Catalyst 4 Change update - First Black Thrive Community Assembly

source : Catalyst 4 Change

published : 20 July 2022

On the 14 May 2022 over 100 Black community members, community organisations, businesses, statutory services, and allies gathered at Midlands Arts Centre for the launch of Catalyst 4 Change’s Black Thrive Birmingham programme. This was our first Community Assembly. See image gallery here >

There was a bustling marketplace of local, Black-led initiatives, enterprises, voluntary sector, and statutory organisations showcasing their work and services against a backdrop of mellow and classic tunes from DJ Ezeek.

The Black Thrive Birmingham programme is a partnership between Catalyst 4 Change and Black Thrive Global that is working together to co-create a society where systemic racism and other oppressive systems are dismantled. The programme will work with and on behalf of Black people and Black led organisations to ensure that Black communities are at the forefront of reimagining, redefining, and realising fulfilling lives.

The event began with a powerful short film called ‘Black Anxiety’ written and produced by Birmingham based spoken word artist, Dan Man. This powerful film reminded us of all the emotional and physical impact of Covid 19 and racism on Black communities.

The day included presentations from:

• Three of Catalyst 4 Change Directors shared their approach as ‘positive deviants’ to help create better mental health services and support for African and Caribbean communities in the West Midlands
• Lela Kogbara, a BlackThrive Global Director, provided an overview of Black Thrive’s history and mission to facilitate systems change that will transform the Black communities experience from surviving into thriving
• Black Thrive Global Research team, Dr Celestin Okoroji, Tamanda Walker and Dr Jolyon Miles-Wilson, described their commitment to produce high quality data that can be used by Black communities to help them thrive and change how public systems go about their work. The team provided a snapshot of their data analysis that aroused positive interest in the approach and use of community owned data from the delegates present
• Dr Justine Varney presented the Birmingham and Lewisham African and Caribbean Health Inequalities (BLACHIR) review. This is a partnership between Birmingham and Lewisham to explore and better understand the inequalities affecting African and Caribbean communities in our areas and co-produce with communities’ opportunities for action to break structural inequalities

The day also included a series of conversations about working together for effective change. Several themes emerged. Here are a few that stood out throughout the day.

Spaces to connect: 

To speak frankly about the aspirations of, and challenges faced by our community and stand in collective solidarity as we navigate the necessary system change.

Better mental health services:

Removing the barriers that prevent Black people from getting the help they need, and services where staff can offer compassion, humility and respond to what we say.

Tackle the root causes of ill health:

Public systems need to focus more on prevention and healing.

Community owned data:

To shape, lead and get involved with collecting, owning, and using data to achieve our collective goals.

The Assembly responses and feedback made it abundantly clear that you (our stakeholders and supporters) are behind the Thriving Futures vision, and that you are also ready to help, develop and improve the areas in need of change through our collective responsibility and commitment.

How you can get Involved!

Thriving Futures is a decade long endeavor. Catalyst 4 Change will hold Assemblies twice a year.

Our next Assembly will be on Friday 4 November 2022.

If you would like to know more about how you can get involved, please visit our Call to Action page here >

A full report and short film of our May Assembly will be available during August 2022.