Peacebuilding a shared Northern Irish society
“Don’t see migrant community as ‘them and us’”: High Sheriff of Belfast by Allan LEONARD 6 March 2015 At a launch event for a photography exhibition at Belfast City Hall, the High Sheriff of Belfast, Councillor Gareth McKee, told the audience not to see the migrant community in Northern Ireland with a ‘them and us’... Continue Reading →
National reconciliation: “Patriotism is not enough” A Journey Towards Healing seminar by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 19 February 2015 In the second of a series of seminars organised by Niamh Mental Wellbing, Reverend Dr Gary Mason facilitated a civic engagement in a packed room at Skainos on the Newtownards Road, Belfast. The discussants... Continue Reading →
Building relationships matter in urban planning: A Landscape Institute lecture by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 9 February 2015 Appropriately for his role as Chair of the OFMdFM Committee at the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mike Nesbitt MLA welcomed those in the Long Gallery attending the Landscape Institute lecture on “Building a United Community: Design... Continue Reading →
Never use memory (or lack thereof) to justify cruelty: Holocaust Memorial Day 2015 by Allan LEONARD 27 January 2015 For the Holocaust Memorial Day 2015, the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building, in cooperation with the Institute of Conflict Research, held a seminar event: “The Ethics of Memory and Community Recovery”. The speakers were Daniel... Continue Reading →
Sectarianism: A Journey Towards Healing seminar by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 22 January 2015 Reverend Dr Gary Mason facilitated a panel discussion with Jim Gibney (Sinn Féin), Father Gary Donegan and Alex Kane. The title was "Sectarianism", and is part of a Journey Towards Healing series organised by Niamh Mental Wellbeing. Dr Mason... Continue Reading →
Young people want civic education in Northern Ireland schools by Allan LEONARD 15 November 2014 Stratagem organised another set of sidebar coffee club conversations at the SDLP annual conference, Ramada Inn, Belfast. For the second time, I had two flipcharts with blank sheets to fill out the good, the bad and the ugly lessons from... Continue Reading →
More channels for civic voices demanded at Ulster Unionist Party conference by Allan LEONARD 18 October 2014 At a sidebar coffee club session, organised by lobby firm Stratagem, I asked a room full of Ulster Unionist Party attendees what was the good, the bad and the ugly lessons from the Northern Ireland peace process. With... Continue Reading →
Reconciliation: Maybe, just maybe The Peace Builder’s Handbook by Michael Doherty by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 19 September 2014 Michael Doherty, a recognised mediator for over thirty years, today launched The Peace Builder’s Handbook, a resource for those involved in facilitating challenging conversations among community groups. There was a guest speech by Peter... Continue Reading →
Time to stop tightening our know: CRC policy conference 2014 by Allan LEONARD 16 June 2014 This year’s annual policy conference organised by the Community Relations Council considered how we might “Finish the Job” and find ways to resolve outstanding issues in the peace process. The conference attracted a wide range of practitioners, statutory agencies... Continue Reading →
The prevailing wisdom of A Love Divided by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 4 April 2014 Based on a true story, “A Love Divided” chronicles the aftermath of a mixed marriage in Co. Wexford, Ireland, where Protestant-raised Sheila refuses to send her children to a local Catholic school. She flees with her two young... Continue Reading →
Not a cosy conversation: Victims and survivors conference by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 25 February 2014 The Commission for Victims and Survivors (CVS) convened a conference “to listen to as many voices as possibinformingming its advice to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, the CVS Commissioner Kathryn Stone explained.... Continue Reading →
More RESPECT for good relations: The power of sport by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 29 November 2013 Londonderry YMCA, in partnership with the University of Ulster (Magee), held a conference to "raise awareness of the power of sport in building more peaceful, prosperous, healthy, inclusive and welcoming communities". Entitled "Sport for Development in... Continue Reading →