On Tuesday 7th May we held a beautiful, inspiring event for the launch of our “Creative Pathways to Participation” book and film. The launch event was about celebrating the rich creative outputs contained within the project and, together, showcasing how it supports the goal to “Leave No One Behind”. Read and download the entire book, as well as each individual contribution, here.
We held the project in Trinity College, with MC generously provided by Professor Dr Joe Whelan.
The launch was held in a lecture theatre in the School of Midwifery and Nursing outside the main Trinity College Campus. Joe opened the event taking time to mention our venue change due to the student encampment in protest against Trinity’s financial investments in Israeli companies and links to Israeli institutions. He expressed our solidarity with the Trinity students (who have now reached an agreement with the college) and to the Palestinian people. He spoke about the creative process as an important mode of inclusion. “Arts‐based creative methodologies can help to make the research and policy‐making process accessible and meaningful for participants … Creative methods allow those who might otherwise appear voiceless to add their voice, to be valued, seen, heard, recognised and to offer perspective which enriches understanding”.
The project would not be possible without the support of Coalition 2030 who funded the project and we were delighted to have Meaghan Carmody, the co- Ordinator, say a few words. Coalition 2030 are a network of organisations working together to see Ireland reach the Sustainable Development Goals. “The SDGs are a global roadmap to address interconnected challenges and help us eradicate poverty, meet universal needs, tackle inequality and operate within planetary boundaries”. Our creative pathways project aimed to both promote and tangibly progress the SDG’s. Meaghan spoke about the Leave No One Behind promise which is central to the SDG’s and how Ireland is clearly not abiding by this. She described ATD’s work as ‘vital’- meaning ‘of life’. Paying attention to lived experience and real human stories are integral to progressing social change movements.
Next to speak was Martin Byrne who for many years has done important work in bringing together stories of those living in Dublin’s North Wall. Martin spoke about the significance of our filming locations and why poetry of struggling communities is so important. “It is poetry (song, dance or story) that gives meaning, hope and direction to our lives. Each of us is a ‘homo poeta’, a meaning-maker, employing a variety of creative expressions”.
Martin says “I associate Sandymount Strand with that James Joyce story of his epiphany where his eyes were opened. The artists in this book didn’t need Sandymount Strand they had a vision- they were up and running they were activists”.
We then showed the Creative Pathways film.
After a break, we gave some time to the poems and stories from the artists themselves, from ATD Ireland we heard from Tash and Gloria who shared touching stories about family and home. Siphiwe from Misean Cara shared a poem from a young person involved in the Three2Six poetry project. Ellen recited her poem ‘Economic and Social Inclusion in Ireland’, and Marian read a meaningful story. Christina shared a beautiful poem about old ATD team member Ciara and Jimmy finished things off with an epic rap performance.
We then took some comments from the audience. Creative Pathways contributor, Matt Talbot Community Trust member and ATD Community Michael spoke about the importance of “love, hope and community”- many of the concepts which are central to several of the creative expressions we heard. He also spoke a little on his fitness, which he wrote about for the book, and offered to coach those who may be looking to get into training. ATD member and poet Paul spoke discussed how the book “is a celebration of the activists using their voice”. He took note of the global contributions of the book, describing how many of the themes tackled such as “discrimination, disadvantage and lack of opportunity are common themes across Europe and the world”.
ATD Ireland member and poet Terence spoke about in the past in Ireland, you were encouraged to “be quiet, say nothing”- what this project represents- it’s time to “say something”. Nessan describes how what we heard today, “Informed us, enriched us and challenged us”.
Finally, Sr Bernadette came to the stage to formally launch the project. She says, “We experienced today our shared humanity”. She spoke on the plight of children caused by war in Palestine, and challenged us to not become desensitized to war and human rights violations happening across the war but similarly not to become desensitised to the extreme poverty which exists on our doorstep in Ireland. She says the ‘Creative Pathways to Participation’ book and film gives us new insights into the reality of poverty and how to get out of it.
Thank you so much to everyone who came and contributed to the ‘Creative Pathways to Participation’ launch event last Tuesday. We wish to deeply thank all the artists, writers and contributors featured in the project who bravely share their words, stories, insights and art. Thank you especially to the ATD Ireland Community Activists, to Doras Bui, Misean Cara and three2six, Matt Talbot Community Trust and Zero Waste Alliance Ireland. We hope that they are all so proud of this project and that is widely heard, felt and understood.
