Family Resource Centres to host conference on community integration in Athlone
Representatives from Family Resource Centres (FRCs) are hosting a national conference at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone tomorrow, Tuesday, November 12.
The meeting will discus ways to promote integration, inclusion and interculturalism within communities.
The conference will feature roundtable discussions, presentations of best practices and expert speakers exploring the theme ‘Inclusive Communities and Intercultural Practice: A Community Development Approach to Interculturalism through the National FRC Programme’.
Speakers at the event will include Niamh McDonald, Director of the Hope and Courage Collective; Dr Ebun Joseph, Nigerian-Irish lecturer and Special Rapporteur for the National Plan Against Racism (NAPAR); Anastasia Crickley, All Ireland Endorsement Body for Community Work, Education & Training (AIEB); Martin Collins, Director of Pavee Point; and Michael Darragh MacAuley, CEO of Sanctuary Runners and former Dublin footballer.
Commenting in advance of the conference, Fergal Landy, CEO of Family Resource Centres National Forum said: “Family Resource Centres are at the heart of the community and have been instrumental in supporting those who have come and made their lives in local communities around Ireland. It’s important that we share the learnings and best practices from what we’ve achieved so far.
“We’re also mindful of the challenging times we operate in, with extreme efforts from some to divide us and to stoke racial tensions within communities. At the same time, many of our communities are struggling with intergenerational poverty and inequality without access to housing or proper public services in areas like health, including mental health, disability, and education.
"Against this backdrop, it’s vital that real community development, through FRCs and similar community work settings, is adequately and sustainable resourced so that we can build communities that are inclusive and welcoming for everyone.”
Further information on the FRCNF is available here: www.familyresource.ie