FYI..


Dear Shelley

I only just became aware of your organisation today (although I have
met Marika before!) and so won't be able to attend your conference on
Saturday.  I would be grateful if you would alert members to the existence
of CBACS as a new initiative at London South Bank University.

The key focus of CBACS is on improving life attainment levels for
black students through learning and teaching initiatives.  This focus
is the outcome of my gaining a national teaching and research
fellowship in 2002.  I chose to introduce Academically-Based
Community Service with a strategic focus on British African
Caribbeans.    I have recently published a book titled: Toward
Bicultural Competence: Beyond Black and White (2007, Trentham Books)
which provides important insights of the learning journey I have been
on as a Caribbean woman.  It is based on this journey that CBACS
became a necessary step into the future.

We have also launched The Metanoia Project 2007-2034.  The aim of TMP
is to make determined focussed efforts at achieving significant change
by 2034 in terms of reforming British culture.  CBACS is hosting its
first BAC Summer School between 21 July - 2 August 2008 as a
commitment towards this outcome.  The summer school focuses on
learning and teaching in terms of strategies, content, etc as a means
of achieving enhanced black critical engagement with British culture
and its institutions.

Apart from the summer school leading us to 2034 another event which
should also be of interest to your membership is the Annual
African-Centred Research Colloquium for academics and practitioners on
Thursday 24 July at LSBU.

CBACS is also a partner with The London Design Festival
(www.londondesignfestival.com) this year and is hosting the True Story
- One Story (www.cbacs.org/truestory) display of BAC portraiture, film
and written word accounts from 13-23 September at LSBU.  You will need
to refer to the website for specified times.

I am keen to remain in contact with you and to consider ways in which
we might work together given our shared aims.

Look forward to hearing from you

Kind regards

Gloria Gordon