MORE than 70 new residents attended the first Welcome to Colchester event.
Held on March 23, at the Kingsland church and community centre in Lexden, the networking event was organised and hosted by Segun Lawal from Sixty-Ten Arts Management.
It included a range of range of speakers, performers and panellists.
Mr Lawal said: "What a rich, rich programme: learning more about this city and her cultural heritage has formed the perfect platform for discussions about her present and now.
"I am very happy to be an integral part of that conversation."
Councillor John Jowers, mayor of Colchester, and his wife Susan Jowers, opened the initiative.
Mr Jowers gave a speech on the rich cultural history of Colchester and its merits as a place to live.
Ian McMeekan, a retired tour guide, shared his insight on the city's history and culture, with other speeches covering topics such as education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.
Peter Rutland, president of the Rotary Club, discussed community engagement opportunities.
The event also gave migrants to Colchester a platform to share their experiences and featured a performance of Indian dances by Shrimathi Susanna, a local cultural artist and dancer.
The event was supported by several community organisations, including The Growth Module, Colchester Arts Centre, KAT Marketing, Kingsland Church and Rotary Club Colchester.
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