Estimated reading time: 12 minutes, 12 seconds

Maha, this strikes me as especially important work you are doing here. There’s a lot we tend to take for granted when a process such as VConnecting at conferences becomes established. Our experience tells us it works. Yet my experience is quite limited relative to yours and others who continue to organize sessions while also growing your reach across many more conference spaces. To my eyes it all appears so natural. Your autoethnographic approach peels away the layers of effort required to create the equitable hospitality you make possible. There is also an aspect of your description that reminds me to consider the typically feminized emotional labor of insuring that newcomers feel welcomed, that support is offered in being able to participate (sending DMs, resending links, checking in individually). Thank you for sharing. Inclusion does not happen by serendipity. It takes work and care. You illustrate that perfectly here.