Taking it to the streets

Over 250 public conversations have been held in multiple Montreal neighbourhoods – drawing thousands of participants – since Concordia launched its University of the Streets Café series in May 2003.

Organized by the Concordia Institute for Community Development and inspired by popular education, lifelong learning and community development, these public discussions provide a unique opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to meet and share their perspectives on a range of topics.

While cafés are the usual venue for each conversation, past sessions have been held in community centres, yoga studios, museums and parks. Some discussions have been held in motion as part of walking groups and bicycle rides through Montreal neighbourhoods.

Such departure from traditional lecture halls and classrooms is meant to break down the walls between the "expert" and the "pupil". The ultimate goal is to place participants on equal footing.

Through mutual learning and experience-sharing, members of the general public can exchange  ideas that become integral to social change and the construction of healthy and sustainable communities.

For its eighth season, the University of the Streets Café unfolds as part of a new series called Montreal: On the Stream of Languages presented in partnership between Concordia’s President’s Conference Series and the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ).

On November 25, at 7:30 p.m., Edward Little will lead a dialogue to explore how theatre can be a tool in community building and social engagement. A professor in the Concordia Department of Theatre and associate artistic director of Montreal-based Teesri Duniya Theatre, Little will hold his talk at the BAnQ (475 De Maisonneuve Blvd. E).

Related links:
•    University of the Streets Café
•    Concordia Institute for Community Development
•    President’s Conference Series
•    Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
•    Concordia Journal story on previous University of the Streets Café