The African-Caribbean communities in North Kensington have a rich and profound history that has significantly shaped the cultural and social landscape of the area. The resilience, creativity and movements for social justice have led to a more vibrant and dynamic North Kensington.
We are now hosting a series of open conversations for the local African-Caribbean community through November and the beginning of December.
The purpose of these conversations is to centre the voices of the African-Caribbean community in and around North Kensington.
There will be four sessions, then a pause for review of how the sessions have worked before we will continue in the New Year with further sessions to facilitate these open conversations.
The open Conversations are part of an ongoing commitment from Westway Trust to continue to learn from the Tutu foundation report recommendations and ongoing review.
Dates:
- 15 November 2024
- 22 November 2024
- 29 December 2024 (for under 25's)
- 6 December 2024 (for over 55's)
All sessions will start at 5pm and finish for 7pm.
The venues for each session will be confirmed shortly.
Please register your interest here to sign up to these events.
If you are interested in meeting the facilitator and the professionals coordinating behind-the-scenes, you are invited on the 8th of November to a meet and greet please send a request for more information so we can send you the time and location for the meat and greet.
We understand that there may be many questions regarding the style the form and the criteria to engage with these conversations. We will very much be taking a learning approach to understand the best way to engage and capture feedback that is equitable and truly reflects the community that the Trust is here to serve.
Please do submit questions in the meantime, we aim to create a space to answer the questions that the community has, as we proceed.
Facilitator: Claud (Adisa) Steven
Claud (Adisa) Steven is a seasoned community engagement specialist with over three decades of experience working across diverse settings. As a Learning Mentor at Acton High School, he spearheaded the Black Pupils Achievement Programme, significantly boosting student attainment. His founding role in an independent supplementary school showcased his commitment to empowering youth through education.
Adisa’s expertise extends to all aspects of community development, he has spent many years working in and around North Kensington, working across intergenerational boundaries. As a Quality Development Adviser for NRCSE, he mentored supplementary schools across London, working with a wide array of communities from various backgrounds.
Holding a BA in Social and Cultural Studies and an MA in Cultural History from Goldsmith University, Adisa is currently pursuing a PhD at Chichester University. He has contributed to the book "Black British History New Perspectives" and authored "The Caribbean Contribution, Stories from Notting Hill Methodist Church".
Support/Coordinator: Ghino Parker
Ghino Parker is a passionate community engagement specialist with over 19 years of experience in youth development and systemic change. As Director of a National Charity, she leads high-profile initiatives that champion equity, diversity, and inclusion, specifically ensuring that they map systems change. Ghino has wide range of experience with various organisations, including The Children's Society, Redthread, and international projects in St. Vincent & The Grenadines. She was raised in North Kensington and works to support small grass roots community projects with fundraising. Her community-focused approach has led to impactful initiatives, such as co-creating a national anthology that significantly increased students' sense of belonging. Ghino’ a TEDx talk on innovative youth development strategies showcases her commitment to empowering communities and driving positive change.