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On a rainy Saturday morning I attended the Black Men In the Community Conference wondering what would be the focus of such an event and whether they could avoid the trap of yet another long discussion on the problems faced by black men with very little focus on practicable solutions. It's refreshing for me to attend events at which I have the opportunity to sit back relax and reflect.

Billy Hayes (pictured above), General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union, writes about the importance of multiculturalism and why trade unions should play a vital role in its defense.

It is well understood in the trade unions today, that the economic policy of the coalition government is a major assault upon working class living standards. Correctly, this has led the majority of trade unions to organise in opposition, in some manner or another, to this policy.

Once again the Advertising Standards Agency has shown itself to be a blunt instrument in setting standards of decency in British Advertising. Its crude judgment claimed that Cadbury’s Bliss Ad that likened Naomi Campbell to a chocolate bar  was not ‘racist’ and sought only to refer to her as a ‘Diva’.

He is third in line to the throne; he is also an active soldier, who in a few weeks time will be with other British soldiers on the front line fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Is it really appropriate therefore to be gesturing, albeit in fun in a gangster style ‘cocking of the gun’ with your hand, to Zara Phillip’s fiancé Mike Tindal?

Mervyn Adon-Wint, OBV alumni and participant in the 2009 Lewisham Civic Leadership Programme, is determined to make a positive difference in his community. Mervyn currently serves on the Executive of the Conservative Federation and is an Officer for the Croydon Conservative Party. In this capacity, Mervyn will host a BME Croydon Conservative Party Dinner in Croydon on 21st June. The evening will include a keynote address from Party Co-Chair Baroness Warsi with several distinguished guests in attendance.

A school that banned a Black pupil from wearing his hair in ‘cornrow’ style has had its decision overturned and been found guilty of ‘indirect racism’.

The Roman Catholic school St Gregory’s College refused to allow an 11 year old African-Caribbean student to attend lessons over the hairstyle claiming it was 'unconventional' and contravened its strict dress code.

It’s almost three years since I wrote an article on the issue of youth violence for the Guardian newspaper. In July of 2008 I called for the adoption of a public health approach to tackling youth violence and it’s now five years since I embarked on a campaign to seek to convince Government, stakeholders and anyone else who would listen that this approach would be a much more effective method of reducing youth violence.

The number of people who have died in London after being either detained in police custody or who have had recent contact with the police has increased massively since 2008.

Career progression should be based on merit. People from all backgrounds and walks of life should know that they will be able to progress in an organisation in line with their talents and commitment. Yet we know that the reality in the workplace is very different. Writes Sandra Kerr, National Director of the Race for Opportunity campaign Business in the Community

Ethnic minority workers feel that they face barriers in their career development, and some feel forced to leave their jobs in order to progress, according to a survey released this week.