WISH London: Black History Month Reclaiming Narratives

WISH London Event

Black History Month: "Reclaiming Narratives"

We are delighted to invite you to join us for an inspiring evening celebrating Black History Month, hosted by WISH London. The event, titled "Reclaiming Narratives," will provide a thought-provoking platform to explore and uplift the voices and stories of Black history and culture.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, 23rd October
• Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
• Venue: Top Floor, Becket House, 1 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 7EU (Map)
  (Convenient public transport links to Westminster)

This event promises to be a meaningful evening of discussion and reflection, with a lineup of impactful speakers.

Kindly sponsored by Equans, this event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, celebrate Black history, and engage in enriching conversations.

Chair:

Dami Sosanya, Head of Change Management, Notting Hill Genesis

Oyindamola( Dami) Sosanya is Head of Change Management at Notting Hill Genesis and the Co- Chair of UNIFY, the housing sector’s racial equality group.  UNIFY is a collection of passionate individuals working together within the social housing sector. They have formed a cross-organisational network to focus on key areas at a sector-wide level. UNIFY's overarching goal is to accelerate inclusion opportunities at all levels, having the diversity of staff reflected throughout all areas of an organisations.

Our Speakers:

Kai Jackson, Scrutiny Panel Chair and TPAS Associate

Kai was born in Jamaica but grew up in Birmingham, England.  She has three children and worked as a Senior Healthcare Assistant before getting into housing.

She has a BSc (Honours) Psychology and Counselling degree and achieved a British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation.

Kai has been Chair for her tenants’ scrutiny panel with Black Country Housing Group for over three years. In that time, she has carried out numerous reviews, been involved in stage 2 complaints, assisted in shaping policies, and interviewed potential staff and panel members. She has also been part of the wider reshaping of the culture of her housing association.

Kai’s roles also include being:

· a member of the Tenants Advisory Panel with National Housing Federation (NHF)

· a TPAS Associate

  an Independent Commission board member for a Community-Led project

· an author of the national project ‘Diverse Voice: Transforming Tenant Influence in Social Housing’

· a school governor

Kai feels her biggest achievement is gaining her degree and going through that process with her project.

Annabel Luxton, Entrepreneur and Interior Designer

Jacqueline Adusei, CEO – Refugee Resource, Executive Coach and Vice Chair of WISH London

Jacqueline, currently the CEO of Refugee Resource, has over 30 years of experience in the charity and social care sectors, including 18 years as a CEO. She serves as Vice Chair of WISH London and is a Board Member at Estuary Housing Association, where she also champions Equality and Diversity initiatives.

Throughout her career, Jacqueline has played a pivotal role in establishing and delivering support services for vulnerable individuals, including temporary and supported housing, and in coordinating services with partner and signpost agencies.

In addition to her executive leadership, Jacqueline is a qualified Personal Development and Business Coach, as well as a certified NLP Practitioner. She is a passionate advocate for empowering disadvantaged groups and championing positive outcomes for all, regardless of their background or role. Committed to advancing women's futures in housing, she also mentors children through Action for Race Equity’s Roots to Success Programme.

Alice Odeke, Director at Rok Architects and Board Ambassador for WISH London

Alice Odeke is a qualified architect. She is a Professional Studies Lecturer and Co-Lead of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) at the University of Westminster School of Architecture & Cities. She is a RIBA Part 3 External Examiner & Tutor.

With over 35 years in the construction industry, Alice has worked across various sectors and RIBA Stages, focusing on project design, site-stage management & delivery. Her portfolio encompasses conservation, refurbishment & new build projects in the residential, healthcare, MOD, residential, commercial and civic sectors & building typologies.

Throughout her career, she has collaborated with a range of clients, led teams & drawn on her expertise to effectively meet project needs.

As a mentor, board director, motivational speaker and educator, she is dedicated to fostering equity, professional growth & development. Her commitment to communication and diplomacy enable her to connect across generations while championing the “quiet voices”.

She strongly advocates for the benefits and importance of a healthy work-life balance. She likes to laugh and always looks to find fun & enjoyment in all she does in her life. Outside of work, she cherishes family time, serving as the “voice of reason” and the “favourite auntie".