Saturday Heritage Fairs: A New Way To Get Communities Talking

By John Coster: Saturday Heritage Fairs provide a meeting point for individuals and community groups in the early stages of developing a heritage collection and those looking to grow an existing collection; to display what they have, seek feedback, find volunteers and people able to support them develop their heritage collection. It’s become obvious to me …

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Reportage Club: Marta Szczesniak

On Wednesday 8th May 2024, the Parallel Lives Network hosted a Reportage Club event with documentary photographer, Marta Szczesniak @martaszczesniak_photography John Coster, Founder of the Parallel Lives Network was in-conversation with Marta about her photography and a recent trip to Thailand where she captured images of the street children. Venue: Orso Coffee Shop

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Documentary Screening: Ukraine 2024 & Spain 1936

On Tuesday 16th April, The Parallel Lives Network and Documentary Media Centre showcased, in conjunction with the DMU Media Discourse Centre, the FREE screening of two documentary films with Q&As, as follows: 18:00 ‘When We Come Back’ – on the War in Ukraine and the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Leicester, UK (38 mins). 19:00 ‘Herencias de ‘36’ (The …

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Book Launch: Cold Coffee in Asmara

By John Coster The last 12 months have seen many developments at the Documentary Media Centre that hosts the Parallel Lives Network. We’ve started a Series of heritage events called Saturday Heritage Fairs and we’ve integrated the Parallel Lives Network into them by hosting international-focused heritage projects based locally in Leicester. This has seen our …

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Day 10 #16DaysOfActivism 2023

Join us for #16DaysOfActivism from across the Parallel Lives Network. I’ll be interviewing network members about their particular take on activism and what it means to their cause. The programme runs from Saturday 25th November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – through to Human Rights Day on Sunday 10th December. On Day 10 …

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PAVE Conference 2023

We hope you enjoyed the 2023 PAVE Conference on Wednesday 1st November at De Montfort University. If you are reading this then you took the time to speak with us on our stand – thank you! Next steps If you wish to take up a volunteering role with the Parallel Lives Network please go to our …

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The Mediation of Sustainability Conference, Indonesia

Today, Wednesday 7th June, I was delighted to join The Mediation of Sustainability Conference, in Indonesia via Zoom. It is always good to participate in events specifically created to engage a wide range of students from several countries around the SDGs. It is the 5th International SDG Film Festival, focusing on sustainability issues in collaboration …

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Day 16 #16DaysOfActivism

Welcome to Day 16 of #16DaysOfActivism from across the Parallel Lives Network. We’ve reached Day 16 and the final day for our event using the #16DaysOfActivism hashtag. What better day to end it ….10th December….the annual Human Rights Day. It’s been interesting seeing the many NGOs globally who have taken up the opportunity to promote …

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Day 14 #16DaysOfActivism

Welcome to Day 14 of #16DaysOfActivism from across the Parallel Lives Network. Interview with Julian Harrison discussing mental health activism and what that means to him as an expert in equality & diversity. Julian and I have been friends for 15 + years and during that time I’ve always found him very open when discussing …

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Day 13 #16DaysOfActivism

Welcome to Day 13 of #16DaysOfActivism from across the Parallel Lives Network. Interview with Gerhard Haas on the subject of Climate Activism. I’ve been lucky to host several events with Gerhard over the last few years and certainly consider him a proactive climate activist due to his engagement in the subject globally via Twitter. We …

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