In celebration of Black History Month and the Black population within Manchester, year round, we've collated a list of some of the most inspirational and influential Black Mancunians with a focus on those who work in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Manchester. You can view the extended list of 20 figures here, which can be shared and used for education purposes.
|
Keisha shares her thoughts on Black History Month
|
Keisha Thompson is the youngest ever Artistic Director and CEO at Contact. She is also the first female, the first Black person, and the first Mancunian to do so. Chair of radical arts funding body, Future’s Venture Foundation, an ITC board member and recipient of The Arts Foundation Theatre Makers Award 2021. See our short films with Keisha where she talks about her role, Black History Month, her inspirations from Black History and her hopes for the future. Keisha's films. |
| Akeim Mundell BEM has dedicated his life to ending gun and knife crime after the death of his close friend. Having started campaigning with the Reclaim Project encouraging leadership in children and working class communities. Akeim joined the education sector at the age of 16 and has worked within various roles. After studying six years in university, Akeim is now Lead Pastoral Manager, Head of Year 11 at a secondary school in South Manchester. One of Akeim's proudest achievements is receiving a British Empire Medal from the Queen in 2017 for his dedication and commitment to the community. | Akeim shares his thoughts on Black History Month Watch the rest of our interview with Akeim here. |
|
Image
|
Ruth Ibeguna created Reclaim, a non-profit organisation that encourages youth leadership in inner-city neighbourhoods, after quitting her job in 2008. Overtime, the charity has offered young people nationwide a voice and the self-assurance to make a difference in their communities. After resigning as CEO, Ruth launched the Roots Programme to use exchange programmes to mend the wounds caused by Brexit. |
| Francess Davies-Tagoe has been part of the VCSE sector for the last 20 year at Community Network for Manchester, Voluntary Action Manchester and the (GIO Project) Growing Independent Organisations. Francess is now Chief Executive Officer at the Tree of Life Centre, working to minimise social isolation, poverty and deprivation, and mental health issues. Francess is a member of the Our Manchester Partnership Board, advocating against race inequality and economic deprivation across the city. She is also the Social Action Lead at Restoration House and Chair of Compassion Foodbank in Hulme. |  |
|
Image
|
Nile Henry is an energetic young tech leader and the founder and CEO of The Blair Project, which involves young people in electric karting and digital manufacturing to make racing more socially accessible and to inspire the next generation of green engineers, designers, and inventors. He was 18 years old when he started The Blair Project. |
| Rev Charles Kwaku Odoi, DL, BSc, MSc, is the Chief Officer of the Caribbean and African Health Network and a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. He sits on various boards including Macc, Faith Network for Manchester, SAGE Ethnicity Subgroup, Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group, Coalition of Race Equality Organisations. Charles works to bring equity and fairness for people of the Caribbean and African Diaspora. He is involved in work that influences the research, policy and practice agenda at local, regional and national levels. |
Image
|
|
Image
|
Dr Erinma Bell MBE has worked tirelessly to tackle gun crime in Moss Side and Longsight and to provide positive life chances for young people. She is known for over 20 years of dedicated community work in Manchester through CARISMA and later Chrysalis. She is an inspirational peace activist and community leader working to bring conflict resolution and increase social inclusion. |
| Elaine Unegbu has been a committed champion of Age-Friendly Work for many years and currently sits on the Age-Friendly Manchester Board. She is Chair of the Greater Manchester Older People’s Network Steering Group. Elaine also sits on the advisory boards of the Creative Ageing Development Agency and Ageing in Place in Cities research group. She has had a long and varied career in nursing, nurse management and nursing education in the Netherlands, England and Nigeria. She has also been Chair of Central Manchester Community Health Council, Non-executive Director of the Manchester Health Authority, a trustee for Age Concern and a Lay inspector with the Care Quality Commission. |
Image
|