This photo was taken in 2022 after the first pilot training session, delivered to 75 student counsellors, who all pledged to ‘go there’ in their lives…and they did! 

Lived experience is; I’ve encountered more racism incidents that I can count, but really each were giant arrows pointing me towards founding HeOvHe. I’ve project managed thousands of successful community race diversity activities across big arts institutions, like the British Film Institute (bfi), Harris Art Gallery, Lancs, national museums liverpool (nml) since 2004. I studied a BA English and MA on black identity + visual culture. I loved learning but also wrangled with how differently I absorbed information. I would often feel left out, not good enough or misunderstood, until I discovered creativity opened up new possibilities in how I could interpret life and vice-versa.

Favourite highlights from race-diversity career: Getting a ‘BAME internship’ at the bfi. Running Local schools project with Dame Floella Benjamin OBE DL.  Winning best Guardian Newspaper  Award, for ‘The Mary Seacole Black Elders Initiative’. Making friends with Martin Luther King III and his wife whilst  praying at his fathers grave (Civil Rights Leader, Dr King II) in Atlanta, USA. I worked for nml at the time. And 11 months later, a dream came true as id got to relaunch my idea for a walk of remembrance with Dr King III in Lpool, 10,000 people all mourned together with meaning, momentum and hope. Alot of my ideas didnt make it but this was one of the ones that did.

Bravest memories: Escaping National Front (NF) thanks to my big brother Jermaine, whose Superpowers ignited as he out sprinted the NF mob who came after us, he was 8 and I was 6. Next, undergoing a Dyslexia test at uni to finally accepting the result, along with the gifs* it brings.  … Launching HeOvHe now – in October 2023, unknowing as to what on earth will happen, but believing in HeOvHes small yet ever so mighty movement – today is a good day.  

*gifts