North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood will this evening host an ‘Let us Integrate Through Music and Art’ event in the Assembly put on by NWAMI, ‘North Wales Association for Multicultural Integration’, and Cwmbran based KIRAN, ‘Knowledge based Intercommunity Relationship and Awareness Network’.
The event is aimed at removing barriers that keep people apart and promoting the mutual understanding which brings everyone together.
Speaking at the event, Mr Isherwood said:
“As the Honorary President of NWAMI, may I thank our Honorary Vice President, Clive Wolfendale, for bringing these two organisations together.
“As the Chair of NWAMI, Dr Sibani Roy, states, NWAMI is dedicated to building up a cohesive community and integrated society in Wales in the 21st century, and to achieving this by promoting an understanding and respect of this country’s diverse cultures through cultural engagement and interaction, education and training – organizing cultural performances in music, dance and other art forms, as well as activities including speaker sessions and workshops”.
“Trevor Phillips, former Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, stated in 2015 that “multiculturalism in the UK has become a ‘racket’ which discourages proper integration”.
“But years before that it was Sibani’s vision to bring the two – multiculturalism and integration – together, which led to her establishment of the North Wales Association for Multicultural Integration – NWAMI- seven years ago.
“As I have said many times, this is about celebrating our glorious diversity together.
He added:
“As the Chair of KIRAN, Mrs Tamasree Mukhopadhyay, states, KIRAN was born out of the necessity to have an engaged community where members have knowledge of different socio-cultural backgrounds.
They are reaching out to people in Wales and England, creating a network of supporters, fostering discussion about Integration and the relevance of integration in today's multicultural society, and working to tackle ignorance and welcome all communities together on the basis of relevant knowledge.
They aim to advance education and raise awareness about different racial groups and different social and cultural settings, promote knowledge and mutual understanding between different racial groups, and generate activities to foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds – with the objective of encouraging acceptance of social diversities and facilitating meaningful engagement between members from different communities.
“Whilst NWAMI and KIRAN are each autonomous organisations with their own approaches, they are also sister organisations sharing common goals, planting seeds intended to germinate in communities across our land.
“The reason why NWAMI and KIRAN are holding this event is to create awareness and highlight the importance of acceptance in this socio cultural society, by tackling the barriers that keep people apart and promoting the mutual understanding which brings us all together.”