Croydon Council

Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E) Staff Network

Welcome you to our:

17th October 2017

Time: 11am – 5:30pm

Location:

Braithwaite Halls, Croydon Clocktower, Katherine St, Croydon CR9 1ET

Croydon Council Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E) Network

Black History Month: History, Youth & Business Conference

17th October 2017

Agenda

10:45 Seating & Welcome

Part 1 – Black History

11:00 Vasco Stevenson - African History lecturer 12:30 Questions Break

Part 2 – Our Young People 13:00 Cheryl Phoenix - Black Child Agenda 13:45 Manhood ACADEMY

15:00 Questions Break

Part 3 – Black Business, Entrepreneurship & Talent

15:30 Vanessa McLean - President BlackCEO London Chapter, Motivational Speaker

16:00 Cheryl Phoenix (Black Child Agenda) 16:30 Manhood Academy 17:00 Caridon Landlord Solutions – Sherelle Collman 17:15 Samantha Williams – Book Love (Multicultural Book Initiative) Questions Closing Comments & Networking

Biography of Speakers / Organisations

Vasco Stevenson Health awareness activist and African History lecturer Mr Stevenson was born in Barbados and started working life as a school teacher. He came to UK and worked for an insurance company and later became a Branch Manager for an investment company.

He got involved in health matters over 20 years ago and has been on several local radio stations including Galaxy (several times), SLR(several times), Station FM, RJR, Supreme, Tropical FM, Croydon Radio, Venture, One Harmony and Genesis and Colourful Radio.

Mr Stevenson spends about 3 hours per day researching health matters and has presented to several churches, community groups, clubs and other organizations. He completed six presentations for Lambeth Probation Services and has presented to the Association of Black Probation Officers, The Barbados Democratic Labour Party (Barbados High Commission), St. Lucia Diabetic Association, Park View Academy, Croydon Caribbean Credit Union, three times to the ancillary staff at the Whittington Hospital (Archway) and at Croydon University Hospital on behalf of (Macmillan Cancer Support Group). He has been on Ben TV, a member of The Association for Prostate Awareness based at the Barking Road Hub (Formerly the African Caribbean Centre) www.prostate-awareness.co.uk. He also presents on certain aspects of Black History and have presented on “West Indians at the Panama Canal 1850 to 1914”, Herero genocide in South West, King Leopold and the Belgian Congo. A current list of his bookings are on his website www.blackhealth.co.uk, “Events & Engagements”. He lives by the maxim “Let your food be your medicine” as proposed by the Egyptian priest, teacher and architect Imhotep over 2,000 years before Hippocrates was born.

Cheryl Phoenix Business woman, Mother, Philanthropist and Speaker

There is no end to the talents of Cheryl Phoenix, she has often been described as an old head on young shoulders. With her lively personality but business determination, this makes for an all round professional who does not shy away from hard work Cheryl has seen the highs and lows in her life but come through, and was aptly named the “PHOENIX” because of her determination and fighting spirit. Cheryl’s talks are inspirational, motivational and packed with real world ideas and strategies any audience can use immediately. Whether it’s a corporate event, noncorporate event, team talk educational strategy, Cheryl is always a perfect fit. The diverse range of events she has spoken at and received glowing testimonials for demonstrates this. Over the years, Cheryl has overcome many adversities, including loosing her business and life partner, back in early 2007, having to rebuild her life and businesses; due to focusing on her family and cope with grief.

Against all odds, Cheryl has become one of the most influential people in her field.

Cheryl’s history started in Corporate UK in the city with DMG media, Cheryl soon cut her teeth in the Business development arena managed teams of 10 and quickly moved into the sustainability market. This role propelled Cheryl into organising events for the largest events company in the UK, this took her global and she was organising events and speaking in places like, Qatar, Dubai, Africa and the USA. Cheryl soon met with her life and business partner Founder & Director of UK Black Links Business Directory at a high profile international Nigerian Business event she had organised in London. With this Cheryl was invited to sit on the board of the London Development Agencies BME grant awarding body, and was part of the panel which secured funds to BME Businesses within the M25 area. Cheryl still as a strong media connection and continues to work with and her industry track record speaks for itself. these are some of the people she has worked with and for –

Channel 4 – documentary uncovering racism in the lettings market

Events organiser for Richard Branson

Virgin Nigeria

Met Police Recruitment campaigns and race relations committee

Ministry Of Defense

London Development Agency -50million pound funding for BME Businesses

Cheryl still does regular appearances on the BBC and is often featured in the Guardian & Telegraph. Some of Cheryl’s notable awards include:

Nominee for Back2Black Recognition Award 2015

Winner ~ Woman of Substance 2015 Overall Best business in all categories

Best Female led Business ~ 2015 Winner International Women of Power ~ 2014

Best Women Business ~ 2013

Black Child Agenda Black Family Agenda Black Business Agenda

http://www.cherylphoenix.com

Manhood Academy

The MANHOOD ACADEMY for boys is a

community based charitable programme committed

to offering young men between the age range of 8 -

12 years (pre-teens), 13 – 19 years (teens) and 19 -

25years old life changing transformational

workshops.

