Migration Stories interactive digital map – online launch

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

A groundbreaking new website documenting migration
in and out of the North West of England is to be
officially launched online on 5 December.

Image representing four Manchester stories which will be on the Migration Stories interactive digital map

Join the #MigrationStories NW project teams for the online launch of the Migration Stories interactive digital map, documenting stories of individuals who have migrated in and out of our region from the Roman period to the 20th century. Hear from those involved in the project about what they discovered during their research and be among the first to get a glimpse of the map on the project website.

Monday 5th December 6.30-8pm.

Booking required at:
https://Migration-Stories-Digital-Map-Launch.eventbrite.co.uk

Continue reading →

Finalist for the Manchester Culture Awards

By | | , , ,
Leave a comment

Kooj Chuhan & Crossing Footprints: culture arts and climate justice work in Manchester 2022

A quick snapshot of work by Kooj Chuhan and Crossing Footprints showing brief excerpts of five creative projects dealing with climate justice. These were highlighted in Kooj’s nomination by Community Arts North West for the #ManchesterCultureAwards 2022 (sustainability category). Featuring collaborations with Manchester Art Gallery , Amani Creatives , Emmanuela Yogolelo, Manchester Histories and Ayna Arts.

Now Kooj is a finalist for the Manchester Culture Awards. Results are to be announced at the awards ceremony 24th Nov 2022.

Bangladesh Independence with Climate Connections

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Oldham Libraries and Crossing Footprints present an event which celebrates the final victory day for Bangladesh Independence along with a Climate Connections Women’s Group cultural presentation.

Bangladesh Independence Victory Day Celebration

বাংলাদেশের ৫১তম বিজয় দিবস উদযাপন

Artists for Bangladesh Independence with Climate Connections

featuring a programme by Ayna Arts and Climate Connections Women’s Group

জলবায়ু সংযোগ মহিলা গ্রুপ

at Northmoor Library, Wednesday 7th December 2022 4.30-6.30pm

With music and songs by Nuruzzaman Ahmed, Mitra Kabir and Luthfur Rahman

Discussion, poetry and drama by Ayna Arts

Continue reading →

Climate Connections Women’s Group in Oldham

By | | , ,
Leave a comment
Translation of title in Bengali - Climate Connections Women's Group at Northmoor Library

Climate Connections Women’s Group
at Northmoor Library

Every Monday 10am-12noon from 7th November 2022

Social media flyer for the activities - Climate Connections Women's Group at Northmoor Library

Education, Arts and Action against Climate Change

with Jesmin Chowdhury from Ayna Arts

  • Meet  other women
  • Learn about climate change
  • Use your skills
  • Improve your English
  • Make something creative and artistic
Some things we hope to support:
  • improve buses and transport
  • reduce air pollution
  • have less litter on our streets
  • help for Bangladesh
  • influence local officials

FREE – refreshments will be provided
Northmoor Library, Chadderton Way, Oldham OL9 6DH

Climate Connections Women’s Group at Northmoor Library is organised by Crossing Footprints in partnership with Hope For The Future, Ayna Arts and Oldham Libraries

Training to Fight Climate Change

By | | ,
Leave a comment

FREE TRAINING TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
CAN THE FUTURE FOR BANGLADESH, THE UK AND THE WORLD BE BETTER?

at Northmoor Library, Chadderton Way, Oldham OL9 6DH.

Monday 3rd October, 12-2pm:
THE PROBLEM WE FACE
by Kooj Chuhan
• Understanding Climate Change
• How does it affect Bangladesh and the UK?
• What we can do about it?

Monday 10th October, 12-2pm:
LOCAL ACTION
by Arran Rangi
• Can we push our Council to do more to fight Climate Change?
• What are they doing already?
• What more should they do?

All welcome, lunch provided!
If you know people who live in the area please pass on this training to fight climate change or tell them about it.
Organised by Oldham Libraries in partnership with Crossing Footprints and Hope For The Future,with support from the Community Fund (National Lottery).

Climate Connections Community Festival at Northmoor Library

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

It’s finally here, the Climate Connections Community Festival is happening outdoors at the back of Northmoor Library, Oldham on Saturday 24th Sept 2022, 12 noon – 3pm. Also coming up, free training to better understand and fight climate change on 3rd and 10th October.

Climate Connections Community Festival at Northmoor Library - banner image

So much is and has been happening due to climate change in Bangladesh over the years but so few know about it. There’s so much to say that needs to be out there and much louder than it is. Crossing Footprints are pleased to have co-developed and be supporting this Saturday’s Festival at Northmoor Library Oldham a great event with songs, stories and craftivism connecting with the Climate Emergency and a strong Bangladeshi viewpoint from some amazing artists. If you’re anywhere nearby come on down, and pass the word on.

