The #SASS Change Makers from the University’s School of Applied Social Studies are hosting a series of educational talks on 24^th October for everyone to attend.

First up is ‘An Audience with Michelle Dornelly’, spotlighting the 2022 Pride of Britain Winner and CEO of Children with Voices. Held between 11am-1.30pm, Michelle will be joined by a number of other guests including Detective Superintendent Julie Henderson, who will be representing Women of Colour in Policing, and Who Am I? (2023) author, Suzanne Simmons-Lewis.

This event will then be followed at 2.30pm by ‘Windrush 75: Hidden Histories’ featuring guest speaker Nairobi Thompson – writer, poet and Bedfordshire PhD student – who’ll be questioning the journeys and treatment of migrants.

Following a successful showcase last year, Performing Arts students from the University’s School of Arts & Creative Industries will be celebrating Black heritage and dance with two public events, supported by the Black Members Union Group (UNISON / UCU) and Bedfordshire’s Race Equality Network. The first two-hour show will be held on 26^th October at the Bedford Campus Theatre and on the 27^th October in the Judith Blake Theatre on the Luton Campus. Tickets are free but attendees are encouraged to register online in advance.

Meanwhile, Beds SU has lined up a wide variety of free events for the University’s students, including a Carnival exhibition organised by the African & Caribbean Society, a steel pan band concert, a film screening of Hidden Figures (2016) and a celebration of the 75^th anniversary of Windrush.

Beds SU’s Co-President, Chidinma Akwada, will also be presenting a panel discussion and Q&A with special guests called ‘Her Story: Celebrating Black Inspiring Women’ on 18^th October, which will focus on career success and aspirations.

The University’s Race Equality Network (REN) is also celebrating the achievements and contributions of pioneering Black women through art by running a poster competition which will be displayed in the University’s Luton Library with the winners announced in early November. To find out how to get involved, email REN@beds.ac.uk.

Looking back to the start of the month, the University’s celebrations began with an inspirational public lecture and Q&A with Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE which saw a packed audience of over 200 people turn out and hundreds more watching online. A recording of the event can be enjoyed again on YouTube.

For more information about the University’s Black History Month events, visit the online events page or the MyBedsLife app.