What

This conference aims to shine a light on pioneering initiatives and policies emerging from Flanders and municipalities across Europe in fostering diversity and enhancing social cohesion. The panel and parallel sessions with experts, mayors and local government leaders will provide participants with new insights and ideas on local diversity governance.

The topics for the panels are:

• Local governments: leading the charge for diversity policy
• Addressing polarisation in diverse cities
• Building diverse and inclusive cities: the role of architecture

Through the course of the day, participants can enjoy the exhibition “Urban renewal is human work”. Other topics in the parallel sessions include:

• City-to-city mentoring
• Inclusive communication in diversity
• Bystander training
• “Plan Living Together”: supporting local efforts towards inclusion and diversity
• Language acquisition outside the classroom – good practices of non-formal adult learning
• Mentoring for labour market integration, lifelong learning, and stronger connections - Inspiration from practitioners
• Beyond paper: the “Fellow Citizen” Project on diversity in city organisations
• Empowering newcomers through social integration and networking initiatives
• Introduction to the Collective Impact Model

Participants can also broaden their views during site visits and guided tours through the City of Mechelen.

When

19 April 2024 (8:15-17:10).

Where

In Mechelen, Belgium.

More information

The draft programme is attached below.

If you wish to attend the conference, please register here.

If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to send an email to Tom.Debruyn@vlaanderen.be.