ICM:2024 Affinity and Interest Groups

A message from the ICM:2024 Team…

Our aspiration for the conference is that everyone who attends feels that they belong and can engage, connect, contribute and enjoy the conference in community with others. In keeping with this aspiration, we would like to enable all conference attendees to connect through Affinity and Special Interest Groups, before, during, and after the conference.  

For those who are unfamiliar with these groups, Affinity groups enable people to connect with others who share an aspect of their identity such as race, sexual orientation, cultural background, and/or through lived experience. 

To join an Affinity group, you should personally identify with the group. Special interest groups enable people to connect who share an area of study or common interest; for example, this might be in relation to one of the strands of the conference or a particular area of research and practice perhaps within a specific context. If you identify with more than one of the affinity groups or would like to join affinity and special interest groups, you are welcome to join as many groups as you would like.

BUY YOUR CONFERENCE PASS HERE

Group members will be able to connect through the online ICM:2024 Community Portal before, during and for some time after the conference. Login details will be sent to all conference pass holders – please check your junk folders.

During the conference, there will also be a physical social hub notice board at the in-person venue with dedicated space for each affinity and special interest group to post messages for example, to suggest meeting for a meal or coffee. 

These groups will be self-managing with some suggested guidelines and practical ways of connecting available through the online Community Portal and conference social hub notice board. Current existing groups include: 

• the LGBTQIA+ Community Affinity group; 
• people of colour Affinity group; 
• Mandarin speaking Affinity group; 
• mindfulness for men affinity group;
• Affinity group for people living with or supporting others with fatigue; 

Join the ICM:2024 Community! Inside the ICM:2024 Community Portal, the Affinity and and Interest Group message boards are ready and waiting for you to engage, contribute and enjoy the conference in community with others.

How to join? All conference pass holders will be sent details about how to log in to the online ICM:2024 Community Portal, where our team is busily uploading all conference materials, schedules, and information you need to attend. There will also be online forums to discuss each day as it happens

LOG INTO THE PORTAL HERE

Outside of the conference, you are welcome to visit the MNCF Community site, which is open to all, for more regular opportunities to practice and learn together. These activities are offered in collaboration with the Mindfulness Network Community Friends (MNCF) – an initiative to engage the wider mindfulness community and reach new audiences. Led by a Committee of Volunteers, supported by the Mindfulness Network, we work together to run a programme of donation-based events and inspiring content. Everyone is welcome!