Ambassadors News

The Black Lives Matter movement, which began in the US in 2013 in response to the murder of 17 year old Trayvon Martin, drew a wave of renewed global support this year, inspired by anger at the unjust killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, both killed by police. As well as addressing police brutality and racism in the justice system - both in the US and globally - the Black Lives Matter movement has grown to encompass all areas in which Black people continue to face marginalisation and structural violence. #iwill Ambassadors Adam, Athika and Jo, and #iwill4nature [...]

Anti-Black racism can be found in all aspects of our society and can be felt in every area of young Black people's lives. We all have a responsibility to change this through meaningful action, not empty gestures.  At the core of #iwill is the value of inclusion. We embrace, champion and celebrate young people from a diverse range of backgrounds and beliefs to co-create solutions and access the benefits of youth social action. And we stand united against all forms of discrimination, including from racial prejudice. That is why it’s so important that the #iwill movement unites to tackle [...]

After the brutal murder of George Floyd, two phone calls brought home to me the enormity of what young Black people were thinking and feeling. Two #iwill Ambassadors opened their hearts and shared with me so generously and beautifully their visions for change. Jonelle Awomoyi and Lanai Collis-Phillips each spoke to me passionately about the importance of education, reclaiming their true history and celebrating Black people through the ages. It’s heartening to see calls to decolonise the curriculum gain increasing momentum and to see more people, whatever their age, educating themselves through reading, discussing, questioning and opening up to [...]

#iwill Ambassador Lanai shares a powerful poem on disadvantage, racial injustice, how vulnerable young people too often go unseen, and how young people need professionals to stand with them. Lanai is a volunteer for WASSUP, an award-winning youth social action project delivered by 30 young women in Ipswich addressing child sexual exploitation and sexual violence. CW: mentions of sexual violence, self harm and racism. "Long before this global pandemic, so many young people were already living in extremely tough circumstances, suffering from the impact of a range of inequalities and trauma such as austerity, unemployment and forms [...]

Earlier this year, #iwill partners UK Youth launched #YoungAndBlack, a space to share, listen and learn from the experiences of young Black people. “We have been inundated with heartfelt cries and appeals from young Black people right across Britain who feel they don’t have the opportunity or even the right to share their thoughts and experiences on racism in the UK and beyond. We can already see that young people of all races are calling for organised, mobilised action. We will not leave them alone in this pursuit. We recognise the power of storytelling to create empathy and change. [...]