The Marek Edelman Dialogue Center in Łódź invites you to the ?5th Łódź Diversity Picnic? on Sunday, May 18th, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM!

The event is a joyful celebration of the multiculturalism and diversity of our city. Every year, the picnic takes place in the lush greenery of the Survivors’ Park and is open to everyone who wants to discover the languages, traditions, games, and music of people who have made Łódź their second home.

This year, we’ll also talk about diversity in the context of local community support and neighborly strength. Our invited partners include organizations and institutions engaged in aid, education, and multicultural initiatives, working together to do more collectively. They've prepared a rich program of creative, language, and family workshops for all age groups—from the youngest to seniors.

The picnic will also feature a park-wide outdoor adventure game and a diverse music line-up.
DJ Kat:ya will play a set of electronic music mixed with folklore and ethno sounds, while Łowcy Nostalgii, a Łódź-based band known for songs about youth and what’s gone for good, will take us on an unforgettable musical journey.

?Location: Survivors' Park & Marek Edelman Dialogue Center, 83 Wojska Polskiego Street
?Date: May 18, 2025 | ? Time: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM

? Event Co-Organizers:

Łódź Diversity Coalition, Center for Integration of Foreigners, Institute for Tolerance, Social Tree Map, Bałuty Partnerships, Łódzki Agregat Twórczy Foundation, 3rd Floor Community Center, Bałuty-Doły District Council, Municipal Social Assistance Center, Urban Revitalization Office, Department of Environment & Climate of the City of Łódź.

? MUSIC ?

• 4:00 PM–6:30 PM – DJ Kat:ya
  A proud Lodzian in love with world sounds, Kat:ya has performed at LAS Festival, Sadzimy Techno Las, Freedom Parade, and more. Her sets blend cozy downtempo and dark progressive with ethnic twists, creating immersive musical narratives.
• 7:00 PM–8:00 PM – Łowcy Nostalgii
  A sentimental Łódź trio playing ballads about youth, love, and stories from the edge of cities, villages, and imagination. Their debut album Marzyciel (Dreamer) is already out—with more to come!

? WORKSHOPS ?

3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Bee-inspired Natural Care: Create, Nurture, Feel!
(Department of Ecology & Climate, City of Łódź)
Make your own:

• Moisturizing Lip Balm
• Honey Sugar Body Scrub
• Scented Beeswax & Soy Wax Pendant
  All-natural ingredients, caring for body and soul. Individual guidance in a cozy setting. Registration: [link]

3:00 PM
Tote Bag Painting (Dialogue Center)
Decorate fabric tote bags with a tree-of-life theme inspired by Chava Rosenfarb’s trilogy. Limited bags available—bring your own bags or shirts too!

3:00 PM
Let’s Integrate! (Łódź Center for Foreigners Integration)
Fun for women, children & youth:

• Ice-breakers & group games
• Art collage: Łódź – City of Colors
• Art contest exhibition & awards: I Can Do It

3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Outdoor Game: “On the Trail Together”
(Łódzki Agregat Twórczy Foundation)
Scavenger hunt through Survivors’ Park promoting dialogue and inclusion.
Duration: ~1 hour. For families, teens, adults.

3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
English Language Workshop for the Curious Big & Small
(Institute for Tolerance, as part of Erasmus+ project)
Led by actor and art therapist Katarzyna Tarkowska-Żogała.
Includes: puppet show, word-catching games, dramatic poetry, musical fun, and creative blanket activities!

3:30 PM
Workshops with International Volunteers (FERSO, IDT Foundations, 3rd Floor Center):

• Group 1: Henna art, Arabic snacks & quizzes
• Group 2: Amazigh Alphabet & Moroccan traditional costumes
• Group 3: Armenian language intro + kids’ activities
• Group 4: Azerbaijani & Turkish snacks & sweets tasting

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Hope in Diversity – Nature Walk (Tree Map of Łódź)
Explore plants, trees, and biodiversity in Survivors' Park and the wild field 400 m² of Hope. Led by botanist Małgorzata Godlewska. Bring a magnifier!
Tree intervention advice from activist Urszula Niziołek-Janiak.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
SWAP – Clothes & Accessories Exchange
Bring clean, usable women's, men's, and kids' clothes, cosmetics, or small items.
Take one item for each you bring. Free and eco-friendly.

? INFO & EXHIBITOR STANDS ?

• Student Art Market (Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź): jewelry, posters, graphics, paintings, unique items for sale.
• Herbooks Foundation & Bookstore: promoting feminism, gender equality, and inclusivity through literature and educational materials.
• Studio Koloru Publishing: featuring books like Why?, Blue – What Color Is Sadness?, and Colorful Confusion. Also running a kids’ art contest.
  Studio Koloru Publishing will also invite the youngest picnic attendees aged 3-12 to participate in an art contest with prizes under the theme “Colors in our lives - Color your world.” Prizes will be awarded at 5:45 pm.
• Bałuty-Doły District Council: info stand for community engagement & participatory budget ideas.
• ? Municipal Social Welfare Center (MOPS) invites you to:
  ? Information and Counseling Point – legal and social consultations, advice on benefits, and available support programs (including help for people experiencing homelessness)
  ? Support and Integration Zone – conversations with experts on combating social exclusion
  ? Activities for Children and Families – therapeutic activities like painting, handicrafts (including origami), and storytelling that teaches empathy and acceptance
  ? Social Programs Promoting Diversity – talks on neighborhood solidarity and support for lonely individuals, seniors, and those in crisis; help with writing CVs and job searching

? Provincial Police Headquarters in Łódź
Officers from the Prevention Department will lead a talk on neighborhood support and the importance of reacting to even the smallest offenses – based on the broken windows theory, which emphasizes that ignoring small signs of disorder can lead to more serious crime.

? City Activity Bureau

BAM will inform participants and attendees about the possibility of submitting projects to the Lodz Civic Budget and about the “Volunteer Boat” campaign.

? Plant Market – doogrodu.eu
Plant lovers and gardeners can purchase flower and shrub seedlings at our garden stall!

? Graphic by Zuzanna Milewska @zolusiowo