Peacebuilding a shared Northern Irish society
Platform for Change: Haass Talks. Discuss. by Allan LEONARD 25 November 2013 Platform for Change held an evening roundtable discussion event, to review the current status of the Haass talks, which are focusing on flags, parades and dealing with the past. The guest speakers were: Trevor Ringland (Discussant Chair) Reverend Lesley Carroll Dominic Bryan Peter... Continue Reading →
Learning Together:Â NI21 Party Conference by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 16 November 2013 At the NI21 inaugural party conference at the Europa Hotel, I chaired a fringe meeting to explore how shared and integrated education could be increased in Northern Ireland, and what potential role NI21 could have here. The panellists were: Mark Baker... Continue Reading →
Women: Dealing with the past: WRDA workshop by Allan LEONARD 12 November 2013 Well over 100 women participated in a workshop event on the topic of dealing with the past. Organised by the Women’s Resource & Development Agency (WRDA), there were summaries of previous workshops as well as keynote speeches from Reverend Dr Lesley Carroll... Continue Reading →
Jobs and freedom for Northern Ireland: MLK march 50th anniversary by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 28 August 2013 Sponsored by the US Consulate Belfast, the Washington-Ireland Programme and Politics Plus, Chris Lyttle MLA hosted a remembrance event at Parliament Buildings for the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom,... Continue Reading →
The fate of peace: President Obama in Northern Irelandby Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News17 June 2013 My marriage is a transatlantic union between a Midwesterner and a Belfast-born Northern Irishwoman. Fittingly, my wife and I were delighted to receive tickets to hear another Midwesterner, President Barack Obama, at Belfast's Waterfront Hall. With DJ Pete... Continue Reading →
Expressing identity, addressing division: CRC policy conference 2013 by Allan LEONARD 20 May 2013 This year’s annual policy conference of the Community Relations Council (CRC) was held in Derry-Londonderry, a fresh change from the usual Belfast venues. Indeed, the Maiden City has demonstrated leadership in community relations for many years. In his introductory remarks, outgoing... Continue Reading →
Transforming society through engaging place based leaders By Allan LEONARD 1 November 2012 A conference organised by the University of Ulster addressed the dynamic and innovative approaches to place-based leadership, and how they could be applied in Northern Ireland and abroad. UU Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Alastair Adair, spoke about how these approaches were reflected... Continue Reading →
Red Red Shoes Project by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 23 March 2012 At the Brian Friel Theatre (Queen's Film Theatre) was an arts conference hosted by The Playhouse ICAN Project and the School of Creative Arts at Queen's University. "Nine Tenths Under: Performing the Peace" explores how the arts can cast light on... Continue Reading →
A call for mentoring support: Spirit of Enniskillen conference by Allan LEONARD 2 February 2012 The Spirit of Enniskillen's annual Together schools conference at the Wellington Park Hotel brought together over 100 Year 13 pupils from twenty schools across Northern Ireland, to explore and discuss 6th Form leadership for the Sharing in Education programme that... Continue Reading →
Retaining "our shared Christian ethos" in shared education: DUP conference 2011 by Allan LEONARD 26 November 2011 With Northern Ireland's Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson MP MLA, providing a warm up act at the DUP annual conference, I attended a panel discussion on "Fixing Education": Michelle McIlveen MLA (Chair) Rev. Trevor Gribben (Transferors' Representative Council) Billy... Continue Reading →
Accommodating faith and diversity in Northern Ireland: @IFNetUK Inter-Faith Week 2011 by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 21 November 2011 OFMDFM Junior Ministers Martina Anderson and Jonathan Bell sponsored a panel discussion marking Inter-Faith Week, organised by the Northern Ireland Inter-Faith Forum: "Accommodating faith and diversity in Northern Ireland". The panel discussion was chaired... Continue Reading →
Shared Future panel: UUP conference 2010 by Allan LEONARD 4 December 2010 At the annual Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) conference at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast, I attended a panel discussion on shared future policy. The event was facilitated by Councillor Ross Hussey. Panellists were Duncan Morrow, Bill Manwaring, Lesley Macaulay, Kenny Donaldson. The session began... Continue Reading →