The future leaders from the Black community

For most young people, September is the month when they will be returning to schools, colleges and universities trying to get an education and forge life choices. But after the summer of rioting and mindless violence left many of England’s cities burning, the youth of the country haven’t been painted in the best light.

Of course, we all know that not every young person is a criminal, a troublemaker or intent wasting their life hanging on street corners and being a mischief to the community. There are some who are aiming to battle against adversity and make a better life for themselves as well as providing a positive influence for their peers and inspire those who will follow in their footsteps.

And their efforts and achievements are being recognised and celebrated in the annual Future Leaders magazine, published by Powerful Media, which profiles 100 of the UK's most outstanding black graduates. The publication was launched at a special reception at City Hall with London Mayor Boris Johnson singing its praises and saying it could help inspire the future generation.

Johnson said,

"I have long held the view that the best way to encourage young people to achieve their dreams is for them to see others, particularly from a similar background to themselves, fulfilling their own ambitions. And that is why I am especially pleased to give my enthusiastic support to this exciting new publication, Future Leaders."

He added,

"All too often our attention is necessarily drawn to the things that go wrong with our young people – the gangs, the violence, the wasted lives. Yet there is so much that we should be celebrating – the achievements and the contributions that the 99% of our young people are making to society by living positive lives of good character, advancing purposefully towards the goals they are setting for themselves."

The magazine, now in its third year, is set to be distributed at every university and 1,000 sixth-form colleges across the country. Topping the list is 23-year-old PhD student Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka from Cambridge, who has won a plethora of academic awards and has had his research used by the World Bank. Also included is another 23 year-old, Ainsley Bell, an entrepreneur who devised a summer football academy to keep local youngsters out of trouble. Upon graduation he was named the Best Overall Student in his year within the school of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics. Elsewhere in the list is Olympic hopeful Perri Shakes-Drayton, 23, who has combined a gruelling training schedule and competing in world-class sporting events with the pressures of studying for a degree in Sports Science. She graduated with a 2:1 grade this summer.

Future Leaders editor Adenike Adenitire said,

“We are so proud of all the graduates featured in this year’s magazine. The standard was so high, and there was no shortage of nominees, which drives the message home that the future black British community is already an asset to this country. It also serves to debunk media and social stereotypes that the majority of young black people (especially males) are either in gangs or up to no good.”

Picture: Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka with sports presenter Ray Stubbs