Celebration of culture proves a hit as organiser praises Doncaster Council boss for positive collaboration
“Thank you to everyone involved. I think we have changed history to be honest. This is something I will tell my grandkids about.”
A Doncaster woman has praised senior city officials for meeting with her “as humans rather than job roles” when she spoke out about her treatment by council staff as a black woman.
Issachar John was the curator of a successful recent City of Doncaster Council-funded celebration of culture, but said a lot of work went into repairing her relationship with the local authority before it could happen.
She said during her time as a community coordinator for the Voluntary Action Doncaster, she raised concerns with the council about a number of remarks and “microaggressions” during interactions with their employees, which were not taken seriously.
Ms John said: “It made me feel really sad. My daughter was only young and she said to me ‘why does that woman keep saying nasty things about you mum?’.”
Recently, she met one-on-one with the council’s chief executive, Damian Allen, to discuss what she went through.
“He sat and listened to me,” Ms John said.
“We were meeting each other as humans, rather than job roles,” she added.
The meetings led to a written apology from Mr Allen on behalf of the council, for the trauma experienced by Ms John and her family.
Ms John said: “That brought me to tears as I never thought I’d get it.
“By communicating our differences, rather than fighting each other, we can create a lot of positive change for this city.
“I admit I’m not a perfect individual and have grown through life challenges and offer genuine apologies to people I have hurt over my lifetime through me being unconscious on my journey.”
Ms John and the council then began working together on an event celebrating the many cultures that call Doncaster home.
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Held on June 20, 2026, the event – called Collective Routes and Beyond – was “a recognition of all communities as one”, Ms John said.
Dozens of artists and contributors came together for Collective Routes and Beyond, including:
- Issachar Christina John
- Fiona Cahill
- Molly Eroje
- Sarah Smith
- Joscelyn Proctor
- Clive Henry
- Damian Allen
- Skintones
- Olamide Sax
- Mhairi McDonald
- Chappy Williams
- Dave Hughes
- Wayne Jules
- Stephanie Bisby
- Doncaster History and Culture
- Mirabelle Henry
- Jim Studd
- Rachel Blake
- Carter’s Caribbean Cuisine
Councillor David Nevett, cabinet member for adults, wellbeing and culture, added: “By working together, we were able to reflect on the enduring legacy of the Windrush Generation while recognising the contributions of people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds who have helped build and enrich Doncaster’s communities.
“Creating opportunities for people to share their experiences, build connections and strengthen community pride, the event was inspiring and thought-provoking with a warm, inclusive atmosphere where everyone felt welcome. Events like this demonstrate how collaboration helps ensure community voices are heard, represented and reflected in Doncaster’s cultural life.”
It showcased arts, dancing, music, crafts, poetry and more, attracting over 150 visitors, including Sally Jameson MP and Mr Allen, who wore a traditional Caribbean suit made by Ms John.
“I went into a huge healing process and had a lot of tears over the weeks after [the event]. I couldn’t stop smiling,” Ms John said.
“Thank you to everyone involved. I think we have changed history to be honest. This is something I will tell my grandkids about,” she added.