Community Power - Catalyst CommUNITY Assembly, 2023
source: Catalyst 4 Change CIC
first 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 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.
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.
There were 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 development and empowerment, and the kind of support needed both to galvanise and sustain it.
