Black History Month
“Black History Month takes place every October and we are proud to be supporting it. We want USW to be an inclusive community - one where everyone is welcomed and is valued.
"Black History Month is an opportunity to recognise the heritage and culture, contribution and achievements of our Black and Black heritage students, colleagues, alumni, and our wider USW community.
"It is also an opportunity to discuss the ways that we can all gain a greater knowledge and understanding in order to foster at USW an inclusive and anti-racist environment.”
Vida Greaux, Chair of the BME Staff Network and William Callaway, Chair of the Equality and Diversity Steering Group
Events
Wednesday 12 October
2pm to 2.30pm
An Online event to introduce USW’s membership of BBSTEM. See Connect and UniLife for login details.
Film night – ‘Playing Away’
Thursday 20 October
6pm
The Meeting House, Treforest Campus
USW students and staff are invited to join the Chaplaincy for a screening of the film ‘Playing Away’.
Wednesday 26 October
3.30pm to 6pm
Cardiff Campus
A conversation about race and memory with Professor Chris Evans, Tim Galsworthy, and Dr Adeola Dewis
Research at USW
Dr Roiyah Saltus, a sociologist and researcher-activist, is the lead author of a report investigating the ways older people with BME origins live with dementia, and how they, and their families, seek meaningful information and support pathways.
Professor Florence Ayisi, award-winning documentary film-maker, is part of a £2.5m research consortium exploring the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on BME communities, creating powerful films to tell the stories of people across the UK.
Dr Edward Oloidi is a Research Assistant at USW, focusing on individuals with learning disabilities, including the impact of Covid-19 on this community. Edward is passionate about promoting the inclusion of people from Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in research.
Florence Ayisi, an award-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker from University of South Wales (USW) is leading the way in making an impact through film.
Work by USW historian Professor Chris Evans on the suppressed history of Wales and Atlantic slavery is affecting the ways in which public bodies and creative artists handle a difficult, contested past. Evans is interested in the relationship between Atlantic slavery and industrial development in Europe, with a particular focus on Welsh industry. His book Slave Wales:
Our USW community
A collective of female, diasporic artists, creatives and activists, Laku Neg, was founded by Dr Adeola Dewis, who has lectured at USW for several years. Members of the USW community are part of the collective, including Professor Roiyah Saltus and Professor Florence Ayisi.
Loren Henry talks to Professor Roiyah Saltus about USW’s race equality agenda, Urban Circle, and the HumaniTree, a multicultural film project, that aims to bring together a positive, shared global story that reconnects the story of the Human Family.
Dezire Mambule - BA Hons Computer Application & Development (class of 2020) now works at USW as a software developer in the IT department, after having support from the Springboard +Plus team.
Albert Akhidenor - MSc Public Health UNICAF, 2021 is the founder of 'Community Oral Health Initiative' making oral health services available to vulnerable and those without access to oral health.
USW Governor, Michael Stevens, has a background of working in the defence, security, cyber and aerospace sectors. He talks about his experience of HE and the importance of diversity.
Sharon Kostini is a fashion and beauty photographer, creative director, youth mentor and editor-in-chief at the Alienated Magazine Wales.
Alumnus Peter Bailey, graduated from BA (Hons) Visual Effects and Motion Graphics in 2017
Chloe Omoloju recently transitioned from the Armed Forces to study BSc Childhood Development with Foundation year at USW.
Tony Hendrickson is part of USW’s All-Wales Ethnic Minority Research Advisory Group (EMRAG).
OUR USW ENTREPRENEURS
Richie Turner, Incubator Manager, said: “As USW’s Incubator Manager of the Startup Stiwdios, and also one of the Race Equality Charter Champions, I am delighted that we are able to feature four of our Black graduate entrepreneurs for Black History Month..
“They are all great role models and they are all running highly innovative new startup companies across South Wales. I hope you are inspired by their stories.”
Victor Ojabo is a USW alumni, entrepreneur and founder of NDT South Wales, who has worked with USW’s Startup Stwidio.
Youmna Mouhamad is an entrepreneur and founder of Nyfasi, who has worked with USW’s Startup Stiwdio.
Nnamdi Omeh, is an entrepreneur and founder of VIEW Guide, who has worked with USW’s Startup Stiwdio.
Mitchell Eboigbe is an entrepreneur and founder of Geospecial Environmental Solutions, who has worked with USW’s Startup Stiwdio.
Diverse reading and play lists
The University of South Wales Library Service has created Black History and diverse reading and play lists.
