1

The Harmony Day Welcome Board Project

Background

Harmony Day is celebrated on 21 March each year. It is a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home. The central message for Harmony Day is that ‘everyone belongs’. The Harmony Day Welcome Board Project was conceived to counteract the negative sentiment portrayed in the media about migrants and refugees, as well as to engage our community to come up with individual and colective ideas about how to make North Sydney more welcoming? It draws inspiration from projects undertaken by the artist Candy Chang and also Yoko Ono. See: http://candychang.com/projects/ (Post-it Notes for Neighbors, Neighborland, Before I Die, Confessions) and Yoko’s "My Mommy Is Beautiful" Exhibition See: http://www.core77.com/posts/26919/Of-the-Mom-ent-Yoko-Onos-My-Mommy-Is-Beautiful-at-Frieze-New-York

The Project To gather ideas from the community in the form of post-it notes put on 8 boards around the community which ask how do we make a more welcoming place for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds? Eight boards were produced in light-weight foam core measuring 2.4 x .85 metres which had the word WELCOME in large letters printed and also had the word welcome translated around the border of the board. Pre-printed post-it notes that people could write on had the following words:

I want to make our community more welcoming by……

I want….

The boards went up in February/ March at the following places: North Sydney Council North Sydney Community Centre St Leonards TAFE (Part of Northern Sydney Institute) Crows Nest Centre Planet X Youth Centre Monte St Angelo School The Stanton Library, The Coal Loader, Waverton North Sydney Council set up a Facebook Events page:

2

Information was also put on the Council’s webpage:

An explanation accompanied the boards with a brief background statement explaining Harmony

Day, the project and inviting people to contribute:

Partner organisation publicity

The partner organisations also did their own publicity. Northern Sydney Institute set up a Facebook

page as did the Coal Loader and North Sydney Community Centre. It was also promoted through the

Northern Sydney Institute by staff email, newsletters and intranet.

3

What did people write?

A number of the messages at the various sites were reviewed and can be classified into several themes, reflecting a cross-section of ideas and views. These could be broadly catergorised as: 1. Personal and thoughtful messages, 2. Suggestions for what the community can do and what services are needed, 3. Wider issues beyond the welcoming theme, and 4. Whimsical messages. Personal and thoughtful messages

4

What the community can do and what services are needed Three broad areas can be identified in this area: 1. Suggestions for events which brought people together in the spirit of harmony. Food and music

often featured in these suggestions.

Having more community events where everyone is welcome - Food, culture & music

Having a great multicultural festival (food, music, arts etc)

A “migrant festival” a day devoted to welcoming and celebrating cultural diversity Food music advertising community services and outreach

Peace Harmony and multicultural events in Northern Sydney

5

World music gigs

Evenings where people tell their “story” – bring a picnic

Having “bring a plate dinners” in community hall

Multicultural food festivals involving community gardens

Multicultural cooking classes

Creative art workshops & classes from other cultures

Having places to have more conversations about what is important in our community 2. Suggestions for services which address migrant and refugee issues:

By having books in different languages at Stanton

Migrant Resource Centres and Community Centres

To promote languages @ preschool and primary school level

My community to make new migrants feel welcomed and given a chance to thrive in their new country

Refugees and new migrants to access legal aid, education and work

Free English lessons

Services for people from specific communities, eg. China, Japan

Migrants to get a fair go

Celebrating & learning about all cultures as well as being respectful about everyones views and opinions and not discriminating because of it.

3. Other interesting suggestions for community involvement included:

Zumba

6

To encourage every household in my municiaplity to put a banner outside their home saying “Refugees are welcome here”.

Outdoor group exercise sessions as they do in Bangkok!

More parks to play in and have fun

Make sure Australia Day is truly multicultural. It should celebrate diversity. Wider issues beyond the welcoming theme

War to end – people are born equal

Gay Marriage

More accessible and better connected public transport

A sensory garden for the disabled

A spiritual group to share the love light.

All children to feel safe and secure.

Understanding the darkside of life and changing it. Whimsical

A big free jumping castle in St Leonards Park :)

Free parking

People to use their BRAINS!

I want to learn the perfect vegemite to bread ratio

I want to make our community more welcoming by putting fairy lights along the walls

I want to make our community more welcoming by offering lollies on arrival

7

Common themes

With the messages people posted, the greatest mention involved acknowledging culture, language

and diversity. The terms people used were being accepting of differences and diversity with a

strong sense of promoting equality, being equal, treating people without judgement, treating

people fairly, not stereotyping and engendering an environment which was happy, safe,

characterised by learning, peace and respect, as well as being free of discrimination and racism.

