Guyana SPEAKS: Life Stories: Transcending Adversity and Making Positive Change - Sun, 29th Jan 2023

This month we celebrated the achievements of three Guyana-born members of the UK diaspora: Adele Williams Sewell MBE, Russell Profitt MBE and Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE. By sharing a glimpse into their life stories, all three revealed how they turned adversity into opportunity.
Adele Williams Sewell MBE moved to the UK aged 15. She was awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year’s Honours List 2023 for her charitable services to people with ovarian cancer. She has an inspiring story to tell having survived breast and ovarian cancer many times. She set up a support group for women with ovarian cancer in 2011, which still runs monthly at the South East Cancer Help Centre in Purley. She is also the amazing Founder of Touch of Teal.
Russell Profitt MBE was born in Guyana and emigrated to London in 1961 at the age of 13, remarkably on his own! He was awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to the community in Southwark, London. He has held a number of senior positions advising on community engagement and inclusion at Brent Council, Southwark Council and Greenwich Inclusion Project. He was also Chair of Trust at Golden Oldies Community Care Trust, Camberwell After School Project and Rio Ferdinand Trust.
Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE similarly emigrated to the UK from Guyana in 1961. In the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours she was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for Services to Black and Ethnic Minority Business. Known for her entrepreneurial flair, Dr Thompson has been involved in many successful firsts in the UK including, being Music Editor for the UK's first Black Monthly glossy magazine - Root, and also being a founder and director of the UK's first Black Music radio station Choice FM, now owned by the Global Radio Group. Other firsts include, starting the first Black Owned PR company (according to PR Week), now known as ASAP Communications; running the first in depth research on the lifestyle of the Black community across the UK - The Black Consumer Survey and starting the UK's first Black Women Business Network - The European Federation of Black Women Business Owners.
Guyana SPEAKS was co-founded by Dr Juanita Cox and Rod Westmaas. If you'd like to be notified of future events you can connect with them via Facebook, Twitter @JCWestmaas or email them at [e-mail]. The majority of their events are held on the last Sunday of every month at 3:30pm UK time.

[@markweekes8858]

Great Q and A

[@markweekes8858]

Wonderful stories! Thanks 👸 for sharing.

[@GuyanaSPEAKS]

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@markweekes8858]

Le Repentir cemetery is what Ms Thompson is referring to. Either East or West Ruimveldt housing schemes she may have lived.