Cambridge Alumna Diane Abbot joins Labour Leadership Race

Leftwing MP Diane Abbott is no stranger to firsts. Back in 1987 she became the first Black woman to be elected to Parliament, and last month she was the first woman to enter contest to succeed Gordon Brown as leader of the Labour Party.

The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, doubled her majority in the recent local elections and successfully secured the 33 nominations needed to get her on to the ballot paper in the five-horse race alongside Mr Miliband, his brother Ed, Andy Burnham and Ed Balls .

Abbott, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, was previously quoted by The Guardian as highlighting that none of the current frontrunners in the race would admit that the immigration system is "still inefficient and unfair and brings abuse, but nobody will say we have to address the underlying issues behind black and white working-class unease about immigration, about housing, job insecurity.

"And, you know, if we are going to have a debate about immigration, I am the child of immigrants. Don't the millions of British people who are the children of immigrants have a voice in this debate also? I could not be more serious."

Born on September 27th, 1953, in London of Jamaican parents, Abbott was educated at Harrow County Girls' Grammar School and Newnham College, Cambridge, with an MA in History.

Read More
Diane Abbott - website
Diane Abbott - Wikipedia
Diane Abbott's page on 100 Great Black Britons
Abbott joins leadership race - The Guardian, 20 May 2010
Abbott makes the final cut - Daily Mirror, 10 June 2010

Refocus Youths - Youth Conference, Saturday 12 June 2010

Nnamdi Odozi would like you to spread the word about this Youth Conference on Saturday - see flyer - tell the young people you know and their parents.

The event is being organised by the wife of the Nigerian Deputy High Commissioner, Dr Mrs Nwanna, who is very passionate about young people and education. 


Dr Nwanna has set up a charity Refocus Youths to tackle the problem of underachievement amongst young people.


The event will be held at Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre, Harrow Road NW10 from 10:00 to 15:00.

www.thediversitygroup.co.uk

The Diversity Group promotes equal opportunities to people from every kind of minority background or lifestyle, including race, gender, disability, age, faith and sexual orientation.

www.ethnicbritain.co.uk

Equality Britain promotes opportunites in employment and education to BME communities. Used by organisations across the UK to promote their commitment to equality.

www.rarerecruitment.co.uk/rare

Rare Recruitment - Diversity recruitment agency used by Penguin and others.

http://www.kalmagazine.com/

KAL magazine for ethnic minority students.

http://www.kalmagazine.com/features/?story=yes&id=50

Article on the career progression and obstacles of black lawyers.

www.emjobsite.co.uk

Ethnic Minorities Jobsite focus is to improve recruitment and other communications with black and minority ethnic people and groups, and encourage applications from them.

www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Ethnic

Some useful advice on handling race discrimination in the workplace, and in job search.

www.equalityhumanrights.com

The Equality and Human Rights Commission was launched in October 2007, taking over the role and functions of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and assuming new responsibilities for sexual orientation, age, religion and belief, and human rights.

The Commission is a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB), established under the Equality Act 2006 as a corporate body. Our sponsor department is the Government Equalities Office (GEO). We have a board of commissioners who steer the commission's work and direction.

Many of those who worked in the previous equality commissions joined the new Commission, creating a body with an enormous wealth of experience and knowledge about race, sex and disability equality and discrimination. Many people have since joined the Commission - experts in sexual orientation, age, religion and belief and human rights and people with skills and experience in all relevant functions.

www.diversitymilkround.com

The Diversity Milkround boasts over 300 top U.K based companies wishing to promote diversity within the workplace and offering internships, industrial placements and graduate positions.

The Windsor Fellowship Leadership Programme

The Windsor Fellowship Leadership Programme provides personal development training and work placements with sponsoring organisations for Black and Asian students. These include management consultancies, investment banks, manufacturing companies, media and government organisations. 

You need to apply to the programme by the second term of your first year at university. CUACA boasts a few Windsor Fellows, too!

Please visit their website for further information.

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO)

www.seo-london.org

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) London is a not-for- profit organisation that provides exceptional penultimate year under-graduate students from under-represented ethnic minority backgrounds with a unique opportunity to gain summer internships at some of the most prestigious firms in investment banking, technology and corporate law. SEO also offers a "Fast Track for Investment Banking" programme aimed at first year students.

