"Timing is Everything, and we have the ability to navigate barriers and achieve what we set our minds to do."

As part of Black History Month, we hosted an event in collaboration with Hyde Park Pictures where we screened Hidden Figures film (2016) and thereafter we had a Q&A session to address the themes addressed in the film. We also had an amazing panel of inspirational speakers who shared their lived experiences and the lessons learnt showcasing what resilience and brilliance look like.

On the 19th of March, 2022, The Leeds African Communities Trust (LACT) in partnership with Soaring with Didi and Deckacy hosted the first-ever lecture to celebrate the contributions made by women of African Descent to the Leeds City Region.

The lecture was held in recognition of the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022 #BreaktheBias. There is a deficit of research that supports the contributions made by women of African descent in the UK. While research on migrants to the UK is available, it does not fully consider female migrants who are overlooked in the labour market statistics that exist. The data shows that 50% of the migrants are women who play a crucial role in their families, and they contribute economically. Their contributions as highly skilled professional women go unnoticed and there is a lack of awareness about their existence.

There is also a scarcity of places where the discourse is held and although they might be seen as highly qualified and highly educated, research has shown that they face barriers and stagnation in their careers due to gendered norms and ethnicised labour markets.

The lecture created awareness of the impact of these women, the space for knowledge sharing and strong community networks which will lead to initiatives such as mentorship, collaboration, and networking. This will also create partnerships across various organisations in the Leeds City Region such as the University of Leeds Women’s Network, BAME Network and Women’s Voice Network.