Dayton will be part of the magic this weekend on International PechaKucha Day 2021

Dayton will play a role in a global celebration on International PechaKucha Day 2021.

A 24-hour around-the-world livestream is planned to commemorate the day. Dayton will be featured in hour 19 of the event — at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20.

PechaKucha means “chit-chat” in Japanese and has translated to global fast-paced, idea-sharing sessions — the presentation format is 20 slides for 20 seconds each.

Dayton’s PechaKucha evenings, referred to as PKs, have been popular community events since 2009.

Love is the theme of this year’s celebration, “because that’s what the world needs NOW!,” organizers wrote on the international website.

“PK originated in Tokyo, and the founders and their team thought it would be really fun to connect everyone in a 24-hour event,” Shayna McConville, a local PK organizer said. “I think its going to be nice opportunity to drop in and experience a little PK magic.”

McConville said current plans call for her and co-organizers Mike Beerbower and Katy Kelly to make a live introduction for three Dayton PK talks.

Sean Mitchell will be live with his talk, “Collaboration, Community and a Sweater” while Jacobee Rose Buchanan’s presentation, “Self-made Mermaid;” and Luther Palmer’s “The Language of Numbers and Why Twelve Must Die” will be pre-recorded.

The trio represent the “incredible people that make up Dayton,” McConville said. “People that have a wide breadth of interest and appreciation of the world and that translates into why they call Dayton their home.”

Viewers can expect some “dabbling” in the format and changes to some of the story-telling schemes. Some presentations will be live, and others pre-recorded.

“They’re treating it as a fun celebration, but it will have components of experimenting as a virtual experience as well,” McConville said.

Dayton will share an hour with presenters from PK cities Albany, N.Y and Ellensburg, WA.

During the 24-hour period, viewers can also listen to presenters from Australia, Mexico, Thailand, Nairobi and other countries.

Livestream information can be found on Dayton’s PechaKucha website with a link to webinar registration.

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