Thank you so much for the nominations - it was a lovely surprise. Working at LSE for almost 20 years, I continue to be thankful for the great relationships and respect from my colleagues.
In the wake of the pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted marginalized communities, I felt the need to focus on how it has affected people of colour and low-income workers around me. The lockdown opened my eyes to not only the LSE community but also my local community.
Working in LSE Residences, our front-line staff, most of them young, extremely gifted, and black, have worked throughout the lockdown during sometimes stressful conditions. When I speak with them, I walk away with immense pride and extremely humbled.
It has become essential that we look at the multitude of challenges currently facing the Black community and with the wave of the BLM movement, I wanted to start by making a change within the LSE community, which is how Black Connexions was born! A Black members self-organised group for Unison members to discuss key issues facing Black members in the workplace. I am also proud to act as co-Black members' officer, along with Shuma Begum and Kafayat Mustapha.
"If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair" Shirley Chisholm