The Diversity Caravan is an Organizing Against Racism and Hatred Network project for the summer of 2011, and will be at the Canada Day Celebration in Courtenay in Lewis Park this Friday.
The caravan has been created to help inspire diverse people to work together to create a compassionate and safe community, where we can develop skills to counter homophobia, racism and hate, where everyone feels they belong all in a fun, innovative and educational way.
The caravan is friendly to all ages and will travel to Campbell River, Comox Valley, Duncan/Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo/Central Island, Powell River, Port Alberni and the Lower Sunshine Coast.
Working with local partners along the way, the Caravan offers diversity education booths, festivals and events, creative arts-based activities and introductory skill-building workshops. Threading all these communities together, a summer song and spoken word poetry contest will be held with a big prize.
Applicants will submit an original song or spoken word poem on the theme of “Imagining a world without hate.” Finalists will then join together with others Aug. 27 in the Comox Valley for a wrapup recording event and celebration.
For more information contact Dallas or Somae at diversitycaravan@gmail.com.
Dates to watch for: July 1 at the Canada Day Celebration in Courtenay and Aug. 1 at the Comox Nautical Days in Marina Park.
This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
— Organizing Against Racism and Hatred Network