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26 Sep 03Black history celebrated in Dorset for the first time
In October for the very first time, Dorset will host an amazing range of activities from explorations of sculpture at the Russell-Coates, Bournemouth to African films at Dorchester Arts Centre, from a Family Fun day at the Lighthouse From African drumming workshops to a reggae night, from poetry readings to comedy, there’s something for all the family. Brought together by the Dorset Black History Month Steering Group the contributing and supporting organisations include Bournemouth businesses: Noah Afro Music, K1Bar and Maximum Hair Design; local festivals Purbeck Film Festival and Dorchester African FilmFest and community organisations Dorset Race Equality Council, Jokor (SeneGambian Association) and Umoja (Black arts group), plus Bournemouth Centre for Community Arts, Poole library and Weymouth College. The month opens on 2nd October with Dorset Race Equality Council’s free evening of Black Role Models at the Lighthouse Dorset has a long history of connections with the Caribbean and Africa and there are a growing number of Black people living, working and studying in the area. The contribution that Black people of African and Caribbean descent have made to this county and indeed this country has not previously been the focus of celebrations in the area. The Black History Month Steering Group wants to change that. Everyone is welcome, bring all the family, come and help us ensure that Black History Month becomes a fixed date in the county’s calendar. For a free flyer listing all calendar events contact Dorset Race Equality Council Tel: 01202 553003. ENDS Notes for Editors K1Bar Tel: 01202 297994 Umoja Arts – Natasha Player 07799677638 Dorchester Arts Centre: 01305 266926 Purbeck Film Festival Tel: 01929 556440 Errol John has worked at Barnado’s for over 8 years he is Assistant Director of Children’s Services for London and South East region. He is currently leading an initiative to raise awareness of the work Barnado’s does within Black communities, including the Babyfather Initiative. This is a unique project developing promotional activities, information and support to Black fathers and aiming to help breakdown the negative stereotypes of Black fathers Maureen Stone trained as a social worker and sociologist and was a visiting professor at Bournemouth University. She is now a fulltime writer and traveller. Her book, Black Woman Walking is a "provocative blend of the personal and the political offering a different view of today’s worldscape as seen through the eyes of a black woman sociologist, traveller and hiker". 
, Poole to a Diversity Week at Weymouth College, to celebrate Black History Month for the first time ever across the whole of Dorset. , Poole with guest speakers Errol John from Barnado’s talking about the Babyfather Black parenting initiative and Dorset based author Dr Maureen Stone discussing her book Black Woman Walking.
Dorset Race Equality Council, 43 Oxford Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8JB, Tel: 01202 553 003
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