Date: Thurs 11th June

Venue: All Soul’s Church Hall, Elmwood Avenue – a lovely space!

Time: 7.30-10.30pm

Question: We mythologize about our famous welcomes in this part of the world, but how much do we reach out to those who feel excluded?

The rationale of the evening arises from a desire to question our innate ability to welcome those of difference in our midst. Many are marginalised due to their ‘strangeness’, however there is an awareness that there is strangeness in each of us, and that in meeting ‘an-other’ we are potentially meeting a fellow angel.

The event will allow an opportunity for those with an interest in welcome to come together, share stories and discuss the difficulties of actually being welcoming in the city.

The range of table topics are extensive ranging from refugee, asylum and migrant stories to more historical host community issues such as disability rights, LGBT and homelessness and a table looking at the spiritualities that motivate us to welcome.

As before, the event will allow for a choice of two conversations, each lasting 30 mins, inclusive of time for questions and discussion. Each of the table hosts will come with their expertise to AKT as a resource and a source of inspiration, but the aim is to get as much input from the various voices around the table. Together we can motivate one another to make small changes that can make a huge difference.



AKTions

Since AKT seeks to move beyond talking and reflection towards AKTion, there will be opportunities to hear of how to get practically involved in an area of welcome in the city. One Hundred Thousand (ways to) Welcome falls during South Belfast Inclusion Festival and just before Refugee Week (beginning 15th June) thus we will be able to signpost those gathered towards a range of AKTions on those issues. We will also have opportunity on the evening itself to develop our own AKTions based on our particular passions for welcome.



Since it is all about WELCOME, do feel free to welcome yourselves along. There will be room at the table for all of us and our varied opinions.

Nibbles and Fair Trade wine available.



‘…go on, you will, you will, you will….’



Please do get in touch if you have any queries or if you would like to help out on the evening of the event.

emma.cowan@corrymeela.org

02890 508080