Anchor resident Aderonke shares her thoughts on Black History Month

My name is Aderonke. I have been a resident of Anchor since 2016. Due to health challenges, I returned to London after living in Birmingham to be closer to my family and friends. 

I was instantly impressed by the accessibility of the Anchor properties I have lived in. They are well-maintained, clear updates have been available, and there are provisions for care in the future should I require it. While we can’t achieve perfect living conditions or management, Anchor’s community prioritises inclusivity and safety, ensuring everyone is treated respectfully, and no one is left behind.

Learning to find your voice and speak up for yourself

I realised my voice was important at 10 years old. Being raised Catholic, my family attended church every Sunday, and every Saturday my siblings and I would say hurtful things to each other just so we would have something to confess that evening! One Saturday, I decided to break this cycle, though my parents insisted I explain my decision to the Reverend Father. He acknowledged my choice and emphasised the consequences of dishonesty, which ingrained in me the significance of advocating for what is right.

I have previously worked in teaching and healthcare, always speaking up against injustice. When working as a pharmacy assistant I was unable to progress due to my ethnicity, and brought it to my manager’s attention. When it still hindered me, I changed course to study pharmacology and advanced in another direction, allowing me to positively influence the toxic culture and prove I had the right to progress.

As an active member of my community and church, inclusivity is at the core of everything. I currently serve as the chairperson of an international Think Tank group that addresses various issues in communities and develops policy-influencing papers for governments.

The Group’s motto is “Placing humanity above the politics of nations,” and we strive to treat everyone as people first and foremost. I also believe that well-informed citizens can act with greater awareness and responsibility, which facilitates better governance generally. 

When resources allow, my partner and I visit different countries in Africa to work with underprivileged communities and support people affected by isolation due to health issues such as leprosy. Our goal is to empower these communities and give them hope, and it’s highly rewarding both for us and the communities we visit.

Celebrating Black History Month at Anchor

I’m chuffed Anchor acknowledges and celebrates Black History Month. Black History - as well as any other colour, religion, or ethnicity - is a daily celebration, not just an annual monthly affair. We are all God’s creations and likeness. As an educator, I recognise that we cannot progress if we are fixated on what we already know. 2024’s theme, ‘Reclaiming Narratives,’ underscores the necessity to establish more genuine narratives for future generations, and nobody can tell our stories better than us.

I am proud of humanity, and hope for enhanced global unity in cultivating peace and love, harnessing the power of our diversities as a unifying strength. We are more united than apparently separated.

I look forward to the day when we can start celebrating "All Colours’ History Month.

Aderonke is an Anchor resident

Our approach to Diversity and Inclusion

We aim to make diversity and inclusion an everyday reality and ensure that dignity and respect are central to the way we work and that the unique contributions of our colleagues and residents are valued and celebrated.. Find out more about our approach to Diversity and Inclusion here.