagalog for “seed.” In this year’s Dialogue, District II and FIND Inc. would like to challenge the delegates to focus on past experiences and how they could contribute to a person’s distinct development. Like a seed that is planted, we, as people, have the ability to grow from our roots and blossom into unique individuals. 

Delegates will be encouraged to make choices for their own journey, reminded that their upbringings or backgrounds do not necessarily define them, but rather influence how they define themselves. We want our delegates to know that the future is in their hands, and it is their actions that will get them to where they want to be. Growth through action means that we, as individuals, dictate the choices that foster our growth. But that does not mean you are alone. Dialogue allows us to work together towards personal growth. The goal of this dialogue is to provide delegates with introspective resources and varying ways to progress as individuals, and, in turn, to show them the outlets for impacting their own community. 

2017: District VII: University of North Carolina Greensboro, Pananaw: Unifying Our Differences

Pananaw (pah-nah-nao) ⦁ The English translation: Point of View. 

District VII and The Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue, Incorporated would like to challenge delegates to come to an awareness and react on the issues that have transpired between the intergenerational gap within the Filipino American community. Delegates will aim to recognize the differences between the traditional and millennial ideologies in hopes to gain a better understanding towards their personal perspectives.

We challenge all delegates to come to a point of comfortability in their own identities and discover where we fit among the generational spectrum. In gaining a better understanding of our individual perspective, delegates will take a closer look at how family values and cultural upbringing play a role in further differentiating the gaps between Filipino American generations. 

Delegates will unveil an understanding of their personal beliefs and be able to shift to familial views. With the goal of utilizing this newfound understanding of our differences, delegates will resolve those issues and channel a further connection to the community. In recollection, the issues that might act as a disconnector from the two ideologies aren’t definite, but can be used as an opportunity to come together as a Filipino-American community. The goal of this Dialogue is to take each aspect of self, family, and community to unifying measures creating a stronger connection and in turn a stronger and more unified community.

2016: No Dialogue

2015: District II: University of Connecticut, Mga Balikbayan

A Balikbayan box is a universally recognized term and object amongst the Filipino and Filipino American community as a care package filled with toys, clothes, electronics and other goods that are difficult to obtain in the Philippines. There is, however, a deeper significance associated with this box. The Balikbayan box symbolizes the patriotism and devotion amongst Filipinos and Filipino Americans for their mother country. The theme of Fall Dialogue 2015 is to highlight how the Filipino American Diaspora has shaped the Fil-Am community to preserve ties with their Filipino heritage, despite cultural and geographical distances. Moving along with this idea, there will be a strong emphasis on community to further unify the East Coast Intercollegiate Fil-Am community. Fall Dialogue 2015 will provide an outlet for discussion about how a delegate's cultural identity has impacted and shaped his or her perspective on community and how their community has shaped and impacted them. 

The focus of Fall Dialogue 2015 will be the influence of identity on community and vice-versa. We as delegates have the ability to impact the members of our community. Workshops will address topics focusing on the Filipino American Diaspora to strengthen cultural ties, to identify the problems pertinent in Filipino American culture, and to promote action to tackle these issues.

2014: District III: Stevens Institute of Technology, Ikaw Na: Your Move

2013: No Dialogue

2012: District VI: George Mason University, Dream For More

2011: District IV: Cornell University, Influence: Mamuno Para Maniwala

2010: District III: Fordham University, Boses

2009: District VII: Virginia Commonwealth University, Depth of Field

2008: District III: Rutgers University - New Brunswick, Magsalita

2007: District VII: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Pagtuturo

2006: District V: Drexel University, Be the Change

2005: District VI: George Mason University

2004: District III: College of Mount St. Vincent

2003: District IV: Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute

2002: District I: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2001:District III: SUNY Stony Brook University

2000: District VI: George Mason University

1999: District VII: Old Dominion University

1998: District V: Drexel University

1997: District IV: SUNY Binghamton University

1996: District IV, SUNY

1995: District VII, University of Virginia

1994: District II, Fairfield University

1993: District IV, University of Rochester

1992: District I, Mt. Holyoke College