• Statement of Purpose
• Principles
• Cross-Community Forums (2005-2007)
• 2007 Cross-Community Forum E-Bulletins
• Co-Convenors of the Cross-Community Forum
Statement of Purpose
The Cross-Community Forum is
a learning initiative which aims to create and
facilitate a space for dialogue and alliance building
on issues and areas of work connected to the legacies
of chattel and colonial enslavement, related global
injustices today and contemporary forms of slavery.
It is convened by Rendezvous of Victory, Anti-Slavery
International and the World Development Movement,
who bring their independent approaches together
under the banner of the Cross-Community Forum.
The Forum also involves others from many different
sectors and communities, whilst being guided by
African perspectives on ways of addressing these
issues.
The Cross-Community Forum provides a space to explore the different legacies of chattel and colonial enslavement which continue to fundamentally impact on all areas of our society, including in education, mental health, criminal justice and policing, human and people's rights, race relations, community development, citizenship and identity.
Principles
The Cross-Community Forum is
built on the principles that:
• The space for dialogue
brings people together to share views and perspectives;
• The space is approached by all with respect,
patience and humility;
• That those entering the space do so with
a willingness to authentically engage, which includes
listening to different voices as well as contributing
own views;
• This is seen as an opportunity to advance
together through sharing thoughts and perspectives;
• Those entering the space do so with an
openness to consider that different ways of seeing
and understanding things is possible, and to approach
the dialogue from this angle;
• The space will facilitate alliance building
on different but related areas of this work, providing
opportunities for all to engage actively on approaches
of their choice.
Cross-Community Forums
The first Cross-Community Forum was held in July
2005 at Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton, London.
It brought together people to debate,
challenge and confront ideas and views on issues
such as: Should Britain make Reparations for its
role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade? What was
Britain's role in underdeveloping Africa through
chattel and colonial enslavement? What role should
Britain play in addressing issues of progress,
prosperity and development on the continent today,
including the eradication of poverty and other
human rights issues? How can Black and White people
work together to find unified solutions to our
society's current problems?
Hosted by The School of Education, Kingston University The True Dialogue in Education Series presents:
Learning our World of Unity in Diversity Together: Community Co-Educators in the Global Citizenship Promotion of True Dialogue in Education
Thursday 12th July 2007, 11am-6pm, at:
Lawley Lecture Theatre, Kingston Uni, Kingston Hill Campus, Surrey, KT2 7LB "…Slavery is at the heart of our history in the last 300 years. It is crucial to confront and understand why slavery happened and the long-term social and historical impact it has had…"
Alan Johnson, Education Secretary, Feb 07
Following on from the success of the first Education conference in July 2006, Kingston University has offered to host the True Dialogue in Education series in partnership with the Cross-Community Forum on an annual basis.
This year’s conference is key, not only because it is the Bicentenary of the passing of the 1807 Abolition Act and therefore a unique opportunity to explore, better understand and educate ourselves about the legacies that the ‘Transatlantic Slave Trade’ has left indelibly on our society today. But also in February this year, Education Secretary Alan Johnson announced a series of proposed changes to the National Curriculum, amongst which is compulsory teaching on the history and the ‘impact of the slave trade’, with explicit references to the role of reformers.
The second conference in the True Dialogue in Education series will draw therefore on both of these, looking not only at what are the problems and failings in the classroom today, but at practical solutions. In light of the current discussions around teaching ‘emotive and sensitive’ issues, we’ll look at the specifics of teaching this subject and aside from resources, what kind of preparation, training and support educators need to be able to explore the subject in-depth. We will explore the potential for the Community Co-Educators initiative which will work directly with educators and learners, as well as the potential pitfalls of the proposed curriculum changes and how to avoid them. Practically we will also look at the opportunities for cross-curricular as well as cross-community work, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Please bring your concerns, contributions and questions to Kingston University on Thursday 12th July 2007. The day is FREE to attend, but please complete and return a booking form to let us know you’re coming. Please also let as many people as you can know about this event – it is an opportunity for teachers and educators far and wide to critically engage in discussions on these important issues.
There will also be a Market Place where resources can be displayed and sold. So if you have any, or know anyone who does, please contact us to discuss space allocation.
For further information and bookings please contact us on:
Tel: 07984 996784
Email: crosscommunityforum@rendezvousofvictory.org
11-12pm
Registration & Breaking the Silence Learning Circle
12-1.30pm
Break out sessions:
Preparing to tackle ‘sensitive and emotive’ subjects in education
Cross-curricular approaches to inclusive histories
Making a practical success of community co-education
The Education for Change Manifesto: Taking the Experience forward
1.30-2.30pm
Lunch and Market Place
2.30-4.30pm
Panel led discussion and plenary
4.30-6pm
Film and networking
6pm
Close
Past Events
The first Cross Community Forum of the year took place on 30 January 2007 at London South Bank University. The forum explored 'Global
Justice Today
and the Legacies of Enslavement'
– for example people trafficking, racial justice, migration and asylum,
environment and ecology, debt and conditionality – are connected to
chattel
enslavement and its legacies. It provided an opportunity to explore
the
relationship between current global justice issues and historical
enslavement,
resistance and abolition and discussed how we can work together to
ensure that
2007 is a key turning point on some of the most crucial global issues
that the
world faces today.
One of the outcomes of the first
Cross-Community Forum in July, was the call for
a space that would continue the discussions in-between
meetings. In October 2005, we launched the first
Cross-Community Forum E-Bulletin with this aim
in mind.
The E-Bulletin currently consists
of seven different sections, which include:
• Projects and Events
• Speakers Corner
• Partners Corner
• Writers Corner
• Campaigns
• Funding
• Resources
The e-bulletin is now being produced three times a year. The bicentenary is an opportunity for Britain to rethink its history and begin to address some of the contemporary realities which exist as a result of the 500 year legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Please send us related articles, thoughts, views, comments, information about resources and/or images for inclusion in the next edition of the e-bulletin by Fri 2 Feb 2007.
Anti-Slavery International, established in 1839,
is the oldest international human rights organisation
and only charity in the UK working exclusively
for the elimination of all forms of slavery throughout
the world. www.antislavery.org
The World Development Movement
campaigns to tackle the root causes of poverty.
Joining movements around the world, the organisation
challenges the policies of government and business
that keep people poor, and campaign for global
economic justice. www.wdm.org.uk
