Trinity Immigration Initiative Migrant Networks Exhibition Wins Chambers Ireland Award

Sep 22, 2010

 ‘Leaders', a photographic exhibition that showcased the contribution made by migrant networks in Ireland and compiled by the Trinity Immigration Initiative Migrant Networks, was recently awarded a Chambers Ireland Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.  The ‘Good Neighbour’ category award was presented by Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey to Dr Ronit Lentin, academic leader of the Trinity Immigration Initiative (TII) and Anna McHugh, Head of Corporate Communications for An Post, who supported the exhibition.

The exhibition, which opened in Trinity College Dublin in May 2009, highlighted how migrant networks facilitate social, cultural, and political integration in Ireland through their contributions in the areas of rights advocacy, gender issues, health, culture, the media, and religion.  Following the opening of the exhibition in TCD, it also featured in a number of other public spaces such as Dublin City Council Civic Offices, Dublin City libraries, Dublin Docklands, and Croke Park and reached an estimated 2 million members of the public.

Surrounded by the An Post Corporate Communications Team Dr Ronit Lentin, Principal Investigator in the TII Migrant Networks project (third from right) looks on as Anna McHugh, Head of Corporate Communications, An Post, and Martina Byrne, PRO TII, display the Chambers Ireland President's Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Trinity Immigration Initiative team led by Dr Lentin, principal investigator of the Migrant Networks Project, School of Social Science and Philosophy at TCD, included Research Officer, Leslie McCartney and Research Assistant, Elena Moreo.  Portrait photographer was Carl Czanik and public relations officer was Martina Byrne, TCD postgraduate researcher.  Two other companies were short-listed for awards for their innovative CSR partnerships with Trinity College – Chartered Accountants Ireland for the National Institute for Intellectual Disability (NIID) and Grant Thornton for the Trinity Access Programmes (TAP)

The Chambers Ireland President's Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility were established in 2004 to recognise the work being carried out by Irish and multinational companies to improve the lives of their employees and to enhance the civic environment in which they operate.  The Awards are partnered by Business in the Community Ireland and run in association with the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Further information on the exhibition and the work of the Trinity Immigration Initiative can be viewed via the website.