It's one of those days when I really need to be in two places at once: I pop into a "super networking" session at Phoenix Square, the product of combined effort by Creative Coffee Club and Cafe Creatif (which meets at LCB Depot). I go in just long enough to drop off a clutch of our new flyer, with details of our enhanced social media presence. Well, just long enough to do that and to chat with Rosemarie Fitton, whose company, Heterarchy, is designing the interior for the new Swami Narayan temple in Leicester. We tentatively agree to meet to see if she can help out with our exhibition in Highcross next week.
Sorry to be missing this one. Then it's off to the Peepul Centre!
Find out more about Heterarchy:
http://www.heterarchy.co.uk/services.html
Thursday, 18 November 2010
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
staking out Highcross
This afternoon, I meet with Suzie Wood, Commercialisation Co-ordinator at Highcross. She was the person who oversaw our exhibition there during National Inter Faith Week last year, and I'm speaking to her in advance of our return to Highcross this weekend. After meeting in her office on the third floor, we head down to the Lower West Mall so she can show me the spot where we'll be located this time.
As we walk further along mall and come closer to the outer doors, my heart sinks. When Suzie stops and shows me the place we've been given, I have to ask her ot reconsider. I've been staking out the possible site since we heard a few weeks ago that we'd be doing this again and this is the very spot I was hoping we wouldn't get. It's just too windy here - our banners would be unstable, and be in danger of blowing over. They'd become a safety hazard here. Furthermore, the bannes aren't waterproof and they'll catch some rain in this position. Suzie doesn't need much convincing and we head back up to her office to check availability of other areas during the week.
While I waif in the reception area for her to come back out from her office, Julie-Ann Heath enters. She has a meeting scheduled with someone else for three, but of course I want her to be in on this one. Julie-Ann was mainly responsible for getting the Council of Faiths this gig last year. We couldn't have done it without her - honestly. It's nice to have Julie-Ann there when Suzie re-emerges and is able to tell us that the space we had last year on the Lower West Mall is available, so we can go there. Result!
As we walk further along mall and come closer to the outer doors, my heart sinks. When Suzie stops and shows me the place we've been given, I have to ask her ot reconsider. I've been staking out the possible site since we heard a few weeks ago that we'd be doing this again and this is the very spot I was hoping we wouldn't get. It's just too windy here - our banners would be unstable, and be in danger of blowing over. They'd become a safety hazard here. Furthermore, the bannes aren't waterproof and they'll catch some rain in this position. Suzie doesn't need much convincing and we head back up to her office to check availability of other areas during the week.
While I waif in the reception area for her to come back out from her office, Julie-Ann Heath enters. She has a meeting scheduled with someone else for three, but of course I want her to be in on this one. Julie-Ann was mainly responsible for getting the Council of Faiths this gig last year. We couldn't have done it without her - honestly. It's nice to have Julie-Ann there when Suzie re-emerges and is able to tell us that the space we had last year on the Lower West Mall is available, so we can go there. Result!
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
coming out, crossing over
After the meeting of the Equality and Diversity Partnership at the LGBT Centre, Ian Robson, Director of the Centre asks if I can hang on for a few minutes so we can talk about something we've been trying to fit in for several weeks now.
We've been tentatively discussing how to bridge the perceived gap between our respective "protected characteristics": religion or belief and sexual orientation. It's assumed by many people that these two areas are - even that they should - be mutually antagonistic. Since we started working together through EDP and REDP, Ian and I have taken every opportunity to puncture that myth. It is true, though, that there are people in both camps who don't think before they speak and cause offence for no good reason. We acknowledge that unfortunate fact but also acknowledge our mutual wish to transcend it. We can't change doctrine, but we might make a dent in dogma and at least work toward a situation where we accept that getting along together is more important than scoring political or religious points off each other.
Ian tells me that the LGBT Centre has been receiving an increasing number of enquiries from people from a variety of faith backgrounds, concerned about coming out (or about family members coming out) and how that might be received in the communities to which they belong.
We have a wide-ranging and open conversation on this and commit ourselves to helping build up greater trust and understanding on both sides. I remind Ian of how these two equality areas work together in Glasgow, as I saw on a recent visit to the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art. A programme of public meetings was being held addressing the crossover between religion or belief and sexual orientation, involving organisations such as Affirmation Scotland, Imaan and Sarbat. It's no surprise if I see Glasgow, my birthplace, as being in the lead on issues scuh as this, but similarly it should come as no suprise that I would like to see my adopted home town of Leicester catching up!
