Diversity 2.0
Date: 20 January 2010
On the anniversary of Obama's inauguration delegates from France and the UK 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.
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. 
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.
