It’s been an exciting weekend!
I am honoured and so proud to have been presented with the Arts and Media Leader of the Year at the Black British Business Awards.
It was exciting to get dressed up for the gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel on Park Lane in London, and my son accompanied me as my plus one, making the evening all the more special.
Massive thanks must go to the chair and founder of the awards, Dr Sophie Chandauka and everyone else from her team. There’s a special shout too for the fantastic compère, broadcaster and passionate supporter of the arts, Brenda Emmaus.
I particularly loved that Sophie quoted Maya Angelou during her speech, and as I was accepting my award, I recalled meeting Auntie Maya some 30 years ago when she was in London. I shared these famous words from her: “Wherever you go bring your ancestors (the people who love you) with you.”
We were given goody bags from event sponsor L’Oréal, and I’ll be donating the contents of mine to the South Norwood Community Kitchen – they have a community lunch, clothes and food bank. I was there this weekend reading books with children and their families.
Big up of course to all the other shortlisted nominees (especially my category nominees, Dr Charisse Oyediwura and Charlene Prempeh, who are phenomenal!) they are all winners.
I’m still very emotional about the whole event – it will take a while to come down from this one!
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@LauraHAllain