We've been tentatively discussing how to bridge the perceived gap between our respective "protected characteristics": religion or belief and sexual orientation. It's assumed by many people that these two areas are - even that they should - be mutually antagonistic. Since we started working together through EDP and REDP, Ian and I have taken every opportunity to puncture that myth. It is true, though, that there are people in both camps who don't think before they speak and cause offence for no good reason. We acknowledge that unfortunate fact but also acknowledge our mutual wish to transcend it. We can't change doctrine, but we might make a dent in dogma and at least work toward a situation where we accept that getting along together is more important than scoring political or religious points off each other.
Ian tells me that the LGBT Centre has been receiving an increasing number of enquiries from people from a variety of faith backgrounds, concerned about coming out (or about family members coming out) and how that might be received in the communities to which they belong.
We have a wide-ranging and open conversation on this and commit ourselves to helping build up greater trust and understanding on both sides. I remind Ian of how these two equality areas work together in Glasgow, as I saw on a recent visit to the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art. A programme of public meetings was being held addressing the crossover between religion or belief and sexual orientation, involving organisations such as Affirmation Scotland, Imaan and Sarbat. It's no surprise if I see Glasgow, my birthplace, as being in the lead on issues scuh as this, but similarly it should come as no suprise that I would like to see my adopted home town of Leicester catching up!
EDP MONTHLY MEETING, NOVEMBER 2010
At the Leicester Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Centre for the regular monthly meeting of the Equality and Diversity Partnership (EDP). Iris Lightfoote, from The Race Equlity Centre (TREC) and I come across from the REDP meeting just ended at LCIL, along with Laura Horton, Project Manager of REDP, here representing Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living (LCIL). There are also representatives from Leicester City Council (Irene Kszyk, Corporate Equalities Manager), Leicestershire Constabulary (Lynne Woodward, Diversity Manager) and NHS Leicester City (Abida Hussain, Equality Officer).
Two major items on the agenda today: Leicester City Council's upcoming Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) on the effects of the Comprehensive Spending Review and Emergency Budget on the city; debriefing on the recent English Defence League (EDL) demonstration.
Two major items on the agenda today: Leicester City Council's upcoming Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) on the effects of the Comprehensive Spending Review and Emergency Budget on the city; debriefing on the recent English Defence League (EDL) demonstration.
REDP monthly meeting
At Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living (LCIL) this morning, for the regular monthly meeting of the Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership (REDP). Of the four Core Partners of REDP, only Iris Lightfoote from The Race Equality Centre (TREC) and I can make the meeting today. Apologies from Dee martin (of LCIL) and Ian Robson from the Leicester Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Centre. Our meetings have always been on the first Tuesday of the month, but we've had to let that slip a bit in the last couple of months, due different members being pulled every which way with all sorts of other commitments (as you can imagine).
One of the regular features of these monthly meetings is the presentation of "Partner Updates", where each of the Core Partners is asked to prepare a brief description of relevant activities in the month since our last meeting. I rather surprise myself when I have to put this list together, how much I've actually done!
One of the regular features of these monthly meetings is the presentation of "Partner Updates", where each of the Core Partners is asked to prepare a brief description of relevant activities in the month since our last meeting. I rather surprise myself when I have to put this list together, how much I've actually done!
Monday, 15 November 2010
at Christians Aware
At Christchurch, Clarendon Park Road this evening, visiting friends attending the regular Monday evening meeting of Christians Aware. It's the last session in a series focusing on spirituality and the visual arts, run by my neighbour, Beatta. I've attended two of these Monday evening courses at Christchurch, "Exploring the Diversity of Hinduism" and "Mindfulness") and spoken at one of them (on the Bahá'í Faith and environmental responsibility) all of which have been featured in this blog but I've been unable to attend any sessions of this present course, sad to say.
I'm here to drum up some support for our exhibition in Highcross during National Inter Faith Week. Members of Christians Aware gave strong support to the event last year and I'm hoping to draw on the same this time. As this is the last meeting for this term, the attendees are sharing a communal meal rather than having a formal meal. Between the savouries and the sweet, Barbara Butler asks me to speak about the exhibition. I've brought along one of the banners, chosen at random (it's the Jewish one) and put it up at the end of the table. It attracts many positive comments (naturally). There's general support and just about everyone here promises to consult their diaries then see if they can commit themselves to helping out at one or more slots.
