College Event Explores Community and Belonging to Mark Black History Month
To mark Black History Month, we were pleased to welcome staff, learners and special guests to The Lauriston Hotel to discuss the importance of community, identity and belonging.
The event, organised by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Manager, Jason Selormey, explored this year’s theme, Honouring Our Communities: Past, Present and Future.
A panel discussion brought together three speakers to share their experiences and reflect on the challenges of finding a sense of belonging.
On the panel, we welcomed back former Weston College learner Tobi Orolu, who is now studying for a marketing degree at university; Louise Hill-Davis, a former Weston College health lecturer and an inclusion and neurodivergence advocate and speaker; and prominent UK civil rights activist Mor Dioum.
Also attending the event and supporting staff and learner discussions was Ian Noah, Community Leader and Chair of Race Equality North Somerset.
The discussion explored experiences of racism, the importance of feeling accepted within a community, and how people’s backgrounds and experiences can shape their sense of identity.
Throughout the event, attendees were invited to share their own insights, including who has helped them feel a sense of belonging, which communities have shaped their lives, and how Weston College can continue to strengthen inclusion.
The session finished with a Community Tree activity, where participants reflected on the people and communities they wished to honour and made personal commitments to promoting inclusion and understanding.
Thank you to our panellists and attendees for sharing their experiences and contributing to these powerful discussions.