The positive terms people used were to want to help and to be friendly and loving. Celebration,

particularly of multiculturalism and diversity was a key suggestion and expressing it in terms of

festivals, food, music and the arts. There was also a strong social justice aspect with people

mentioning the treatment of refugees (particularly around detention) and the Aboriginal people.

Some of these social justice themes were widened to gender equality and the rights of other

marginalised groups such as the LGBTQI community and people with disabilities.

The top 100 ideas

The Harmony Day Welcome Project – Top 100 1. I want everyone to be seen and accepted as equals, a community where everyone

can stand up for themselves without fear, no matter what race, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation.

2. I want the world to be a place where no one is judged by how they look or their background but instead by who they are on the inside.

3. I want to make our community more welcoming to the culturally diverse by showing support for their entrance upon our country and the lives they get here. This can be done through learning their languages and ways of life.

4. I want to see the community more culturally diverse and together through cultural music, art and food festivals.

5. I want an openly diverse community that is equal and values each others beliefs 6. I want to make our community more welcoming by not judging others or judging by

looks or race. To be friendly, accepting, inclusive. 7. I want to see the community welcoming people of all nationalities and backgrounds 8. I want to make our community more welcoming by introducing new programs that

help people to settle in and feel welcome – fun activities to help them feel comfortable in a new environment; maybe set up community groups

9. I want to make our community more welcoming by participating in more events and festivals to create a larger bond between each and every person

10. I want the world to be a place of equality and peace so that people can live a better life

11. I want to make our community more welcoming by having welcome signs in many languages

12. I want to be learning in a happy and safe environment where I can trust others 13. I want to make our community more welcoming by having more community events

where everyone is welcome - Food, culture & music 14. I want to do more physical activity to encourage people to get out of their comfort

zone 15. I want to make those of different cultures/ ethnic groups to feel welcome, safe and

comfortable in Australia 16. I want everyone to be free and be able to be themselves

8

17. I want the white people of Australia to be more welcoming to the Aboriginal people. They created a life and culture here so why can’t we accept them?

18. I want people to treat people the way that they would like to be treated. 19. I want no racism or sexism towards anyone 20. I want to make our community a more warm and happy place so everyone feels

welcome. I also want everyone to have a proper home 21. I want to make our community more welcoming by letting refugees come to

Australia and protect them in times of need 22. I want to make our community more welcoming by not treating refugees so badly

and sending them to detention centres. We can be accepting of their cultural practises and beliefs and treat them respectfully

23. I want refugees and new migrants to access legal aid, education and work 24. I want to be able to encourage everyone to express themselves. It is so important

for everyone to feel safe with themselves 25. I want to see a community where everyone is equal by getting rid of stereotypes

and discrimination 26. I want everyone to be accepted for who they are no matter where they come from

and to be accepted into the Australian culture 27. I want the Australian people to be more considerate to the Aboriginal people and

try to close the gap 28. I want to make our community more welcoming by encouraging everyone to get

involved and feel more together within our society 29. I want to make our community more welcoming by welcoming everyone into our

community, no matter where they come from or what they look like 30. I want to make our community more welcoming by using technology to connect

with people around the world. Create a site where people can share their stories 31. I want everyone to be seen and accepted as equals, a community where everyone

can stand up for themselves without fear, no matter what race, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation.

32. I want to make our community more welcoming by celebrating days of language and culture as a community

33. I want to make our community more welcoming by respecting others and being friendly, accepting different cultures and religions, even though it’s different to mine.

34. I want to make our community more welcoming by offering free English lessons to those who can’t speak English

35. I want to make our community more welcoming by opening our hands and our hearts to those in need. Noticing other’s problems not just our own, putting other’s needs before our own.

36. I want to make our community more welcoming by spreading understanding and peace

37. I want to make our community more welcoming by being active and giving time to teach English and volunteer at the Asylum Seekers Centre

38. I want to make our community more welcoming by having more chances to sing together

39. I want to learn to say a few words in many languages and welcome everyone

9

40. I want to make our community more welcoming by educating all about our common origins and stop classifying by “where did you come from”

