Greenhouse Pioneer: Zakiya McKenzie & Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
Greenhouse
The very first ‘Green & Black’ show was broadcast on Bristol's Ujima Radio in October 2014, as the city geared up for its year as European Green Capital 2015. A panel debate examined the absence of BME leaders within the sustainability sector and explored ways to engage ethnic minorities in the city’s green endeavours.
Ujima continued the Green & Black series and in 2016 a pilot project was launched in partnership with the Bristol Green Capital Partnership and the University of Bristol, which aimed to make the city’s sustainability movement more inclusive.
Believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, the project was spearheaded by two ambassadors, Zakiya McKenzie and Jasmine (Jazz) Ketibuah-Foley, who received training and support to empower them to conduct research, encourage engagement, showcase best practice and champion inclusive projects on local, national and international platforms.
An evaluation report was published last month, sharing the successes and learnings of the pilot project, which will hopefully attract sufficient funding to extend it to a longer term programme.
We caught up with Jazz and Zakiya to find out what worked and who they look to for inspiration.
[ZM] I’m currently studying a PhD in Caribbean Literature. My Green & Black experience has given me some very relevant insights, particularly the interaction with academics and ethnic minority communities.
[ZM] Guyana, Fragile Frontier by Marcus Colchester.
- Tell us, in 20 words or fewer, about the Green & Black ambassadors - what's your mission?
- What drives you?
- What are your greatest achievements to date?
- What challenges did you face?
- What are you working on now that's getting you fired up and excited?
- Where do you want to take the ambassadors project next?
- What can we, as individuals, do to make a difference?
- How is what you are doing inspiring change in others?
- Can you recommend a life- or game-changing book for our readers?
- What do you listen to when you're cooking dinner?
- What's the best advice you've ever been given?
- Can you leave us with who'd be your Eco Hero?