I'm here to drum up some support for our exhibition in Highcross during National Inter Faith Week. Members of Christians Aware gave strong support to the event last year and I'm hoping to draw on the same this time. As this is the last meeting for this term, the attendees are sharing a communal meal rather than having a formal meal. Between the savouries and the sweet, Barbara Butler asks me to speak about the exhibition. I've brought along one of the banners, chosen at random (it's the Jewish one) and put it up at the end of the table. It attracts many positive comments (naturally). There's general support and just about everyone here promises to consult their diaries then see if they can commit themselves to helping out at one or more slots.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BLOG!
Today, this blog is one year old. I started it on (Sunday) 15 November 2009, the first day of the first Inter Faith Week in England, just so we'd have a record of that event. I took that as an excuse to reboot the Council of Faiths website, launch our fan page on Facebook and start our Twitterstream all on the same day. Here we are, one year on and they're all still going strong. The stats counter for this blog tell me that I've posted 365 entries on it (this one will be 366) making an average of precisely one a day; I couldn't have made it work out better if I'd tried!
THERE'S A NEW HIGH SHERIFF IN THE COUNTY
Resham Singh Sandhu, of Oadby, will become the local holder of the oldest continuous secular office under the Crown in.. Britain
The High Sheriff is a volunteer, unpaid and in office for one year, and is the Queen's representative for law and order in the county.
The Office of High Sheriff is the oldest secular office in theafter the Crown, and Leicestershire has had High Sheriffs since 1172. UK
Historically, responsibilities included tax collection, conscription and maintaining law and order, but today the role is chiefly attending royal visits and acting as returning officer in parliamentary elections.
Before the High Sheriffs take up office next March, a second ceremony will take place at the Privy Council in. London
There, the Queen, using a silver bodkin in a practice dating back to the reign of Queen, will prick their names on a parchment list to give their appointments the royal seal of approval. Victoria
A couple of days later, the Mercury published a bigger feature on this subject, with a couple of very nice photos, but it wasn't uploaded to the paper's website. In this later article, it states that Resham will be the first turban-wearing Sikh High Sheriff in the country.
Engaging with faith communities in Leicester (5)
Meeting Jill Carr, RE Adviser to Leicester City Council and Secretary of SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) in Costa Coffee, Waterstone's, Market Street. We're discussing the texts for the series, "Engaging with Leicester's Faith Communities". We began working on these since January. Back then, there were five of us involved. Along the way, for one reason or another, RE Today Services, St Philip's Centre, the Schools Development Support Agency (SDSA) have dropped out and now it's just the two of us.
A meeting was held recently with representatives of the Muslim community, so that they could respond to the text that we've come up with to date. I wasn't able to attend that meeting. so Jill fills me in on the work we have to do tho bring that text up to date. We should have held a similar meeting focusing on the Christian text, but that was postponed due to lack of support.
Jill recommends that I send information about the Highcross exhibition in National Inter Faith Week to SACRE so that it can be circulated around membrs.
A meeting was held recently with representatives of the Muslim community, so that they could respond to the text that we've come up with to date. I wasn't able to attend that meeting. so Jill fills me in on the work we have to do tho bring that text up to date. We should have held a similar meeting focusing on the Christian text, but that was postponed due to lack of support.
Jill recommends that I send information about the Highcross exhibition in National Inter Faith Week to SACRE so that it can be circulated around membrs.
Friday, 12 November 2010
Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh celebrated in Glenfield
This is the first outing for the Flip video camera and I'm at a bit of a loss what to film at first. I settle on the format of talking heads, interviewing five of the friends here - Aramesh, Jan, Khaze, Mateen, Rita - about this occasion (with some of them, I use the Council of Faiths Bahá'í banner as a backdrop). This seems promising; an adaptable format, in which being rough and ready will look live a virtue (I hope). I might be better at cinema verite than aiming at something more polished. Back at home, I launch a YouTube channel for Leicester Council of Faiths, with these five being the first things uploaded to it.
See these first videos posted to the Council of Faiths YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/counciloffaiths#grid/user/FEA51F841560D18B
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