Preparations for the Diocese of Southwark’s Black History Month celebration service and workshops are well underway. The event takes place on Saturday, 2 October from 11am to 1.30pm at Southwark Cathedral.
The Diocesan Theme for 2021 is: Black History Month – Celebrating Business, Science and the Arts and ties in with the National Black History Month 2021 theme, “Proud to be..”. The Rt Revd Dr Karowei Dorgu, Bishop of Woolwich, will be presiding and the Revd Les Isaac, founder of Street Pastors and Ascension Trust, will preach. There will be poetry, singing and drumming during the service.
The Venerable Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Archdeacon of Croydon and the Bishop’s lead for diversity and inclusion will discuss the significance of the recently launched Diocese of Southwark Anti-Racism Charter which will be a priority across the diocese for implementation .
Attendees will also each receive the Diocese of Southwark (ARC) pack which includes, the Charter itself, a poster, postcards and case studies. The workshops following the service are along the themes of Business, Science and the Arts. In a Q and A session entitled “Celebrating Excellence in Business”, Foluke Akinlose MBE, founder of the Precious Awards, will be interviewed by the Revd Lotwina Farodoye. The Arts workshop will be led by poet, Adukeh and the Medical Science workshop will be led by Dr Mosun Dorgu and Bishop Karowei. They will be joined by other doctors who will talk about the challenges that face UKME young people wanting to study Medicine and how to overcome them.
In a letter about the event sent out across the Diocese on Monday, the Bishop of Southwark, The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun and Bishop Karowei wrote, “This promises to be a joyous celebration and an afternoon of reflection, sharing and empowerment. Our hope is that as many young people from across the Diocese will come too. Remember to bring a flag from your country of choice, banners, tamborines, drums and clappers so that we will raise our voices in praise and thanksgiving.”
