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2020 - Pandemic or Not; still A BUSY YEAR!
Kashmire Hawker • 2 July 2020
How 2020 has been for me, thus far!
Who'd geniunely thought, that when on New Year's Eve whilst having a few celebratory drinks with my Father at his home in Wednesfield, that we'd see the globe be flipped on an axis in such a bonkers fashion and that come the end of the first half, of the first year of the third decade this century, the nation knows it won't ever be the same!
For me - despite the realms of a 6 1/2 month breather since December 9th 2019 and currently being on the job hunt, January to June has still meant a lot of fun and important stuff.
Most has been through the West Midlands Young Combined Authority, of which has meeting regularly in person before March and online since then; but still enabling opportunities such as speaking at the CA Board twice and being at all 3 of 2020's meeting, being engaged with the CA led Citizen's Panel on post Covid-19 recovery, influcing the #WM2041 Climate strategy which aims to make our region fully carbon-neutral in 21 years time and amongst other things, pushing out Government guidelines in a young people friendly fashion (even if they sound confusing as heck)...
Alongside this, I've had the joys of being linking in with several other organisations too:
- West Midlands Trains and the recently expanded Midlands Stakeholder Equality Group, which pre Coronavirus had mainly organised a Disability Access Conference for stakeholders across the railway industry (of which will now be later this year), were apart of WMT's Inspiration and Recovery Webinar in mid June and took part in 3 bi-monthly meetings
- Wolverhampton Wanderers Fans Parliament - of which after a 4 month break returned to meeting just last week virutally, on things relating to the club and gathering fans input on how fans should let back into the Golden Palace that is Molineux
- Leading the Disabled Students Caucus for the National Union of Student's Liberation Conference, of which saw myself chair a debate of 90 plus disabled students from up and down the nation, on disability matters at Universities
- Being part of a UK Youth Webinar on all things digital - of which a further piece shall come about soon!
- Being invited to be on Solutions for the Planet Big Idea's 2020 West Midlands judging panel, of which occurs in early July, as one of the younger judges evaluating this year's entries
- Social Media volunteering, for the excellent gang at Zest Community in Sheffield, of which through the powers of technology is being done from one's home 95 miles away, from the organisation's HQ in Upperthrope
- And even being chosen as a Silverstone volunteer Race Maker, of which even if there are no events for us to attend thanks to the current climate, gives the 400 strong team a great deal of excitement!
The cherry on the top, has to have been re-engaging with the team at Changing Our Lives; one of the most outstanding and impressive rights based charities in the land. Along with being asked to become an Associate for COL, which will enbable myself to be part of further projects with the team, I have been busy creating my second version of a Leadership Book, which has given more of my leadership story and the way's I've been Speaking Out (there's your title!). The 1st edition - released shortly after beginning University in 2016, can be found here and I will shortly announce the release date for the said 2nd book.
And as on the 2021 Local Elections
page, I've somehow at just 22 years young had the chance pre Lockdown, to offer myself for service on a big level. Knowing that The Labour Party have announced selections will be resuming shortly via the web and knowing of there being two further wards, that will need filling thanks to resignations of Councillors along with the one selection on hold, gives me every hope of achiving something special. Do therefore see
a full statement updating you
on my thinking and way ahead.
Even if at times one has felt isolated, a bit lonely and totally bewildered, as to what the wild world is like and what a full post COVID-19 recovery pans out to being, I feel confident that things are heading in the right direction for me.
It's taken time, it's take effort, but my intention to make the second part of this extraordinary year, one of the most productive yet!
Here's a rant, knowing of the status of my Football Club, whose future is in deep danger...
An update on my party political engagement and electioneering moving forward.
As another Birthday comes around, here's a few reflections.
A special blog post, in reflecting upon seeing one of the greatest artists of our times on August 19th!
Some reflections on the events of the past several days.
A Response to the Announcement following yesterday's Fan Advisory Board Meeting.
Happy New Year! A post on my hopes for A BIG period now here.
Some thoughts and feelings at the conclusion of 2023.
After another humbling night at Molineux, some few thoughts on an excellent few weeks.
My Candidate's Statement, for YF Exec Committee's Election. Voting closes on October 13th!
