Get involved in free, local events 365 days a year

Islington Council’s Black History Working group is excited to bring you a range of events all about Black history, culture, literature, life and learning, packed with opportunities to listen, learn, share, remember and reflect. There’s something for everyone to enjoy including thought-provoking discussions, history sessions, networking events, and much more.

Islington Council’s staff group, the Black History Working Group, have collaborated with council colleagues, community leaders, local voluntary organisations, and others to bring these events to life, and share with everyone in Islington and the wider community a year-round approach to Black history, culture and its associated factors. We all know Black history should not start and stop in Black History Month, so let’s all #ChangeTheNarrative and dig into the upcoming events, all of which are free!

Upcoming events:

Check back soon for the announcement of the 2023 BH365 programme of events.

Past events:

In conversation with Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE

Thursday 1 December

The mother of murdered Stephen Lawrence, Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE, spoke about her life’s work, and how you can become a part of the change that society needs to see to be a more fair and equal place.

‘When it comes to diversity and inclusion, are you really listening?’

Thursday 10 November

Led by speaker Carmen Morris (found and managing director of Kenroi Consulting) took residents through an informative session on the necessity and impact of good diversity, equality, and inclusion practices for businesses.

Black History, legacy, past, present and future

Thursday 29 September

This session will took attendees through Black history; how it has been written, its impact and legacy, and what it may look like in the future. Guest speakers included Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, Director of TRIBUTE INSPIRATIONS LIMITED and Founder of Black History Month UK, Patricia Lamour, Co-Founder and CEO of Aspire Education Group and the GEEDA (Gender Education & Enterprise for Africa) network, Dr Jak Beula, Founder the Nubian Jak Group, and Tony Warner, Author and Founder of Black History Walks.

Black history synergy

Thursday 8 September

This event boasted two formidable educators from two continents, North America and Europe. Guest speakers Ernest Crim III and Danny Thompson shared knowledge and lesser-known facts related to Black history.

Brilliant parenting

Thursday 7 July

Parenting is one of life’s special privileges. However, the complexity of parenting is often unfairly examined. Meave Darroux took guests through an array of parenting subjects. Meave is the chief executive officer of Brilliant Parents, a social enterprise she co-founded in 2017 to help parents.

Representation matters

Thursday 9 June

Representation matters, so that the full story can be told. With guests Chidiebere Ibe and Kandace Chimbiri, this session covered how representation is essential to how individuals in society build their perspectives on their own ethnic-racial group, as well as that of others.

Black male educator, visibility and identity in the early years and childcare sector

Thursday 23 June

The session with guests Jamal C Campbell and Joss Cambridge-Simmons covered the role of Black men working in the education and early years sectors, and how it is still widely viewed as a female profession, with men representing only a small percentage of the workforce.

George Floyd anniversary event: two years on, where are we now?

Wednesday 25 May

This event was a a critical conversation with guest speakers Lee Jasper, Kay Rufai, Dean Okia Snr. “Say His Name! If something needs to change, that’s when a conversation becomes critical, silence is not an option.”

World Afro Day: ending hair discrimination, together

Thursday 28 April

With speaker Michelle DeLeon, this important event taught people more about Afro hair discrimination and what is being done to address it. Michelle discussed her ground breaking report, researching UK Teachers, Afro hair and Equality Law.

Misogynoir and the history of the image of African women in Western Europe

Tuesday 29 March

With esteemed cultural historian Michael I. Ohajuru, this lively talk featured discussions of image and art, all the way from the Queen of Sheba to the twenty-first century Black woman! Michael I. Ohajuru is a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, he holds an honours degrees in Physics and Art History. Michael, blogs, writes and speaks regularly on the Black presence in Renaissance Europe.

Rachel Clarke, educating the educators is the key to sustained change

Tuesday 1 March

Rachel, a deputy headteacher and the granddaughter of the first Black headteacher in Wales, Betty Campbell, told attendees about her educational anti-racist programmes. These activities help to implement positive change, as she works with leaders to ensure racial equity is embedded throughout schools. For more information visit Apex Education consultancy (apex-education.co.uk) or Promote Equality websites.cultural competency. The Black Nursery Manager