Populo Living celebrates Black History Month: 'Saluting our Sisters'
Posted 23 October 2023
October marks Black History Month 2023 in the UK, a time to learn, appreciate, and understand Black history and culture, amplify black voices and celebrate the contributions and achievements of black people, from past to the present day. This year’s theme is ‘Saluting our Sisters’. It highlights the crucial role Black women have played in shaping history, inspiring change, and building communities.To mark this, Populo Living had meaningful conversations with members of our team to learn a bit more about who they are, what the month means to them, advice they have to the next generation and how we can best create equal, diverse and an inclusive environment in the construction industry.
A brief introduction about yourself and what do you do at Populo?'I'm Lerato Marema, the Community Wealth Building lead at Populo working on our biggest regeneration scheme on the Carpenters Estate. I lead on community engagement, but also delivering community programmes that support inclusive economic growth through the regeneration.
Anyone who know me knows, I absolutely love what I do. My role is exceptionally diverse, enabling me to actively engage with residents in co-designing projects and collaborating with key stakeholders and anchor institutions to deliver meaningful programs for the local community. On top of this, I have the privilege of operating in East London, an area I consider to be one of the most captivating, culturally enriched, and diverse areas in London, if not the entire country.'
What do you believe is your greatest achievement so far?
'Determining my greatest achievement is quite a challenging task, as I find value in a spectrum of experiences. From the simple yet meaningful moments of having a casual chat with a local resident, exchanging ideas, thoughts, and emotions, to the more substantial projects like a 30m community mural that unites the community in celebrating diversity and shared values. Both instances serve as reminders of the progress made and the potential for further achievements in the future.'
Could you tell us about a female figure who you look up to and has inspired you personally?
'This has to be my mother, a nurse who migrated to the UK from South Africa 20 years ago to find greener pastures for her family. She has always been and remains a great inspiration to me. My mother has this remarkable ability to thrive in the most challenging situations, and her energy is infectious. She remains constant and ever supportive for her family, always showing up when needed. Her resilience and unwavering dedication are qualities I deeply admire and strive to embody in my own life. She is the epitome of inspiration for me.'
As we embrace the theme “Saluting Our Sisters” this Black History Month, what does this mean to you?
'To me, this signifies acknowledging individuals who may not always receive the recognition they deserve for their profound contributions to history and culture. It's about providing a platform for black women to shine, as they have frequently had to downplay or minimize their efforts. "Saluting Sisters" is an opportunity to applaud the remarkable black women who have made significant impacts across all sectors.
However, it's not just about those on the global stage; it's also about acknowledging the women in our communities who may not have widespread recognition but have an equally profound influence on local communities and families. I can think of a few.'
Have you experienced barriers due to your background and what did you have to do to overcome them?
'Throughout my career, my background as a black female migrant has always been my unique selling point (USP). I've harnessed it to drive change in my own small way, ensuring that I present my authentic self. It hasn't been a barrier in that sense. However, I must acknowledge that I've encountered micro-aggressions and navigated through challenging situations.
It's important to recognise that, historically, breaking into any industry as a black man or woman has been a formidable challenge, and there's still ample room for improvement. In my current role, I'm grateful that I feel empowered to be my true self and make a difference in communities that share a similar background to mine.'
What advice would you give to black female talent who may be looking to get into the industry?
'Be bold, trust in your ability and uniqueness and just go for it.'
A brief introduction about yourself and what do you do at Populo?'My name is Tara Murray and I work as the HR Lead at Populo. As a person, I enjoy looking after people’s needs and being funny to always keep a smile on everyone’s face. I spend my time outside of work cooking and conversing. I find the depth of a good conversation is how I emotionally recharge.'
What do you believe is your greatest achievement so far?
'My greatest achievement is completing my full-time law degree with a 2:1 whilst working full time for the whole 3 years.'
Could you tell us about a female figure who you look up to and has inspired you personally?
'My Aunty Sarnie is my best friend and my inspiration. She is someone that exudes love, warmth and positivity and she taught me what love was. She is always caring to others and is the most selfless human being I know. She has been through life and has learnt lessons and healthily processed experiences, as well as teaching others and supporting everyone in her path along the way. She deserves everything. I live every day to become more like her and make decisions that would make her proud.'
As we embrace the theme “Saluting Our Sisters” this Black History Month, what does this mean to you?
'To me this means understanding and learning about the experiences of other sisters and spreading these stories to educate people on how others live and overcome life. A lot of people aren’t awarded the privilege to know or be close to a sister so sharing their experiences will help break social stereotypes and encourage more conversation.'
Have you experienced barriers due to your background and what did you have to do to overcome them?
'I found the best way to overcome my barriers is becoming secure and confident in myself, so I have a fluid and strong understanding of my abilities and what I offer. This can be applied to work and personal life.'
What advice would you give to black female talent who may be looking to get into the industry?
'Know your talent and what you have to offer, go in and show what you bring to the table. Never think that you are “too much”.'
A brief introduction about yourself and what do you do at Populo? 'My name is Saudat, I am a Community Liaison Officer at Populo, my role is based at a community hub called the Dovetail that is on the Carpenters Estate which is one of Populo’s biggest project. My job is to get to know residents on the estate, support the residents and provide lots of engagement opportunities.'
What do you believe is your greatest achievement so far?
'My greatest achievement is being an aunt and I feel that that is a continuous responsibility as I think it’s important to empower, educate and support children and young people as they navigate the world.'
Could you tell us about a female figure who you look up to and has inspired you personally?
'I would say I have many female inspirations in my life, I couldn’t say just one. I know so many amazing women and I look up to them for different reasons. A female figure that I look up to is my nan as she was an amazing, caring, warm and welcoming smart woman who looked after her family, same with my mum as she was a working mum.'
As we embrace the theme “Saluting Our Sisters” this Black History Month, what does this mean to you?
'It is about celebrating and supporting the women that are out there, working hard, showing resilience and being part of a small number if not the only black woman in the room.'
What advice would you give to black female talent who may be looking to get into the construction industry?
'I would say do it, have confidence, find allies, and build good connections with people as those are what will support your career.'