ACEA Prepares to 'Stand Together' with Youthworkers for 7th Annual Conference

To mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade act, the African & Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) has announced that it will hold its 7th Annual Conference at the Next Generation Music and Mission (ngm) complex in Bristol.

The event, entitled 'Y-space: Standing Together with Young People', will act as ACEA's 7th 'Serve Them Right!' Conference for youthworkers in Black-majority communities.

Taking place on 22 September 2007, ACEA's flagship event hopes to give 100 national, regional and local youthworkers, plus 20-25 young people, the opportunity to explore a range of issues affecting Black young people in the UK.

The findings of the Home Affairs Committee's report into the over-representation of Black young people in the criminal justice system, ACEA has said, will set the stage for some engaging debate and challenging discussions.

Speakers will include Superintendent Leroy Logan (Metropolitan Police, Hackney) and Rev Nancy Odunewu, former Diversity Executive Officer with the Methodist Church and mother of 19-year old Emmanuel who was stabbed to death in Lewisham in November 2006.

They and other speakers will pose the questions: "Do you understand the issues affecting Black young people in the UK?" and "Can you stand with them in their space?"

Constantia Pennie, Chair of ACEA's Children and Youth Commission, said: "Y-space" is an acknowledgement that for a lot of their time our children and young people connect with each other in a virtual reality.

"That is where they feel confident to share and express their concerns, aspirations and fears. 200 years ago slaves also created a 'virtual reality' where they made up songs and told stories about their home as their way to maintain their connection with family, friends and community."

She continued: "Two recent reports from the Government highlight the need to take positive action to develop a long term strategy that challenges the institutional structures that work against, particularly Black boys achieving their potential.

"We recognise that one way to achieve this would be to provide more positive Black role models in business, education, and government who can act as mentors and motivators."

ACEA has explained that 'Y-space' is hoping to provide a "not-to-be-missed opportunity" for youthworkers to "boot up, get online and download practical tools and tips for effective youthwork".

At the event there will be guidance on current legislation and child protection, as well as the opportunity to refresh ideas for youthwork by logging into seminars and browsing the select exhibitions.

I.P.O.D Interactive is the young people's programme which will run alongside the youthworker's programme, and will give 20-25 young people the opportunity to explore the place of the music, dance and drama in Black history.

"Not only will they have access to leading professionals in this field, they will have a unique opportunity to perform and record their own composition at ngm's state-of-the-art facilities," ACEA has reported to Christian Today.

Rev Katei Kirby, CEO of ACEA said: "The bicentenary is a key opportunity for people of African and Caribbean descent to explore our history, heritage and legacy of the slave trade. Some of it is painful to process and difficult to disseminate, but our hope is that this conference will give those working with Black young people a space to engage with some of the legacies of the slave trade, and find positive ways to engage with the 'now' generation, particularly those who feel disenfranchised and marginalised".