Speakers included Youth of Colour and Culture co-ordinator Ali Al Battaat, Australian Race Commissioner Chin Tan, Kaiela Institute executive chair Paul Briggs, Victorian Multicultural Commissioner Judy Tang and Shankar Kasynathan.
At just 22, Mr Al Battaat was the ambassador for Amnesty's My New Neighbour campaign, to provide a safe path for refugees to come to Australia.
An organiser of the event, he said he was "more than happy to jump on board and join the fight against racism".
“The idea was to launch Amnesty International's new campaign in Shepparton as a regional town, known for our diversity,” he said.
“And speaking about racism, getting the Australian Race Commissioner was amazing.”
Before the speeches, Shepparton's Youth of Colour and Culture group members were interviewed by the commissioner, to discuss their advocacy work in the Goulburn Valley.
“We got some really good advice on . . . what work we can do as young people to create change and fight against racism,” Mr Al Battaat said.
“My role in our panel was to portray the voice of youth and how we look at change, and also address local issues by speaking about the experiences that I've faced growing up here in Australia, and the racism I've gone through.”
Amnesty International launched an anti-racism petition at African House on the day.
Mr Al Battaat said as a youth advocate, the difficulties faced by young people needed to be addressed from a "top bottom approach".
“It's because they're faced with barriers, racism, discrimination,” he said.
“The change needs to be in the leadership . . . and knowledge around cultural intelligence, the ability to work with people from different communities.
“It's really important to look to prevention work, not just response work.”
Mr Al Battaat encouraged people of all ages to get involved, join the conversation and get in touch with Amnesty to be a future ambassador.
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