Candidate for the position of Black Minority Ethnic (BME) Officer
Improving the BME experience and opportunities at UWE through knowledge, passion and unity.
When applying for this role the two main factors that drew me in were: the large, diverse and incredibly vocal BME community that I have been delighted to meet both academically and socially. And secondly, is the pressing issues that warrant immediate attention from someone with personal as well as professional experience.
As well as being the youngest member of the BME group in my hometown of Brighton, I am a personal mentor to BME students in both primary and secondary school throughout Brighton & Hove. I understand the BME experience from every educational echelon. This, as well as having experienced it myself, gives me a unique perspective on how our experience can differ in ways that requires specific and thoughtful understanding. I will bring my knowledge, compassion, and zeal to this role and aim to be a sincere voice for minorities at UWE. The BME community is hugely diverse. One thing that is important to me is understanding intersectionality within the BME community. Recognition of the role patriarchy, homophobia, religious prejudice, and other discriminations within the realm of BME is of paramount importance to me and a topic of which I hope to shed light on.
Being a history student, lack of diversity and eurocentric curriculums has an enormous effect on me. However, this has only increased my personal impetus to help others in the same situation. Pushing for, and planning, Black History Month events/awareness in my own department, participating in UWE Global Majority events (e.g. Why is my Curriculum White?) as well as being a panelist for Nigerian Society talks; are among the many BME issues I have touched on so far this year and I hope, through the role of BME Officer I can continue, with greater support, to make positive changes at UWE.
Aims/ Objectives
-Diversifying Curriculums through events, talks etc. to challenge eurocentrism & 'whitewashing' -Compensating for lack of diversity & representation within UWE -Connecting with (and supporting) the wider BME community -Encourage & promote opportunities for BME students within and outside of UWE -Improve & and bring greater professionalism to Black History Month -Give BME students a bigger voice within UWE!
To conclude; I hope that you deem my knowledge and compassion fit for this position. If you have any questions, opinions or ideas on anything I have mentioned please feel free to email me.
Caine Tayo Lewin-Turner (Caine2.Lewin-Turner@live.uwe.ac.uk)