Cork Equal and Sustainable Communities Alliance (CESCA) is an alliance of eighteen diverse community and voluntary organisations working in Cork city. We work in partnership with and are supported by the HSE Social Inclusion Services in Cork and work closely with the HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare Service.

The theme of the annual CESCA Equality Day this year is Equality in a time of Covid.

We know that Covid -19 has had a significant impact on marginalised communities in Cork city and has brought into focus the role of the community and voluntary sector. Evidence from many countries is beginning to show that Covid 19 has had a far greater physical, mental and economic impact on deprived communities than the rest of society.

Positively we also observed the tremendous effort from the community and voluntary sector in responding to the needs of our most marginalised members of society during the Covid-19 crisis. But this has not come without its challenges.

As the country moves onto the next stages of managing Covid-19 we want to take this opportunity to pause and reflect on the year that was 2020. Together with a panel of expert speakers, we will reflect on what the crisis has meant for the communities we support, to question what it has meant for participatory democracy and equality and to also consider the role the community and voluntary sector now and in the future

Agenda

10am -10:10 am Introduction to CESCA and our theme for this year Lord Mayor of Cork City Cllr Joe Kavanagh and Brian Kelleher, Manager, NICHE Health Project and Co-chair of CESCA

10:10 am- 10:40 am Reflections from CESCA members on the impact of Covid 19 on marginalised communities Fiona Finn, NASC The Refugee and Migrant Rights Centre, Breda 0' Donoghue, Cork Traveller Visibility Group and Mary Crilly Sexual Violence Centre Cork Chair: Tian Herbert, Coordinator, Shine Resource Centre Cork,

10:40-11:25am Participatory Democracy, Equality and Covid-19 Dr Sean Healy, CEO Social Justice Ireland Independent Senator Lynn Ruane Chair: Siobhan O Dowd, Ballyphehane Togher CDP

11:25am- 11:35am Tea Break

11:35 am- 12:40 pm Panel Discussion: The equality and social justice issues of greatest concern in 2020 and what can be done to address these in 2021 and beyond. Professor Kathleen Lynch, UCD, Ivan Cooper, The Wheel, Paul Ginnell, Director, European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland Doireann Ansbro, Senior Research and Policy Officer, Irish Council for Civil Liberties Chair: Jim Sheehan, Director, Social and Health Education Project (SHEP)

12:40-12:45- Close Brian Kelleher Co Chair CESCA