Climate Connections Community Festival at Northmoor Library - Kayes and Ahad singing

What’s on at the Climate Connections Community Festival?

The event features Ahad Ullah Shah and Kayes Muktadir singing Bangla songs about climate change co-written with Murad Chowdhury who will also give some musical support. Then there is Apu Chowdhury from Ayna Arts who will deliver some storytelling and drama, and will also be the MC for the day. Also we have the amazing visual and craft climate activist Rabia Begum running a craftivism workshop. The local street will be closed off to be a play street so families and kids can bring their outdoor toys to play with.

Continue reading →

Climate Justice at Manchester Histories Festival!

By | | , , , ,
Leave a comment

Crossing Footprints has developed a set of events focusing on Climate Justice at Manchester Histories Festival 8-12 June 2022. This year’s theme for the Festival is the history of climate change, for which Manchester has played a pivotal role as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

Climate Change is a Race and Migration Is for Climate Justice at Manchester Histories Festival 2022
photo credit: Joe Brusky

We’ve organised four events in solidarity with low income and racially marginalised communities, including a panel discussion ‘Climate Change is a Race and Migration Issue‘ followed by a powerful Bangladeshi theatre piece ‘GHOORNI‘ by Ayna Arts, both at Manchester Central Library on Friday 10th June from 6pm. Then on Saturday 11th June at 6.15pm the singer-songwriter Emmanuela Yogolelo from DR Congo will perform a music set focused on Climate Justice at Angel Meadow. Finally, throughout the Festival the ‘Climate Connections‘ set of short video films made mostly by low income and diverse communities in Oldham responding to climate change will be exhibited on a screen at Oldham Art Gallery, with an informal talk by project director Kooj Chuhan at 1pm, Saturday 11th June.

Video still from video by Emmanuela Yogolelo for Climate Justice at Manchester Histories Festival

More details about our events for Climate Justice at Manchester Histories Festival below:

Continue reading →

Migration Stories refocuses North West history

By | | ,
2 Comments

An Invitation to Get Involved!

Would you like to research the story of someone who migrated any time from ancient history to WWII in North West England? The Migration Stories project will provide training, good support and expenses, it’ll get started in early May 2022 and grow gently over a few months.

Image header for the Greater Manchester section of Migration Stories North West

The project’s called Migration Stories North West https://migrationstoriesnw.uk , it’s headed by Global Link https://globallink.org.uk/ based in Lancaster, and is a partnership with four other organisations across the North West out of which Crossing Footprints is the one covering the wider Manchester region.

This is a 3 year project unearthing histories of migration in the North West from ancient times to the present day, which will re-frame migration as something that has been fundamental to the UK for a very long time. In this first year Crossing Footprints will be recruiting 8-15 voluntary community researchers to each explore local archives to find individual stories, at least one per volunteer, possibly more if time allows and there’s enough material. Manchester-based author Mickela Sonola will initially be working alongside our director Kooj Chuhan to run this project, and we are honoured to have local historian Washington Alcott as a community research associate for Migration Stories North West.

Continue reading →

Viva Declaration! live in Morecambe 18th June

By | | , , ,
Leave a comment

Viva Declaration! uses global jazz music with live mixed video to evocatively place human rights as fundamental principles able to lever movements against structural racism and global inequality, both of which have become highlighted during the pandemic era and which underpin issues of migrant justice.  Created and performed by film and digital media artist Kooj Chuhan and multi-instrumentalist composer Tagné Tebu, with guest musician the saxophonist-flautist Helena Summerfield. Viva Declaration! live in Morecambe focuses on the story of migration from ancient history to the present day. Plus a Q+A after the show with the artists and Gisela Renolds and Zia Khan from Global Link.

Continue reading →

Making Climate Connections

By | | , , ,
Leave a comment

Can words, pictures and social media empower people to protect our environment?
A project exploring some ways in which local libraries, communities and artists in Oldham and Bremen are making climate connections using educative methods and creative media.

Making Climate Connections

An online event Weds 19th May, 6.30pm (UK) / 7.30pm (Germany)

Register your place
  • Announcing the winning entries from the Climate Connections competition
  • Presenting the work produced by diverse groups in Oldham (UK) and Bremen (Germany) in the first phase of the Climate Connections project

How do local people relate to and voice their feelings about climate change? Can this expression combine with social media to have some impact on climate change? This event brings together artists, activists, libraries and community members to explore these questions. If you are interested in communities and climate change, also the arts and social media, then this informal sharing event is for you.

Continue reading →