Listening & Dialogue are Integral to Living Well with Difference

Earlier this month, we hosted a listening space centred on the role technology plays in the lives of our young people. The discussion included; censorship on social media, parental controls, whether schools should be intervening, particularly in instances of bullying, incel culture and more…


We are grateful for Dr Jess Walker for presenting her perspective, and the discussion which followed, representing a range of views. Issues are often complex and viewpoints nuanced. Yet we know that to better understand each other, we first need to listen.  


This month, we also launched a series of interfaith events, bring people together from different faith traditions and none, to discuss texts sacred to some of the largest faith groups in the city. 34 joined for the first event hosted by a local Synagogue. The next two events will be hosted in a Mosque and Church.

The next Listening Space (this Thursday) will look at ‘The Colston Statue - Five Years On’. Did the pulling down of the statue actually achieve anything? What are the inequalities that affect Bristolians the most?


We will be joined by guest speaker Temba Mahari (SARI) before a facilitated discussion on the state of racism and inequality in Bristol. Join us. All opinions are welcome.


22nd May 7-9pm, Easton Family Centre. BS5 0SQ.

 

Textile Artists are Uniting Communities

We are delighted to share with you a short film about how women in Bristol are building friendships across cultures, while creating wonderful works of art, homeware and clothing.

“It’s lovely because we make a community, we connect, we sometimes laugh and we are very lively, sometimes we cry as well. It’s lovely to have a safe space for women. We need more of those actually. I’m really quite blessed that I come to this group and share with other women.” ~ Yanet, Stitching Together Volunteer

Watch the video and find out more about how students collaborated with artist Alice Kettle, creating cushions commissioned by Christopher Farr Cloth, culminating in their designs being displayed in the Arnolfini exhibition ‘Threads: Breathing Stories into Materials’.
 

We’ve been running stitching groups for many years. And we want you to feel this is something you can do too. Here are some of our top tips to help you use stitching to bring people together.


What tips are we missing? Let us know what helpful tips you have for bringing people together from different backgrounds, whether stitching, or any other activity!

 

Can Poetry Help in Bridge-Building?

’Poetry on its own cannot offer hospitality or forgiveness, we do that. But what it can do is offer an opportunity to see things differently, to enter into the skin and bones of someone who we think is completely different to us.’  ~ Leeza

This is an excerpt from Leeza’s article Bridge-Building as Reframing and Why Poetry Can Help. You can read more and watch a second beautifully produced and performed poem titled Glints on our website.


Leeza joined us for 6 months as our Poet in Residence, contributing to our Peace Feasts and Listening Spaces. She continues to be involved in helping to facilitate difficult conversations.