'Lets Talk Africa' - Post Event Coverage

Conference on Africa looks at employment prospects

With an increasing number of African students acquiring excellent quality education overseas, and as the global economic climate forces many overseas graduates to consider returning home to contribute to the development of Africa, Cambridge University Nigeria Society have staged a day of talks and discussion.

'Let's Talk Africa', staged at the Union Society last week, saw some leading speakers address these topics with an audience of more than 100 students, graduates and practitioners from the UK and beyond.

Please follow the link to read more post-event coverage for the 'Lets Talk Africa' Event publicised earlier this year.
http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2010051005

Let's Talk Africa

The event, 'Let's Talk Africa' is geared towards showcasing the opportunities available in Africa to encourage Graduates and students in Diaspora from Africa to add value to the continent by returning back home. 

Please find attached a tentative programme of events and a flyer, which contains the profile of two confirmed speakers as well as more on this programme. 

Confirmed speakers include Mr. Martin Woolnough (Managing Director and CEO Nestle Nigeria) and Ms Pratibha Thaker, Regional Director, Africa, Economist Intelligence Unit.

At this event African meals will be provided, registration is free and reservations could be made by emailing olugbenga@tiec.co.uk.

Hope some of you can make it.

London Networking Event - March 2010

London Networking Event

Accessible Details:

Venue: Mahoe Cafe Bar, 74-82 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4N 4SJ

From:
1800 - 2100 hrs

Tube: Mansion House/ Bank

Download the invitation (so you can share it with your friends)

RSVP to publicity@cuacalumni.org

Map

View Larger Map

We look forward to meeting you.

Yours sincerely,

 

CUACA

Haiti

Haiti, January 2010
On Tuesday, 12 January 2010, the Caribbean territory of Haiti was hit by the worst earthquake in 200 years. Measuring over 7 on the Richter Scale, the earthquake flattened most of the island's capital Port-au-Prince.

Hundreds of thousands are feared dead, while an estimated 3 million have been displaced or otherwise affected. One can appreciate that with a disaster on this scale, local authorities and humanitarian organisations are struggling to rescue survivors and distribute essential supplies.

CUACAS is deeply moved by the reports and devastating images coming from the region and urges all members, friends and associates of the Society to give generously in support of the relief effort in whatever way they can.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Haitian people (local and internationally dispersed) during this difficult time. UK based members may wish to coordinate their giving through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) (alternatively you may text "GIVE" to 70077) or The British Red Cross.

Get Involved

Fundraising for the fund primarily operates at a grassroots level as we firmly believe in the principle that communities should lead the way in supporting and empowering their own.
As an example, if each member of the African and Caribbean Alumni community worldwide, made an annual donation of just £100, we would have more than enough to support the success of each eligible applicant within the current academic year. While you are free to make this and larger pledges, we are sensitive to the fact that these are difficult times and are currently requesting minimum donations of £25.
We also welcome support from interested charities and corporate sponsors who support our aims and objectives.
You can help by:

• Spreading the word among your personal network (social, academic and professional);
• Volunteering for fundraising events - large or small;
• Pledging an annual donation to the fund.

Please use the button below to go directly to our paypal pages. We respectfully ask for minimum donations of £25.
Thanks in advance for your support.

Vision: The Education Fund

The CUACA Education Fund

The Cambridge University African and Caribbean Alumni Society (CUACA) is committed to investing in future generations.

At the end of 2009, CUACA has launched an Education Fund to provide valuable financial support to current undergraduate students.
With African and Caribbean students disproportionately under-represented within the University of Cambridge’s student population, it is imperative to invest in improving access and the success of future generations.
Our overarching aim is to assist undergraduates in the pursuit of degrees which they might not otherwise be able to afford.
The application process begins at the beginning of Michaelmas Term (October) 2010, with our first awards scheduled for January 2011.
We believe firmly in the principle that communities should lead the way in supporting and empowering their own. Find out how you can get involved!

Vision: The Alumni Society

The society exists to:

• promote and advance the welfare of present students of African or Caribbean origin or descent at Cambridge University;
• promote fellowship and provide professional networking opportunities for former students of the University who are of African or Caribbean origin or descent;
• actively support and promote student applications to the University by potential students of African or Caribbean origin or descent.

As part of our vision for education and empowerment within our communities, CUACA has launched an Education Fund to support the success of our undergraduate students.
In addition to financial support, the Society provides mentoring and personal development opportunities in association with the CU Careers Service.