Our Latest News

Diversity 2.0

Wednesday 20 January

 

On the anniversary of Obama's inauguration French and British have met to get to work on some of the big issues facing our societies: How can we create opportunities in employment for ethnic minority youth? How can we open up access to higher education and training? And who are our role models? 

Our meeting broke the usual FBC seminar mould. We took over a set of historic rooms in Somerset House and made them our own for the day.  Young people 'broke the ice' with their neighbours from across the Channel on the Somerset House ice rink and then had their say - future leaders from diverse backgrounds who we identified through organisations like the Prince's Trust and Young Foundation.

The Chairs of the event were Clive Myrie and  as Jacques Martial shown above.  Keynote speeches were given by Yazid Sabeg, President Sarkozy's Commissioner for Diversity and Equal Opportunities and Shahid Malik, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government shown below. Trevor Philips, Oona King, and Shami Chakrabarti were amongst other British participants.  For a list of French participants click here.

skaters

There were few speeches. This day was more about debating the issues and generating new ideas. In a series of informal breakout rooms people were free to speak and debate. lunch

The event isn't over as it continues on line.  Click on the link to our special Diversity 2.0 website http://fbcdiversity.ning.com/ and join the on-line debate or just throw an idea into the mix.  We want to hear from people who believe they have a positive or inspiring story to tell, or who think they may be a future leader. A year after the first black president of the United States was sworn in we're hoping to make a little bit of history of our own.

Click here to listen to the speechesYazid SabegMalik

Other Recent Seminars

Media Revolution: Liberation or Bankruptcy?, Friday 13 November

Britain, France and Defence, Thursday 15 October

More information about future seminars…

Members in the newsStephen Wall on the Today programme on Tory EU stance

Bonnie Greer appears with BNP on Question Time 

Speech by Adair Turner, Chairman, FSA, delivered at the British Embassy, Paris on 30th November 2009.

Recent report on Defence

Visit us on Facebook