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?

Click here to read the July 2005 full Report

Cross Community Forums in 2007

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

12th July Booking form

12th July lealfet

Draft Programme

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

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.

30 Jan 2007 - Flier

2007 Cross-Community Forum E-Bulletin

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.

If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive the e-bulletin regularly, please email us at: crosscommunityforum2007@hotmail.co.uk

2007 Cross-Community E-Bulletin, Autumn 06

2007 Cross-Community E-Bulletin, Spring 06

2007 Cross-Community E-Bulletin, Oct 05

Co-Convenors of the Cross-Community Forum

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