How does it feel to grow up in Oxford?

How has growing up in Oxford changed in the past 40 years? And in what ways is Oxford the same as, and different from, other cities in England? We will host a panel of speakers from different generations who will talk about their Oxford lives. One of the contributors will be Danny Dorling, who was brought up in Oxford, is an expert on local and national inequality. He will reflect on his experiences and knowledge to talk about what is special – or not – about Oxford. Another contributor will be Paul Dash, an artist and retired lecturer who moved to Oxford from Barbados when he was a young boy and now lives in London. Paul will talk about his own migration and what it was like arriving in Oxford in the late '50s.

Talking Oxford

Many people in Europe and North America demand more control over immigration. Others are concerned about the social, economic, and personal costs of restricting migration. How is it possible to reconcile these different views? How can those who study immigration listen to the full range of different views and provide useful insights to all?

One way forward might be to come up with questions worth asking. For example, can we imagine communities that include everyone and result in improvements of life all around? If not, where are lines to be drawn and who is to draw them?

These questions are crucial for Oxford, which contains the third highest ethnic minority population in the South-East, and 28% of residents are born outside the UK[1]. This makes human migration central to the lives and experiences of city residents, even if these experiences vary in different areas of the city.

We are going to hold four events to talk about migration in areas of Oxford where inequality and disadvantage is most felt. We want to consider the relevance of migration to people's lives in Oxford and find new ways of thinking and talking about migration.

These events will be a chance to think about important issues of our time and our city. We hope they will be fun. There will not be lofty presentations from Oxford Dons and you will not be tested on what you know. If you are interested in the world and want an opportunity to challenge yourself to think about how you feel about things then please come!