South West businesses are being urged to get behind a national campaign aiming to gain recognition for Bristol as the UK’s capital of civil rights.
The initiative will be launched next month at a civic summit to mark 60 years since the introduction of the Race Relations Act – a far-reaching piece of legislation passed as a direct result of the 1963 Bristol bus boycott.
Part of the city’s Talks4Change: Pioneers of Progress series, the landmark event will bring together more than 450 business, civic and community leaders for an evening of protest, progress and purpose.
Lord Paul Boateng
The event, staged on 11 November in the iconic Wills Memorial Building, is being spearheaded by city-based racial and social justice think tank Curiosity Un(Ltd) in partnership with the University of Bristol and supported by the new, combined Bristol Business Improvement District (BID), which is committed to fostering an inclusive and socially responsible business community in the city.
Coming at a time when conversations around race, leadership and civic responsibility have never been more urgent, the summit will position Bristol as a national blueprint for progress.
It will pay tribute to the late civil rights icon Paul Stephenson, who along with others led the bus boycott – the landmark civil rights movement that successfully overturned the Bristol Omnibus Company’s refusal to employ Black or Asian bus crews.
It will also feature a fireside keynote with Lord Paul Boateng, the UK’s first Black cabinet minister, in conversation with former Bristol Mayor Lord Marvin Rees, Europe’s first elected mayor of African heritage.
Lord Marvin Rees
Panels sessions will feature pioneers of the bus boycott and next-generation leaders including Mervyn Weir, the author of I Can’t Breathe, Darren Miller, founder of Black Business Initiative, Sado Jirde, CEO of Black South West Network, Marie-Annick Gournet, University of Bristol pro vice-chancellor, reparative & civic futures, and Black2Nature founder Mya-Rose Craig.
The summit is the latest milestone in the Bristol Bus Boycott 360 campaign – a nationally recognised initiative that has mobilised more than 90 public and private sector partners, including Arts Council England, Bauer Media, Bristol City Council, YTL, WECA and the University of Bristol, to co-create a city-wide blueprint for racial equity, civic leadership and legislative change.
Sado Jirde
Julz Davis, disruptor-in-chief at Curiosity Un(Ltd), said: “This moment calls for leadership with legacy in mind – collaboration that outlives campaigns and creates measurable, lasting change.
“We’re inviting the UK’s most visionary organisations to join us in shaping the next 100 years of civil rights – starting now.”
The event will officially launch Blueprint4Change – a new civic framework informed by more than 1,200 local voices – and an open invitation for businesses to shape, fund and future-proof a more inclusive Bristol.
The initiative will culminate in 2027, marking 100 years since the birth of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, with his son Dr Martin Luther King III expected to headline commemorations in the city.
Julz Davis
Other Summit highlights include a moving We:Memberance procession honouring the bus boycott pioneers, soul-stirring performances by the Renewal Choir, co-founded by the son of Bristol’s first black bus driver, and spoken word from Bristol poet laureate Sukina Noor.
The evening will also feature a powerful intergenerational panel uniting those who made history with those shaping the future, culminating in an inspirational keynote from some of the UK’s most influential political voices.
Steve Bluff, chief operating officer of Bristol BID, said: “This summit embodies Bristol’s ongoing legacy of activism and innovation.
“It’s not just about reflecting on the past – it’s about shaping the future of civic leadership. The conversations we start here have the power to influence how businesses, institutions and communities work together to build a fairer and more inclusive city.
“We believe the business community plays a vital role in driving that progress using our platforms, resources and networks to turn inspiration into action.
“Events like Talks4Change remind us that meaningful change starts with connection, collaboration and a shared commitment to equality.”
Opportunities for businesses include becoming an influencer partner or trailblazer, with meet and greets and continuous professional development (CPD) aligned programming.
Interested organisations can contact Julz@CuriosityUnLtd.com or visit www.CuriosityUnLtd.com for more information.
Tickets for the summit are priced at £20, with concession and pay-it-forward options – allowing corporates to cover the cost for community members to attend for free.
To register, visit the Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talks4change-pioneers-of-progress-tickets-1770878678799?aff=oddtdtcreator