Community conference 22 September
 
Hackney Unites is organising a ‘community conference’ on Saturday 22 September to celebrate Hackney, to explore issues of common concern, and to bring groups and individuals in the borough with similar concerns together. The event builds on a similar event held in 2010, but will have a real focus on learning in its broadest sense: learning as a way of changing our lives, learning about our rights (and how to assert them), and learning skills for campaigning. The event is going to be unique, and we still don’t have a formal title.
 
However we do have a venue: the City Edge, and a time from 1pm to 5pm.
 
We have booked the main meeting room, plus four breakout/workshop rooms. Currently there will be eight breakout sessions of 1 hour 15 minutes each (four will run in parallel followed by another four), but we are hoping other groups in the community will want to contribute to the event, so if you do let us know.
 
To date scheduled sessions include:

• Organising a public transport users group for Hackney                                           
• Community organising: what it is and what it can do
• Unemployed in Hackney: organising and community learning
• Migrants and refugees in a borough of sanctuary
• Private sector housing tenants forum
• A future that works (the TUC protest against austerity)                            
• Youth and policing (know your rights)
• A forum on the environment             

Partner organisations already committed to participate include the Hackney Law Centre and the Borough of Sanctuary organisation (and more to be announced).
 
There is still time for your community group to get involved. If your group wants to contribute to any of the above sessions, or if you want to contribute a whole new session, then let us know.
 
It is going to be a fun and informative day so, if your group wants to co-ordinate an additional session, provide an information stall or help in any other way, then please visithttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XZK3VGQ, or just reply to this email.

Hackney Unites is a coalition for social justice, please cascade this email on and publicise its contents. If you are not already on our mailing list, you can sign up on-line (http://eepurl.com/bPJDH)  to receive regular updates.
 
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Many thanks
 
John Page


Secretary
Hackney Unites