With the backing of York City Council, Our City Hub — a service based out of Explore Libraries — are championing inclusivity by bringing together all of York’s diverse groups and communities, fostering equality throughout the city. The Festival will take place on the 9th of September with a packed catalogue of events running from 11:30am until 3:30pm at the prestigious York Explore Library & Lawn.
The activities include a stage for engaging theatre pieces, a workshop designed to encourage creative fun, and ‘Our City Sessions,’ a dedicated space for stimulating talks— providing a safe environment for discussions.
The festival will serve as a platform for greater open-mindedness and understanding among communities and cultures — above all else it aspires to create an environment where hate crime reporting is increased, to help all of York’s residents feel safer on our streets.
Cllr Katie Lomas, Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects and Equalities at City of York Council:
“This very welcome festival aligns with our ambition to extend and improve equality in York and we’re delighted to give it Council support. We also back its ambition to ensure that everyone feels able to report hate crime and that it stops. This looks to be a great day so do go along and lend your support!”
It’s not just the council who are backing up the movement — the festival has intersectional support from a range of charities and movements including York City of Sanctuary, Time To Be Out and the York Chinese Association. The plan is to make every section of York’s community feel welcomed and included, as Irina Grigore, one of Our City Hub’s Volunteer Coordinator explains: “Working with people from different backgrounds not only gives the fulfilment of being able to offer support to your peers, but also knowledge of how much the migrants have strengthened and enhanced the community. And there is no better way for us to exhibit this, more than Our City Festival.”
For more more information head over to www.ourcityfestival.com where you’ll find a full timetable of events.
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