A Living Archive of Community Wisdom

Throughout the 7th World Conference, we are collecting stories, ideas, memories, and perspectives from the people gathered here. Through audio, video, and written contributions, this evolving archive will reflect the knowledge shared across conference themes

HOSTED BY

AI4Afrika at 7WC, University of Minnesota

WHERE

August 3-5, 2026 Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Explore the Stories Search & Insights

BUILD-A-THON SPONSORS:

About the 7WC Build-a-Thon

The 7th World Conference Build-a-thon explores how “Human Technology” — such as storytelling, music, movement, and community mapping — can serve as a qualitative remedy to ethnic and racial inequality. Spanning the entire conference, the Build-a-thon invites participants to share experiences and stories of resonance through an interactive, hybrid story collection process. As stories are contributed, this page will be updated throughout the conference, allowing participants to explore the growing archive and interact with a community-centered language model grounded in the wisdom, experiences, and perspectives shared here. Ultimately, the Build-a-thon team will share back a digital tapestry of 7th World Conference experiences and community offerings related to the conference themes. 

Search & Connect Related Ideas

Explore the Stories
Ask the Archive
1-6 of 23 results

  • Michael Chaney On Community Gardens

  • Caleb Masi On National Anthem

  • Samia Abdulle On Name Story

  • Repa Mehka On Opening Remarks

  • Nassir On Youth Relationships

  • Adepeju Solarin (Peju) On Name Meaning

Reveal Emerging Insights

Recurring idea

Names are presented as carriers of personal and familial meaning

Multiple participants describe names as inherited, chosen, or meaningful markers tied to family lineage and identity.

Found across 3 participant stories

View supporting stories
my name means truth. So he said I am a truth teller
Dr. Alicia Blackwood On Name Meaning — Dr. Alicia Blackwood
Estella, that name actually comes from my maternal grandmother, and so I inherited her name. And then Marie comes from my paternal grandmother, so I inherited her name as well.
Janelle Estella Marie Austin On Name History — Janelle Estella Marie Austin
My middle name, Irene, I'm the third Irene in our family. My grandmother's name is Irene, and she very much embodied the meaning of Irene
Dara Beevas On Family Names — Dara Beevas

Shared perspective

Names often signal religious or cultural belonging

Several storytellers tie their names explicitly to Islamic or other cultural traditions as part of identity.

Found across 4 participant stories

View supporting stories
Shakira means grateful, and Abdul Ali means servant of the Most High.
Shakira Abdul-Ali On Name Story — Shakira Abdul-Ali
Aisha means alive, willing, and present, and it is a name widely used in the Islamic community
Aisha Hussein On Name Meaning — Aisha Hussein
My dad's Muslim. I have a Muslim name. My mom's Christian. I have a Christian name.
Adepeju Solarin (Peju) On Name Meaning — Adepeju Solarin (Peju)

Shared perspective

The conference is experienced as a site for building community and cross-cultural connections

Attendees frequently describe the event as valuable for in-person connection, knowledge exchange, and collective problem-solving.

Found across 4 participant stories

View supporting stories
the importance of us gathering in community, really sharing our stories, our histories, and connecting, recognizing that we can't do any of this work alone
Liana Brown On Community Connections — Liana Brown
the broadening of our thinking really calls for us reaching beyond our immediate boundaries.
Repa Mehka On Opening Remarks — Repa Mehka
people care about each other, and also justice and equality still exist in our humanity.
Hassan Ibrahim On Justice And Equality — Hassan Ibrahim

Pillar connection

Speakers link economic remedies to racial justice and inequality

Presenters frame tools like cooperatives and baby bonds, and critiques of policy, as strategies addressing economic inequality and racial injustice.

Found across 3 participant stories

View supporting stories
to moderate a panel all about baby bonds as a tool for building generational wealth
Dara Beevas On Family Names — Dara Beevas
I came to talk about my research on the impact of policy changes in the second Trump administration for poverty and for racial inequality and for the attack on immigrants.
Sanders Korenman On Immigration Policy — Sanders Korenman

Notable observation

The conference draws a mix of interns, community practitioners, and organizational leaders

Voices include student/intern participants and high-level organizers, indicating multi-level engagement in planning and delivery.

Found across 4 participant stories

View supporting stories
I came to this building as a step-up intern
Najma On Home Recipe — Najma Mohamed
I was working in Step Up Intern for the summer, and I was working with the administration of Humphrey School. I was his assistant, and I was kind of helping him design and also organize the conference.
Hassan Ibrahim On Justice And Equality — Hassan Ibrahim
I serve as the founder and CEO of Nexus Community Partners.
Repa Mehka On Opening Remarks — Repa Mehka

The Community Map

20 participants represented
15 birthplaces represented
7 current communities represented
70% living beyond their birthplace
Birthplaces Current locations
in progress

Train the Model

have questions or inquiries?

Connect

Websmith Studio works at the intersection of craft and imaginative technologies, creating original work across mediums, from software and interactive systems to visual art, structured play, and narrative form.

Interested in one of our projects, assets, or ideas? We welcome inquiries from people and organizations who want to learn more, explore a potential collaboration, or contribute to work already underway.