The Magic Flute

SCI spent four glorious hours at London’s Southbank Centre (my favourite place in the world) earlier this month, listening to and participating in discussion about my favourite opera, Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute‘. My love for and interest in this sublime opera goes back 19 years – when I was living in Frankfurt studying German – and had to choose two topics in which to take an in-depth exam. Due to my interest in history and politics, I chose the Nazi Period. Due to my love of music (playing and listening), I chose the Magic Flute.
Continue reading “The Magic Flute”

Exciting new times for London and Law

One of the highlights of having worked at Hackney Community Law Centre over the past few years has been the opportunity for me, as its Business Development Manager (BDM), to test out new projects and initiatives with complete freedom and support from my Manager and the Board of Directors. Last month, wearing my HCLC BDM hat, I was chuffed to work with the brilliant Legal Geek who hosted Europe’s first ever Law Tech hackathon for HCLC at Google Campus in Shoreditch. It’s an exciting time for both law and tech in London and I am really excited to be a part of it. Read more about the Legal Geek/HCLC hackathon HERE and watch a lovely one minute video (set to music) of the hackathon’s highlights below.

Museum of Grooves International Women’s Month Show

Cdnz6SZXEAAjqtiI really enjoyed taking part in Hackney based Reel Rebels Radio‘s Museum of Grooves’ International Women’s Month programme on Tuesday evening, following an invitation from the programme’s presenter Patrick Vernon OBE. Over the course of the show, Lambeth Councillor Jacqui Dyer and I discussed Hackney Community Law Centre, gender equality, mental health and our favourite tunes! You can listen to the programme HERE (my interview starts at 46 minutes approx).

Saluting the Survivors of The Rivonia Trial

RivoniaI visited the Guardian Newspaper’s offices for the first time last night to listen to former ANC leader Denis Goldberg and Denis’ and Nelson Mandela’s Rivonia Trial lawyer Joel Joffe in conversation with former British High Court judge Nick Stadlen.

The event was held for Guardian newspaper members, as the men are in London to receive the freedom of the City of London from UK Prime Minister David Cameron. Continue reading “Saluting the Survivors of The Rivonia Trial”

Nine Lives (& Sir Ian McKellen!)

Nine-Lives-1-463x650Congratulations to everyone at the West Yorkshire Playhouse for producing the brilliant ‘Nine Lives’ play, which I attended at Dalston’s Arcola Theatre last night, in order to support the work of the UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG). Formidable Hackney Community Law Centre trustee Paul Dillane is UKLGIG’s Director.

Nine Lives focuses on the story of Ismail, a young gay man from Zimbabwe who fled the country after being persecuted because of his sexuality. Continue reading “Nine Lives (& Sir Ian McKellen!)”