Community Power - Our Annual CommUNITY Assembly, 2023

source : Catalyst 4 Change CIC

published : 12 December 2023

On Thursday 26 October 2023, Catalyst 4 Change held its second annual Black Thrive

CommUNITY Assembly at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham. The theme for this

year’s assembly was 'Community Power.'

A powerful keynote speech was given by Dr Jacqui Dyer MBE, Black Thrive Global Director & Chair of the Advancing Mental Health Equalities Taskforce and Mental Health Equalities at NHS England. Jacqui delivered her address on the national Patient Carers Race Equality Framework (PCREF). Personalising her presentation, she talked about her personal experience of losing two brothers aged 53 and 41 who struggled with mental health challenges and the loss of her aunt, who died while in the care of mental health services.

PCREF aims to improve access, experience and outcomes for racialised communities. This mental health equalities strategy summarises the core actions that NHS England and NHS Improvement will take to bridge the gaps for communities fairing worse than others in mental health services (NHS, 2020, Advancing Mental Health Equalities Strategy).

The event also included a dedication to Mikey Powell who was killed in the custody of West Midlands police in 2003. Cousin, Tippa Naphtali said; "Though tragic, Mikey's death subsequently bought me back to Birmingham, and as a result saw the development of Catalyst as part of his legacy."

The Catalysts 4 Change team also provided an update on the work they have been doing this past year and how they intend to further this.

We also had two discussions firstly: ‘Beyond Lip Service: Holding Systems to Account’ which looked at the practical and systemic ways that people can hold system to account, and secondly 'Link, Think, Act: Community Development’. This discussion was based on a presentation by Tippa Naphtali and Kwesi Ochosi about Catalyst’s substantial community development outreach and infrastructure development initiatives that will be launched in 2024. Both discussions created time to explore the different methods of community empowerment, and the kind of support needed both to galvanise and sustain it.

Feedback from participants:

Those who attended our assembly included: community members, Catalyst partners, members and wider stakeholders. The spirit of the day can be summed up in the words of two attendees;

"The energy and the sense of everyone being together to support change"

"In the arena of black mental health is the ingredients for a productive; transparent, honest, solution focused, update and informative, information sharing gathering.”

Additionally, Roger Bond: Spoken Word Artist who performed on the day said; 

“The audience attentiveness stood out for me. Everybody seemed focused and enthusiastic about the assembly. It was a pleasure to perform for them as I felt they were very receptive to my approach and performance."

Although our CommUNITY Assembly was a success, we are aware that the work does not stop here. As we move into 2024, we will be working on some exciting and innovative initiatives that will draw upon our collective power and commitment to Black Communities thriving in the West Midlands. 

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