Staff are invited to celebrate Black History Month in North Ayrshire at an upcoming celebration event on Tuesday, 29 October at Ayrshire College, Kilmarnock Campus (5.30pm until 8pm).
Hosted by the Ayrshire Equality Partnership, the special event at Ayrshire College Kilmarnock Campus will explore the rich history and contributions of the Black community in Scotland and Ayrshire through engaging discussions and presentations.
Guest speakers include Dr Trent Kim, University West of Scotland; Pauline Brown, NHS Ayrshire & Arran; Dr Santanu Acharya, NHS Ayrshire & Arran and Felicia Taiwo, Powerful African Women in Ayrshire.
The event will conclude with a Panel Question and Answer session with our guest speakers.
View the event programme and reserve your place HERE on the Eventbrite website.
This event aims to highlight the history of slavery in Scotland, to provide an engaging look at Calcutta’s connection to Scotland and to share diverse experiences and achievements of Black individuals in our local community. So don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect and celebrate together!
What is Black History Month and why is it important?
In the UK, October marks the beginning of Black History Month. Black History Month is an annual observance celebrating the contributions, achievements, and history of African Americans and the Black diaspora.
It is a time to recognise the significant impact Black individuals and communities have had on culture, politics, science and social progress.
Black History Month originated in 1926 by historian Carter G Woodson for one week to promote awareness of Black history which was often overlooked in mainstream education.
It became a full month of celebration in the 1970s during the civil rights era in recognition of the critical role Black people played in shaping national history.
The Ayrshire Equality Partnership (AEP) is made up of North Ayrshire Council, East Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire Council, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Police Scotland Ayrshire, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the three Health and Social Care Partnerships and the Ayrshire Valuation Joint Board.
Event speaker preview
Dr Trent Kim – University West of Scotland
Dr Kim will discuss some of the existing decolonising curriculum toolkits developed by UK universities, as well as his plans to make the module review process more relevant and meaningful in terms of diversity and inclusivity in the UK higher education sector.
Dr Kim is a South Korean-Scottish artist and academic who specialises in lighting for an array of artistic forms, including live and interactive scenography and experimental animation. He currently teaches art and performance at the University of the West of Scotland. As an educator, he is also interested in how his subjects, particularly module contents, can be diverse and inclusive for his students.
Dr Santanu Acharya, Chair of NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Ethnic Minority Staff Network
Dr Acharya is currently a Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at the University Hospital Crosshouse and is the person responsible for Ayrshire’s Fertility Unit. He carries out private consultations at the Glasgow Centre for Reproductive Medicine.
He is an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Medicine, University of Glasgow and is currently the Research Champion for NHS Research Scotland Reproductive Health and Childbirth advisory group and is actively involved in many international multicentric research projects. Dr Acharya is also the Chair of NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Ethnic Minority Staff Network.
Felicia Taiwo – Chair of Powerful African Women in Ayrshire (PAWA)
Felicia Taiwo was born in Oyo State, Nigeria.
She moved to the UK in 1998 and is currently residing in Kilmarnock in Ayrshire. Felicia attended primary and secondary school in Nigeria, and recently completed a University Degree in Business Administration in London.
Currently, Felicia is a local business owner and chairperson of a charity organisation called Powerful African Women in Ayrshire (PAWA). The charity was set up over a year ago when Felicia realised there is a huge need for the African Community (especially African women) to socialise, integrate and support each other.
Pauline Brown – Healthcare Chaplin, NHS Ayrshire & Arran
Pauline has had a long-term interest in Glasgow’s history, particularly its connections with the Caribbean and the Slave Trade and completed a Masters thesis on this topic. She will share her findings to allow attendees to learn from the past and how to make a better future.
She has worked with the NHS for nearly 20 years as a therapist in Primary Care and Sexual Health and is currently employed as a Healthcare Chaplain in the Spiritual Care Department, providing spiritual care for staff. Pauline recently established an ethnic minority staff support group within NHS Ayrshire & Arran. She is also an integrative counsellor with special experience in Trauma and PTSD issues including general anxiety, depression, stress and bereavement.