'Community as a Superpower' Refugee Week event in Portlaoise

Nurturing integration in Laois is the aim of Laois Refugee Week which features a centrepiece event in Portlaoise that aims to help local communities advance integration. 

Laois Integration Network (LIN) and Laois County Council's Laois Local Authority Integration Team are organising a joint initiative this year on Tuesday, June 17, exploring themes of welcome and inclusivity and how to build inclusive communities in Laois.

The organisers say there will be two free sessions as part of the ‘Community as a Superpower’ seminar. Both are being held in Portlaoise Parish Centre.

The first session is called ‘Building the Welcome’ and is on from 1.30pm to 4pm and the second is on from 5pm to 6.30pm and is called ‘Building an Inclusive Vision for Laois Workshop’. It aims to showcase best practices in integration and will include keynote speaker, Teresa Buczkowska, CEO, Immigrant Council of Ireland.

Tickets can be booked on this link: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1384299881209?aff=oddtdtcreator

The second seminar called ‘Building an Inclusive Vision for Laois – Workshop’ runs from 5pm - 6.30pm and will be facilitated by Niamh McDonald the Hope & Courage Collective which works to stop hate organising in our communities and workplaces.

The Collective's interactive workshop will focus on the practical aspects of inclusive community organising. This seminar will include a short movie screening of the Laois community response welcoming Ukrainian Refugees in Stradbally in 2023.

The free tickets for this event can be booked on this link: https://Building-an-inclusive-Vision-for-Laois-workshop.eventbrite.ie

Carmel McNicholl is Acting Director of Service, Community and Integration, Climate and Environment at Laois County Council.

"Laois is a county that welcomes new arrivals, and we are delighted to be able to celebrate the hard work of various organisations and communities that make this welcome possible," she said.

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Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. The LAIT team (Laois Local Authority Integration Team) in collaboration with various council departments and community organisations, have arranged a variety of events to mark the week.

Laois events are organised by Laois County Council Integration Supports and Laois Community Integration Forum. This event is part of Laois Refugee Week (13 – 22 June). See the full programme here: https://shorturl.at/hQzFq