We’re celebrating Black History Month

Every year in October, the world marks Black History Month. Over the past few weeks Community Integrated Care has recognised this important month across our charity.

This year we were proud to embark on the next step in our journey to becoming a more diverse and inclusive employer, with the launch of our Colleague Inclusion Networks. Providing space for our colleagues to share their experiences, support each other, and make their voices heard.

Our Managing Director for our central regions, Candice York shared her thoughts on Black History and why this month is so important to her. Candice is also the Executive Sponsor of our Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Inclusion Network.

To help us mark Black History Month, we asked Anita Amurun, Community Integrated Care’s Wellbeing, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, to share her thoughts on some of the most inspiring people with Black Heritage! We thank these people for their work across their communities. Read on to find out more.

Dr Harold Arundel Moody

Harold was born in Jamaica in 1882 and in 1904 came to England to study medicine. Despite his brilliance and academic prowess, he was unable to gain work as a physician owing to racism and rejection. Increasingly aware of racial injustices within British society, Harold set up his own successful practice in South London. Determined to challenge racial discrimination and fight for racial equity, Harold founded the League of Coloured Peoples (LCP), the first Black-founded British civil rights organisation. The LCP was also dedicated to highlighting the successes of Black people and Harold’s campaign for equality has been credited as being the key to influencing the Race Relations Act 1965.

Nicole Crentsil FRSA

Nicole is a Ghanaian-British entrepreneur, innovator, cultural curator and CEO of Black Girl Fest, a UK festival celebrating Black British women, girls and non-binary people, past, present and future.

Nicole was listed on Forbes List 30 Under 30 and in 2018, TimeOut named Nicole as one of 50 Londoner’s shaping the city’s cultural landscape.

Marian Croak

Marian is the award-winning and incredible Vice-President of Engineering at Google and is best known for transforming the internet via a number of patents, but most notably developing Voice Over Internet Protocols (VoIP). VoIP converts your voice into a digital signal, allowing you to make a call directly from a computer or other digital device via platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

Kwajo Tweneboa

Kwajo is a 23-year-old activist, and a social housing hero amplifying the voices of vulnerable social housing tenants. Kwajo is a prominent voice shining a light on the unacceptable living conditions tenants have been forced to endure at the hands of housing associations. Through his nationwide campaigns, Kwajo has inspirationally lobbied MPs, counsellors and housing associations to ensure that they take responsibility for tenants and carry out necessary repairs that in some cases have been outstanding for decades.

Akala

Akala is the ground-breaking BAFTA and MOBO award-winning rapper, bestselling author, activist and poet. He is also the co-founder of The Hip Hop Shakespeare Company. Akala is a prominent voice and commentator on race and culture, offering powerful political analysis in his works. Akala is also a captivating author, in recent years publishing works such as Natives, an outstanding book detailing imperial history, politics and anti-racist critique.

Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu DBE FRCN

Elizabeth is the pioneering nurse, healthcare visitor, activist and academic who helped to set up the first nurse-led Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Screening and Counselling Centre. This innovative service and Elizabeth’s enormous contributions to society, have led to the nationwide screening of babies which has gone on to save many lives and provide support to thousands of people.

John Boyega

John is an award-winning British-Nigerian actor and director who has risen to prominence over the years for his undoubtable talent and ingenious performances depicted in epic blockbusters such as The Woman King, Small Axe and the Star Wars sequel trilogy. The South-London born and raised trailblazer, continues to use his platform and voice to amplify the concerns of his community, whilst producing phenomenal work and providing positive and powerful Black representation in the arts.

If you’d like to share your story or a person you’re proud of, please get in touch with us at information@c-i-c.co.uk, or if you’d like to find out more about other notable and incredible Black people you may like to read up on the following people: Marcus Rashford, Daniel Kaluuya, Michaela Coel, Trevor McDonald, Dianne Abbott, Lewis Hamilton, Malorie Blackman and Olaudah Equiano.