Pollards Hill Library has marked Black History Month with a day of activities, dancers and workshops for the community.
People of all ages, backgrounds and races attended the event in Mitcham on Sunday, October 25 , where they had the opportunity to take part in a collage, learn about the history of music from gospel to hip hop and join an ‘I can’ workshop led by project founder Dwayne Patrick.
The ‘I can’ workshops aim to inspire young children to believe in themselves and their abilities through a range of creative activities.
Dwayne Patrick and four-year-old Najam Donaldson
Trisha Muirhead-Hewitt attended the event with her charity the Ashdon Jazz Academy, which works with teenagers and young girls in Merton, Croydon and Lambeth to help promote positive body image and self-empowerment through workshops and mentoring.
Mrs Muirhead-Hewitt founded the charity following the suicide of her 14-year-old daughter Ashdon in November last year to offer support to other young girls.
Trisha Muirhead-Hewitt (left) and Councillor Joan Henry
Mrs Muirhead-Hewitt said: "It was very empowering. It was really lovely to see so many people from the community coming out and taking part.
"We’re trying to promote a good sense of identity in girls, which is what Black History Month is all about."
Olaia Saez (left) and Najam Donaldson getting creative
A range of events have been put on in libraries across the borough for Black History Month, including Caribbean cooking with Jay Peas at Morden Library, African and carnival mask making activities at Raynes Park and Pollards Hill libraries, film clubs, and family learning workshops about Martin Luther King at Mitcham Library and Donald Hope.
Melissa Murrell, Verona Sandiford-Murray and Tamala Ceasar
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