Walsall Community Connectors

I live on the Avenues Estate which is situated on the North West side of Brownhills 

The Avenues is a TMO, a tenant management association, which is part of WATMOS Housing Company which is for social housings and looking after Neighbourhoods 

We have a committee of which I am Chair and we look after the social events on our estate 

 Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that we wouldn’t expect.

I have qualifications on 7 levels of working with children/young people and their families.

What would your wish for Walsall be regarding bringing different communities together? 

My wish for Walsall to bring communities together would be to hold large events so everyone can meet .

As many will know, working in the community offers a role with such varied day to day tasks. Our centre, in normal times, puts on many musical theatre performances if I am not performing in them, I am usually working on marketing the event. Currently I am working as part of the Walsall Community Networks, Neighbourhood Natters project helping those in the Walsall Borough who may be feeling lonely and isolated. 

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that we wouldn’t expect. 

I have been performing in the arts as a hobby since the age of 8, but the highlight of my hobby has to be performing as Britney Spears in a Lip Sync Contest for Charity…, it is fair to say, I lost the contest!

What would your wish for Walsall be regarding bringing different communities together? 

There is no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic has been the worst thing I have experienced in my life thus far, but what has been really uplifting  is how the community have come together to beat the invisible army, and support our residents who need that extra helping hand. Community members of all backgrounds, races, and religions are coming together and it is wonderful. It is great to see what we can achieve by connecting with others. I hope this is something we can build on. The Community Dialogue Project has been, in my opinion, a huge success. We have connected with different community groups and participants have actually stated ‘this has been wonderful, we actually all have more in common than we think’. 

Faith Meeting Faith.  

We seek to provide space for people of different faiths in Walsall to come together; recognising one another as neighbours and becoming friends. 

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that we wouldn’t expect. 

I am a church minister with an MA in film studies (exploring the representation of Christianity in 1970s British horror films) 

What would your wish for Walsall be regarding bringing different communities together? 

 Bringing different communities together can produce closer relationships; generating better understanding and building trust. Such relationships dismantle prejudices, and it would be my hope that  the people of Walsall can work together towards making this a lived reality where we live. 

My names Kelly Gilbert, I’ve been an active member and volunteer at One Love as well as Mindkind! I support where possible with any events and group classes.

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that we wouldn’t expect. 

Something that may surprise you: I was once part of an art project and had my photo in Walsall Art Gallery! 

What would your wish for Walsall be regarding bringing different communities together? 

My wish for Walsall to bring different communities together would be: For everyone to have more access to mindful groups and creative classes throughout the borough, I would like to think this would help educate one another and help communities to grow! 

What would your wish for Walsall be regarding bringing different communities together? 

That we build on our strengths as individuals and communities and come together to celebrate our diversity. By respecting our differences and building on the things we have in common we can build a stronger Walsall we can all be proud of, one that believes everyone has a role to play regardless of age, gender, class, ethnicity, disability and how people learn. 

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that we wouldn’t expect. 

Since moving to England from Poland 18 years ago, Mel Gosia, with the support of a fantastic team of volunteers, has helped to raise £20,000 for Children In Need and has also been nominated for a Sandwell Woman’s Honour Award for her charitable work. 

What would your wish for Walsall be regarding bringing different communities together? 

That we are one, and that we are welcoming to newcomers to Walsall, because we are one love.

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that we wouldn’t expect. 

I got married in 12 days, from seeing my future wife and I have climbed Snowdon 2 times, running down pigs trail on one occasion.

What would your wish for Walsall be regarding bringing different communities together? 

I would like to see an assembly set up, that consists of people from all communities’ groups including BAME representation. I would like this group to be the vocal point with the council & public services. A primary consultation group that hears all the voices and allows information to flow back to the community groups. Working in harmony, collaboratively, sharing resources and learning from each other to exercise best practice and effective solutions across the borough of Walsall.

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that we wouldn’t expect. 

Latoya and her sister both have the same birthday and were born 5 years apart.

What would your wish for Walsall be regarding bringing different communities together? 

Latoya’s wish for Walsall is: For everyone to integrate without judgement and stereotypes.

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that we wouldn’t expect.

Kimesha has studied Mandarin and Sign Language. 

What would your wish for Walsall be regarding bringing different communities together? 

For everybody to see beyond the differences of colour, ethnicity and religion so that we can all pull together as one community.