Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News - Jean Brown and Renee Crawford receive Community Relations Award

05 May 2009

Two women who reached across one of Belfast’s most contentious peacelines to bring polarised communities together, today (Thursday April 30, 2009) jointly received a prestigious award for their important work.

Jean Brown from the loyalist Suffolk estate in West Belfast and Renee Crawford from the adjacent republican Lenadoon, have together tackled violence and division in the troubled area for more than 25 years - often in the face of significant threat.

The two brave peace-builders were presented with the annual Northern Ireland Community Relations Award for their impressive track-record at the flagship event of Community Relations Week 2009 in Newtownabbey’s Corrs Corner establishment.

Duncan Morrow, the chief executive of the Community Relations Council, which presents the annual award, says: “The success of the highly important Suffolk and Lenadoon Interface Group is in many ways a personal triumph for Renee and Jean, such is the commitment and effort they have put into it and the personal risks that they have taken so that it can succeed. The positive change that Jean and Renee’s work has brought to this area has significantly improved the lives of many, many people.”

The award is open to nominations, with the recipient chosen by a panel of Community Relations Council members.

Maria Bannon, operations manager of Suffolk and Lenadoon Interface Group (SLIG), said about them: “Jean and Renee have been instrumental in the development of peacebuilding in the Suffolk and Lenadoon area. Through their efforts, they have transformed the physical shape of the interface, helped to create jobs, helped to ensure income generation was possible for the area and have restored a sense of hope to a deprived community.”

“Jean and Renee have taken personal risks throughout the life of the Suffolk Lenadoon partnership and believe strongly in the ethos of a shared future. They have continuously stepped up to the mark and spoken out on issues they believe in and have led the communities into a phase of willingness to discuss contentious issues,” Ms Bannon continued.