Celebrating achievements of Black women in Reading

The contributions that seven Black women have made to countless lives in the Reading area will be recognised at a University event taking place to mark Black History Month.

The BAME and Women@Reading staff networks have joined forces to host this special event as part of a packed Black History Month programme. this event marks the theme for Month: Saluting Our Sisters.

The event will be hosted by Professor Elizabeth McCrum, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and UEB Champaion for Sex, and opened by Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor and UEB Champion for Race.

Saluting Our Sisters takes place on Thursday 26 October, 12:00-14:00, at the Meadow Suite on Whiteknights campus.

To attend, register online.

Speakers

From researchers to business leaders to community activists, seven special guest speakers will share their stories:

	Cecily Mwaniki Cecily founded local charity Utulivu Women, which supports Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee women and their families in Reading. Cecily received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2011.
	Constance Urma Gooding (née Mayers) Constance is manager of the Golders Club, a luncheon club for elderly Black members of the Reading community. Born in Guyana, Constance and her family moved to the UK in 1977. Through her church and work in nursing, she has been involved in voluntary work in Reading, including offering mental health support to women in need and helping elderly members of her church community.
	Jacqueline Mukono Jacqueline founded Project Salama, a domestic abuse charity. She works with survivors of abuse, helping women to recognise the signs and impact of violence, verbal abuse and coercive control, and educating others about harmful cultural norms that allow abuse to go unchecked.
	Shirley Anstis Shirley is an author, and founder of Berkshire Black Business, the longest running black business network in Berkshire. Former University colleague Shirley trained as a careers advisor, providing advice to young people in Reading schools, before expanding this support by becoming a counsellor. She has since delivered many writing and wellbeing workshops in Reading and published three books.
	Symiah Barnett Symiah is a young researcher in STEM. Her PhD studying microplastics in rivers and oceans entails analysing water samples as well as kayaking, freediving and scuba diving. She is part of work to achieve educational equity and is on the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Inclusion and Diversity Committee. Symiah is a co-founder of Untold, a social enterprise that runs community projects and events, and is completing a fellowship in the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology in the House of Commons.
	Tutu Melaku Tutu is owner and founder of Tutu's Ethiopian Table restaurant. Her popular restaurant brings the flavours of her Addis Ababa childhood home to Reading. After moving to the UK in 1992 knowing little English, she raised her family and gained experience in a range of jobs including childminding before taking the plunge on her own catering business, which has won several awards.
	Zainab Koroma Zainab is co-founder of Reading Refugee Support Group (RRSG). Originally from Sierra Leone, Zainab has lived in the UK for more than 30 years and is settled in Reading - her ‘home from home’. She has played an instrumental role in RRSG’s activities, is Chair of Reading City of Sanctuary, and has supported refugees and vulnerable immigrants in the Thames Valley area as part of the Red Cross.