41. I want to make our community more welcoming by some interactive fun events through cultural experiences

42. I want workshops based on art, cooking, stories from other cultures 43. I want to learn to accept and love myself unconditionally so that I am able to do

that to everybody else and be welcoming!! 44. I want fairness and mutual respect for all 45. I want to embrace other cultures, languages and traditions and craftsmanship 46. I want to always have a public library 47. I want to say thank you for providing such wonderful facilities to the community! 48. I want prejudice to be a thing of the past 49. I want my community to make new migrants feel welcomed and given a chance to

thrive in their new country 50. I want to make our community more welcoming by opening our homes and

welcoming new people for a meal 51. I want to make our community more welcoming listening to what other people

have to say 52. I want to make our community more welcoming by encouraging hope and self

actualisation and self realisation 53. I want to make our community more welcoming by encouraging cultural awareness

and sensitivity 54. I want to make our community more welcoming by showing that you care for

another. You never know that one day you may need someone to care for yourself 55. I want to make our community more welcoming by encouraging peace within self

and amongst others 56. I want to make our community more welcoming by having books in different

languages @ Stanton 57. I want to make our community more welcoming by saying hello to people when I

am out for an early or late walk 58. I want to make our community more welcoming by supporting each other 59. I want to make our community more welcoming by listening to people’s problems 60. I want to make our community more welcoming by showing my support for people

from diverse backgrounds 61. I want story times for children (in Stanton Library) in different languages 62. I want to make our community more welcoming by showing kindness to all 63. I want to make our community more welcoming by respect for old and young, all

races, rich and poor 64. I want to make our community more welcoming by having world music gigs 65. I want to make our community more welcoming by having a Sydney Multicultural

Dance Festival. Each day a different culture presents dances and holds a mass crowd dance lesson.

66. I want to make our community more welcoming by establishing connections with those who feel unwelcome

67. I want multicultural food festivals involving community gardens 68. I want to make our community more welcoming by making sure Australia Day is

truly multicultural. It should celebrate diversity.

10

69. I want to make our community more welcoming by offering a helping hand 70. I want to make our community more welcoming by sharing prayer, food, music and

sharing differences 71. I want to make our community more welcoming by having places to have

conversations about what is important in our community 72. I want to make our community more welcoming by arranging a platform for

displaying folk dances from other cultures, ie. Greek, Indian, Middle Eastern, Italian, Scottish, English and so on

73. I want to make our community more welcoming by encouraging individuals to reach out and talk

74. I want to make our community more welcoming by baking a cake and taking it to my neighbours

75. I want to make our community more welcoming by being tolerant and accepting of differences

76. I want to make our community more welcoming by making the environment happy 77. I want to make our community more welcoming by being more curious and less

judgemental 78. I want to make our community more welcoming by supporting community

language schools 79. I want to make our community more welcoming by inviting people from different

backgrounds to come together and eat a meal! 80. I want to make our community more welcoming by enhancing the local community

outreach to the newly arrived migrants 81. I want to make our community more welcoming by offering community support for

ethnic community projects 82. I want to make our community more welcoming by providing skills for migrants to

find jobs 83. I want to make our community more welcoming by smiling and saying hello 84. I want to make our community more welcoming by involvement of different

cultures via recognition activities and respectful engagement. Develop a North Sydney Multicultural and Aboriginal News Sheet

85. I want to hug everyone! 86. I want to make our community more welcoming by not assuming I’m a foreigner

just because I’m brown 87. I want to see a mural in a public park which portrays all different cultures coming

together! 88. I want to make our community more welcoming by enjoying the different laughs 89. I want to promote languages @ preschool and primary school level 90. I want more talks/ presentations at the library or halls relating to diverse cultures 91. I want peace, harmony and multicultural events in Northern Sydney 92. want to make our community more welcoming by accepting and welcoming

everyone as equal human beings no matter where they are from, what they wear or how they look like

93. I want to be a volunteer of the community. I want to join with a woman’s group 94. I want to make our community more welcoming by gathering people from same

background in their neighbourhood

11

95. I want to make our community more welcoming by making interpreters in all languages easier to access

96. I want to make our community more welcoming by having a programme where local people open their homes to new migrants to help them adjust

97. I want to make our community more welcoming by sharing food culturally pertinent to their country. Many cultures good times are shared around food/ the table. Spread the love.

98. I want a community children's choir (for kids + adults) singing together crosses all cultures!!

99. I want a 'migrant festival'. A day devoted to welcoming & celebrating cultural diversity like food, music, advertising community services & outreach.

100. I want to make our community more welcoming by listening and honouring others

Publicity

The project received coverage in the local paper, in Monte Matters (school newsletter and on

Facebook.

12

In The Monte Matters (School Newsletter) - 1 April 2016 / Term 1, Week 10:

13

Conclusion

The welcome Board Project was an effective community engagement project on multicultural issues.

It was a mine of suggestions and ideas which can be reviewed and acted on. The participating

organisations gave very positive feedback and would be happy to collaborate again on Harmony Day

in 2017.