LEEDS AWARE
Our first aim is to promote an awareness of the values of equality and peace. This page follows from that aim. It is for words and images which give an idea of where we stand on some of the great issues of our time. The photograph is of Mandela Gardens in front of the Civic Hall in Leeds.
Chair of Leeds Peace Poetry Rehana Minhas writes:
Black Lives Matter global movement began in response to the brutal death of George Floyd at the hands of the American police in 2020. BLM had a tremendous response in Leeds and across the nation. It led to the debate for the need to decolonise education in all institutions and to reframe history. This requires developing a narrative which challenges racism, inequality and injustices, which we support. From the 70s onwards, many of us in education were involved in anti-racist struggles, when we spoke of an anti-racist curriculum and making visible forgotten histories. This work needs to continue.
We are disturbed by news about climate change and global warming, of the tragic circumstances of war-torn countries, and of refugees fleeing for safety, many losing their lives in the process. We support a safe passage for refugees seeking asylum which the recent Illegal Migration Act denies. We are glad that Leeds is a City of Sanctuary - part of a national movement to build a culture of welcome for people seeking sanctuary in the UK.
Leeds Councillor Jane Dawson writes:
Leeds Peace Poetry is a highly respected biannual competition which is local, national and international. The ethos of peace serves as a guiding principle which supports values of equality and social justice through the encouragement of poetry as a medium for creative engagement with major world issues by children and adults.
Liverpool Heartbeat
In October 2024, Robin Baynes MBE (founder of Liverpool Heartbeat) with two others cycled from Liverpool Town Hall to Leeds Town Hall (about 127 miles) to raise funds for their charity. They were met in Leeds by Rehana Minhas.
Some of the winning poems from the Secondary section were read out for a video made during stops on the canal towpath. We are looking forward to more collaborations like this!
Read this write-up!
