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EmpoweringCommunitiesOverthepastmonthsOBVhastouredthecountryholdingeventsandlaunchingschemesandprogrammestoempowerourlocalcommunities.Hereareafewhighlights4News-EventsOBVNewsIssue5Summer2010CelebratingBlackHistoryOBVheldamajorconferenceinLondonwheretributeswerepaidtopastandpresentheroesTheachievementsofhistoricalandcivilrightsiconssuchasDrMartinLutherKingandNelsonMandelaandtheelectionofUSPresidentBarackObamawereallrecognisedatOBVx19sCelebratingBlackHistoryMonthevent.DavidLammySadiqKhanDawnBulterandSimonHugheswereamongpoliticiansandactivistswhospokeabouttheirpersonalheroes-peoplewhoinspiredandin3uencedthem.DefJamstand-upcomedienneGinaYashereprovidedthelaughs.Directorx19sNoteAsweenterthisbravenewpoliticalworldmanyofusponderhowourcommunitieswillfare.WewelcomethenewPrimeMinisterDavidCameronandhisnewcoalitionGovernment.WetakeparticularprideinseeingBaronessSayeedaWarsi-the9rstfemaleMuslimtoentertheCabinet-asChairoftheConservativeParty.BaronessWarsiwasakey9gurewithinOperationBlackVotewhenwelaunchedthecampaigninBradfordwaybackin1996.Itx19salsogreattoseetheBNPinpoliticalmeltdownwhilstwitnessingarecordnumberofBMEMPselectedtoParliament-whichhasnearlydoubledfrom14to27.AnotherisformerOBValumniisHelenGrantbecommingthe9rstfemaleMPwithAfricanheritagetorepresenttheConservatives.Butitisnotalljoy.TherearemanywhoarerightlyconcernedaboutthescaleofGovernmentpublicspendingcutsanditsx19effectonBMEcommunitieswhoarelargleyemployedinthepublicsectorparticularlyAfricanandCaribbeanwomen.Manyareemployedatlowergradesandattimesofeconomichardshiparetoooftendeemedtobedispensable.InregardstotheBMEvoluntarysectorifGovernmentcareisnx19ttakenwecouldwitnessitsx19virtualcollapse.AtlocalandnationallevelarelativelysmallamountofpublicmoneyisspentontacklingraceinequalityandempowermentbutifeventhosesmallamountsdryupthenthegreateffortsthatweremadetotransformandempowercommunitiesupanddowntheUKcoulddisappear.ThiswillhaveaprofoundlynegativeeffectonBMEcommunities.Butasalwaysourfocusisonwhatneedstobedoneandhowwemightdoit.FinallyIx19dliketosayabigx1cthankyoux1dtoallthosewhohelpedwithourelectioncampaign.Youwerebrilliant.SimonWoolley-OBVDirectorExpressYourselfThiswasarallyandartisticshowcaseorganisedbyyoungpeoplewhichshonethespotlightontheemerginggenerationExpressYourselfx13aneventorganisedbyOBVwiththesupportoftheElectoralCommissionx13featuredyoungentertainersandpoliticians.SpeakersincludedSarahTeatherMPwhoonceheldthetitleofyoungestpoliticianinWestminsterandLabourx19sChukaUmunnawhobecameMPforStreathamatthisyearsx19generalelection.MTVx19sKatandOBVinternSheldonBaileyalsoknownasMrStitchcontrolledthemic.FormerPPCforHammersmithShaunBaileyandLewishamx19syoungmayorJacobSakilalsospokepassionatelyabouttheirroleinpoliticsandtheimportanceofpoliticalactivism.LogicMCfounderofthePeoplex19sArmyandstand-upcomedienneandpoetKayleighallsharedthestage.BaronessFloellaBenjaminSarahTeatherMPExpressYourselfAudienceChukaUmunnaMPRtHonSadiqKhanMP