Celebrate local and national black history

The ‘Sharing the Journey Weekend’ at Forest Hill library this Saturday promises to explore and celebrate local and national black history.

Many argue black history ought to be commemorated far more and through the help of the Gradual Inspired Learning (GIL) centre, it is being given centre stage at the Lewisham community event this week.

Glenis Leitch is the co-founder of GIL and she has been integral in making the event possible.

It is unquestionable that Glenis has become a key, positive figure in the black community of Lewisham, and the route which has taken her there is an interesting one.

Glenis studied civil engineering, not the most popular subject amongst females, and has gone on to qualify as a chartered surveyor. Her success in such a male-dominated area epitomises the determination she has shown in making a change in her community.

Despite her evident success in this particular sector of work, Glenis clearly felt that there was a greater need in her community for people of all ethnicities to embrace black culture and history; more importantly, she gave herself the responsibility of ensuring this was achieved.

Glenis has always been involved in voluntary work in her community and the Gradual Inspired Learning Centre was set up by Glenis and two others; originally aimed at offering a source of supplementary education to both the young and old in her local area.

However, it has become much more than just supplementary education, Glenis describes it as ‘strengthening and repairing the roots of our children.’ GIL has become Lewisham’s main source of alternative education that supports the curriculum, whilst also preparing its students for life.

Recently the centre was successful in bid for funding from the Lewisham Community Cohesion Project. The funding has made it possible for the event in Forest Hill to take place.

Furthermore, Glenis graduated from OBV’s Lewisham Leadership Programme last year, which she says has aided her in her career in many ways.

“I shared a journey with the people who also took part in the scheme”, she explains. “I knew we had to do more for our community, and I believed I could use the leadership skills I gained to bring people together”.

Her words typify a refreshing attitude to the key issues that are present in our communities, whilst providing an innovative and inspiring take on how to deal with them.

The event this Saturday (19 March) is in line with the aspirations Glenis explains above, as it will use activities and events to celebrate black history and bring the community together for a weekend.

It will feature key speakers from the area, such as Eli Anderson JP, who is a graduate from OBV’s 2006 magistrates’ scheme. He is currently studying a doctorate in education and will be story telling at the ‘Sharing the Journey’ event.

He said the Magistrates Scheme “ultimately allows people of ethnic minorities to participate in decision making, at key levels in society.”

In addition, Dawna Lea, will also be speaking, she too participated on an OBV programme; attending the ‘Our Future in Our Hands’ seminar; and subsequently becoming  an education and employment advisor in Hackney. Both are OBV success stories.

The Sharing the Journey Weekend event can only be beneficial to the Lewisham community, as it is poignantly put by Glenis, “the celebration of black history should not just be restricted to one month.”

Mohand Nour

Main picture:Glenis  Leitch (second from right) at the GIL centre. (OBV's Simon Woolley third from right).

Event starts at 10am.  Forest Hill Library.
Details: 0208 699 2065 or email: foresthilllibrary@lewisham.gov.uk