#BGFAcademyAlumni — Helen Femi Williams
Black Girl Fest Academy is a seven-month community-focused creative programme, created by Black Girl Festival, in association with Today at Apple and The Mayor of London.
Over the past few months, we’ve supported 30 Black women aged 17–25, equipping them with the tools to create events for their local communities. We’re excited to introduce our Academy Alumni sharing more about their event ideas.
Helen Femi Williams is hosting a dinner party (max 8 guest) for employees of multinational organisations. The objective is to create a safe space to talk about issues of race, gender and sexuality and to challenge assumptions, think about their unmonitored thoughts and open the door to uncomfortable conversations in a safe environment that helps people educate themselves.
Helen Femi Williams
Tell us more about your event, How did you come up with it? What impact do you hope it makes for your community?
In the wake of BLM I found that many including my own organisation I work for were virtue signalling, given the journey I went on to hold them accountable to ensure they would do better I realised that many others also needed this support. I'm helping to educate individuals and colleagues so black employees don't have to take on that unpaid emotional labour.
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to sign up to the Black Girl Fest Academy programme?
DO IT — reach out to the other girls on the programme as getting to know them was one of the best bits!
What have you learnt whilst being on the programme?
Through facilitators and mentorship, I was able to refine my idea, to plan an event that will serve my audience better. I was able to identify new products and services that would enhance my planning and overall event. And lastly, I learnt to develop relationships with my peer and being part of this programme was great!
Could you give 3 piece’s of advice you would give to someone who wants to run events for their community?
Be kind to yourself
Give yourself the time and space to ideate
Run your ideas by others, and don’t assume people get what you’re on about
