Kuopio Wellbeing Seminar

Organised annually by the City of Kuopio, the Wellbeing Seminar brings together individuals and stakeholders interested in the promotion of wellbeing and health. The seminar discusses topical themes related to the promotion of wellbeing and health. The focus areas of the seminar vary from year to year.

Wellbeing Seminar 2023

The ninth Kuopio Wellbeing Seminar will be held on Thursday 15 June 2023 from 9:00 to 15:00.

Venue: Kuopio Music Centre (Kuopionlahdenkatu 23), Kamarimusiikkisali 9:00–13:00 and Valohalli 13:00–15:00.
Remote participation possible.

The seminar is free of charge!

Kuopio’s ninth Wellbeing Seminar focuses on promoting community spirit, inclusion and good relations between population groups. The seminar focuses on the integration of immigrants into the municipality and employment and the richness brought about by multiculturalism.

Programme
9:00 Opening words, Pekka Vähäkangas, Deputy Mayor, City of Kuopio
9:10 The diversification of society challenges the current operating models. Civil society: state-driven or fourth-sector value networks? Ilkka Halava, Futurist, Prime Frontier Oy
9:40 Hobbies as an arena for young people’s growth, development and wellbeing, Mikko Salasuo, Docent, Economic and Social History, University of Helsinki
10:10 Civic activities are changing – lessons for municipalities and organisations, Pasi Mäenpää, Docent, Urban Sociology, University of Helsinki, Chair of the Finnish Village Movement Association
10:40 Civic activism as part of municipal activities – Our Kuopio Festival as a case in point, Nina Venäläinen, Cultural Planner, City of Kuopio
10:50 Break
11:00 Changing organisational cultures – challenges and richness in a multicultural work community, Natalia Skogberg, Research Manager, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
11:30 Multicultural work community as a success factor, Tiina Bies, HR Director, Finvector

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Welcome to the afternoon session
13:05 Greetings from residents
13:15 How to increase community engagement and active citizenship through voluntary work, Nicole Natalie V. Furnes, Volunteer and Hospitality Coordinator, Bodø2024 IKS, Norway
13:25 How to include as many as possible in sports and activities, Gro-Marie Thomassen, Inclusion coordinator, Bodø Sports Council & Nicole Furnes, Norway
13:35 The integrity of society and inclusion – paths to success. Dialogue participants: Ilkka Halava, Mikko Salasuo, Pasi Mäenpää and Kati Vähäsarja
14:10 Break, Dance performance in cooperation with Kuopio Dance Festival.
14:20 Multiculturalism as a resource for learning and development of new things – how to utilise this at work. Dialogue participants: Tiina Bies, Tiina Pursiainen, Katja Koponen and Natalia Skogberg
14:55 Closing words, Kati Vähäsarja, Civic Service Manager, City of Kuopio

Download the seminar programme as a PDF here.