Messages from UK October Black History Month 2022

The 2022 October Black History Month UK Educational awareness initiative, Education from the Public to the Public by VOT Training was another successful initiative this year. There were very insightful and inspiring messages from esteemed professionals within and outside the UK. Below were the daily inspirational quotes from varied professionals from Education from the Public to the Public network.

Day 1 – “Care for yourself first and you'll be able to care well for others.” – Claudia - Author, Public Speaker, and Executive Coach for Social Workers.

Day 2 – “Connecting with and learning from each other’s lived experience enriches our well-being and our relationships.” – Phil Clarkson, Social Worker & Author.

Day 3 – Free Workshop offered: Discover Allyship by www.vottraining.co.uk

Day 4 – “Educate to eradicate hate. This is the key to healing & building solidarity, wherever there is racism and injustice.” – Millie Kerr, Anti-Racism Lead Practitioner.

Day 5 – “If you are not part of the solution, you must be part of the problem.” - Dr Neil Thompson, renowned Author, Educational entrepreneur, and wellbeing expert.

Day 6 – “Black History Month is all about Contributing, Celebrating and Connecting. Action not words!” – Peju Abuchi, Poet, Speaker & Educator.

Day 7 – “Health and Wellness has no colour. Dignity and Respect has no colour.”-?Will Burke, Social Worker.

Day 8 – “Anti-racism supervision nourishes health and is fundamental to wellbeing, practice and progress.” – Shabnam Ahmed, Lead Practitioner Adults Safeguarding.

Day 9 – “Change is inevitable. We all have a responsibility. What will you do to make a difference?” -Deborah Gordon, Senior Learning and Development Consultant.

Day 10 – “Sponsor a woman of colour. 59% have never had an informal chat with a senior leader.” – Jenny Garrett OBE, Award winning executive coach and Leadership development specialist.

Day 11 – “Assumption: Strong Black woman.

Fact: Dangerous and unhelpful Assumption.

Impact: Negative Wellbeing.

Action: Change Assumption” – Grace Igwe-Dawson, Social Worker.

Day 12 – “Black History month is about continuing to ensure my children understand and celebrate Black history.” – Edmund Hill- Thompson, Training and Participation Manager.

Day 13 – “Being intentional about anti-racism enables us to be mindful and aware of what we say and do” - Dr Prospera Tedam, renowned Author, Associate Professor and Chair of Social Work Dept.

Day 14 – “Education must be a bridge that unites people not a wall that divides them. We must unite and stand up for equality” - Scarlett Leines Miss Quintana Roo Mexico. Inclusion, Diversity and Disability Advocate.

Day 15 – “It is not enough for colleagues to be against racism, we need active efforts to combat racism” – Joshua Oguntade - Lead Clinical Orthotist.

Day 16 – “Kindness makes you the most beautiful person in the World no matter what you look like.” – Quote by an unknown Author. Recommended by Toyin Sokale - Child Protection chair and IRO.

Day 17 – “We do not all start from the same place. We must acknowledge and make adjustment to imbalances.” – Natalie Mcneil, Designated Social Care Officer.

Day 18 – “Never be afraid to ask questions even when it is difficult or sensitive. We are all learners.” – Adefunke Larigo, Agency Connection.

Day 19 – “Black History is British History. These stories need to be told and heard. We rise by lifting each other.” – Sal Naseem, Director, Speaker, DEI Chair- Anti-racism.

Day 20 – “We need equity before equality. It is no longer just treating Black people as equals but giving up your space to help them up.” – Salome Tirado, University student & Tech degree apprentice.

Day 21 – “We can achieve more when we learn together, share together, work together and experience together.” – Rob Stoner, Senior Recruitment Lead.

Day 22 – “The road to success is always under construction, let us keep building. I celebrate Black history” – Darlington Ihenacho, Principal Social Worker.

Day 23 – Appreciative note posted “Vivian Okeze – Tirado is making an impact on Anti-racism!” from Dr Prospera Tedam, Associate Professor, United Arab Emirates University. An encouragement to carry on.

Day 24 – “It is ok not to know everything. If you do not know, say so, but make an effort to find out. Happy Black History Month!” – Diane Apeah – Kubi, Associate Professor Social Work.

Day 25 – “Allyship: Ask, Listen, Listen harder, Show Up, Speak Up, Help make the world a more inclusive place.”- Jenny Benbow, Social Work Team Manager.

Day 26 – “Becoming an anti-racist practitioner or leader is like a muscle you have to exercise daily. It is a lifetime job, not just a one-off single event.” – Shantel Thomas, Anti-racism Lead Practitioner.

Day 27 – “Stories are everything. Black history is a source of powerful inspirational stories. Time to listen and learn.” Jill Seeney, Service Development Manager.

Day 28 – Pictures posted from WSCC first in-person Black History Month event.

Day 29 – “I can make changes by listening to and learning from the experience of others and then doing things differently.” -Jason Barnes, Child Protection & Conference Chair.

Day 30 – “There is strength in partnership. We must strive to see one another as relevant and important.” – Anastatia Okeze, Window furnishing Consultant.

Day 31 – “There is Unity in Diversity. There is growth in Diversity. There is strength in Diversity. There is room for all in our society.” – Vivian Okeze – Tirado, Author, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead.

A shout out to all the esteemed professionals who took part in this year’s education initiative. I hope that other professionals find this collation of insightful messages in one place useful in their individual and work life.

Vivian Okeze – Tirado

Twitter: @vivokezetirado

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.vottraining.co.uk