Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for our Black History Month event at The Green Man! 109 Phoenix residents and staff, local people and community groups all came together to celebrate Black History Month and spread awareness.
Attendees were ushered into the hub with an African drumming performance by Community Chest winners, Wuntanara, who also closed the show the event with a fantastic show.
Eventgoers enjoyed a red, yellow and green tie-dye workshop, make your own bead jewelry workshop, free food prepared by The Green Man café team, a dance-exercise class to Afrobeats, free massages, a guess the flag activity and raffle, information stalls and an eye-opening screening of Racial Inequalities in Health by the Open University.
Phoenix resident and Chair of the Board, Carmen Simpson, spoke on the night and said: “Black people all over the world have rich and powerful histories that cannot be confined to one period, one book, or one month. But at least this month gives us a platform. It gives us a chance to tell our stories. It’s a time to highlight how important education is in ridding the world of racism and discrimination.”
We were also joined by special guest speaker Dr. Catherine Mbema, Director of Public Health Lewisham, who gave a speech and launched Lewisham’s new Healthy Eating Recipe Book, of which attendees could take home a free copy.
Dr. Mbema said: “It’s been great to be part of this Black History Month event hosted by Phoenix Housing to share some of the findings from the BLACHIR (Birmingham and Lewisham African Health Inequalities Review) with Lewisham residents. I look forward to working more with Phoenix Housing and other Lewisham partners in our local efforts to address health inequalities.”
You can find out more and read the report here.
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Our next event at The Green Man will be Disability Awareness Day on Tuesday 29 November, 5-7pm. Book your place now!