So this is now one of my ‘local’ weekday lunch locations.
Feeling thankful and blessed.
Category: London
Windrush Legal Clinics at the Black Cultural Archives
It was humbling to be at the Black Cultural Archives (BCA) on Wednesday 9th May 2018 to assist at one of its ‘Windrush’ Immigration Legal Clinics. It was heartbreaking to see the great stress and upset felt by so many Caribbean born British people who have had their lives turned upside down by the government’s hostile environment policy.
That is why I am so grateful to lawyers from the wonderful Faegre Baker Daniels LLP for coming down to Brixton and providing first class triage and legal advice to so many desperate people. A massive thank you to Claire D. Nilson, FBD’s Head of Immigration and Global Mobility; Stephen Llewellyn, Counsel and Head of Pro Bono; Katie Newman, Employment Solicitor; and Hoden Buraleh, Immigration Paralegal.
BCA is still seeking lawyers to assist at the clinics if any other lawyers can spare 3 hours between 5pm and 8pm on a Wednesday or between 10am and 1pm on a Saturday.
May 12th update: Thank you also to immigration barrister Rudolph Spurling from 10KBW Chambers for attending the Black Cultural Archives on a Saturday morning to give advice!
Reconnecting with my inner cellist
I recently had my first cello lesson in 20 years!!!
From a young age, I had
been extremely musical. I began piano lessons at 5, the recorder at 7, the cello at 9 and the steel pans at 11.
Alongside my school studies, music was my whole life until I moved to Germany to become an au pair in 1996 and stopped playing.
In the 20 plus years that passed, I always missed playing the cello especially. To me, it is an instrument that is almost human. The fact that its range of notes span as a low as a double bass but as high as a violin gives the cello a versatility that is so interesting, stimulating and exciting for those who play it. I may be biased but I also think that string instruments are the most beautiful and, out of the string family, the cello comes out on top.
When I began my lesson (after such a long time), I was terrified. I wasn’t sure whether I would remember how to hold the bow and I certainly didn’t think I would be able to sight-read. To my astonishment, within a hour of playing, I was sight-reading again and playing Bach duets with my teacher (a wonderful professional cellist I met at university who now plays with the Chineke Orchestra).
I now feel like a major part of me was asleep for 20 years and I’ve now fully woken up. I feel happy, alive and joyful. Now that I have started playing the cello again, I don’t plan to stop.
LSE Department of Management ‘Alum of the Month’
A real honour to be featured as the London School of Economics Department of Management‘s December 2017 ‘Alum of the Month’ and share with the LSE community how my MSc in International Employment Relations (grad 2003) has assisted my career. You can read my interview HERE.
Tottenham Community Press – Your news your way
A few months ago, I joined the advisory group of the Tottenham Community Press (TCP), a fresh, exciting, new, independent, high quality newspaper aiming to tell the stories of the vibrant Tottenham community their way. To celebrate its 1st birthday and promote its crowdfunding campaign, TCP has made a fantastic 4 minute video. I am one of the people interviewed. You can watch it HERE.