This programme is 100% focused on helping our young people (8-25year olds) make the challenging transition

from adolescence to adulthood.

Our unique ‘rites of passage’ programme is a fusion of mentoring and transformational coaching encompassing:

o Transformative workshops.

o Mentoring - which includes ensuring our young

leaders receives intensive one-to-one life coaching

and support from volunteers and coaches.

o A life changing ‘Coming of Age’ rites of passage

ceremony.

Through our ‘rites of passage' programme we:

o Teach our boys about manhood

o Expose our young leaders to images of positivity and responsibility.

o Become more empathetic towards community issues, encouraging them to become active and

responsible citizens.

o Create tangible goals that are in direct relation to their value system, passions and expectations.

o Understand their most powerful weapon is at their disposal; and having the ability to

communicate effectively is the key to unlock that power

o Better understand themselves and the world around them.

o Respect and practice materialising their dreams, future and their potential.

o Understand that with confidence and a powerful sense of self, they have won every battle, even

before they have started. We want our young leaders to be balanced.

o Have a vivid vision of what they want from life and the steps necessary to get there; we want our

boys to become unstoppable, focused and iconic!

Our Vision

‘Building Leaders of Tomorrow for the World of Today’

www.manhoodacademy.co.uk

Sherrelle joined Caridon Property Services in 2009 as a senior portfolio manager having previously worked as a housing coordinator for a registered charity. After six years with Caridon Property Services she became Commercial Business Director at CLS and has been instrumental in developing the company’s overall commercial and communication strategy, whilst driving new business and partnership opportunities. With her vast experience of the private rented sector and knowledge of housing within the welfare system, Sherrelle has been instrumental in creating the CLS range of services with landlords in mind. A senior negotiator and decision maker, Sherrelle is well respected in the property sector.

Sherrelle has been shortlisted for 2017 Women in Business Award

'Book Love'

is an exciting new initiative set up to source, sell, encourage, self-

publish and promote beautiful British multicultural children's books

that celebrate diversity particularly children and families of

Caribbean/African descent.

'Book Love' houses work from an amazing new

wave of local independent children's writers who

tell rich, authentic stories inspired by the

multicultural communities we all live in.

Samantha's passion for the books she

collects and sells is infectious and her time

is spent traveling to schools, nurseries,

fairs, markets and local children's services

running workshops, book clubs and

storytellings - all with one focus - to

encourage teachers and parents/carers to

read more interestingly diverse storybooks

to children

Vanessa McLean – Is The Confidence Speaker Coach, Amazon

#1 Best Seller Author of Fight For Your Dreams The Power of

Never Giving up and features in the new movie #HLIC – Head

Ladies In Charge.

Vanessa is a dynamic inspirational speaker, trainer, and a

certified NLP practitioner.

For many years Vanessa has facilitated speaker training workshops

and seminars using tried and tested and proven techniques which have

successfully equipped her clients to overcome their fear of public

speaking and monetise the power of their stories. With guidance they

have become powerful, engaging presenters and speakers who use

their stories to deliver outstanding, memorable and life changing

speeches.

After many years of working in the corporate world of banking and the

IT sector, Vanessa knew her real passion was helping people to

creatively express themselves through the power of their voice. It was

then she made a transition to pursue a journey of personal

development, taking her to Ghana. Her heart was torn by the humility

and gratitude of the young people. Their passion and desire for self-

improvement was incredibly insatiable and inspiring.

The passion and commitment led Vanessa to follow her dream to

become a motivational speaker and overcome her fear of public

speaking. This took her to America where she was coached and

mentored by the world’s Leading Motivational Speaker Les Brown and

is now a recognised Les Brown Platinum Speaker.

Vanessa shares the global stage with Les Brown and other renowned

national and international speakers.

When Vanessa speaks her audiences are moved and challenged to

fulfill their true potential. Her simple and practical tips are so easy to

implement into every day life. She demonstrates a warmth and natural

gift for sharing, caring and her passion for empowering young lives is

electrifying. Vanessa is an excellent communicator who always gives

from her heart and connects with her audiences at the cellular level.

Success is not an option in Vanessa’s life success is a must.