I am Chloe Franklin, an African American college student from Rock Hill, South Carolina. Upon graduation from university, I aspire to attend law school and become a medical-malpractice lawyer and a legal correspondent for national news. Growing up, I was heavily involved in sports and committed to excelling in school. I was a competitive gymnast, a part of the student service council at my high school, and began my first job at 15 years old. These experiences taught me discipline, determination, organization, and much more. Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, my education was writing-focused. By high school graduation, I had fallen in love with writing. Therefore, I decided to attend Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, where I am a junior majoring in Journalism. On campus, I hold three jobs and work for our news organization. But, I knew I wanted to study abroad during college. So, this semester, I am studying in London.

A lot of things drew me to the city of London. There is no language barrier, and many aspects of London remind me of the United States. In addition, it is a diverse city and is somewhere I have always wanted to visit. Studying abroad was a step out of my comfort zone. However, I am over halfway through my experience and have adapted well. Initially, I struggled with directions, and riding the tube confused me. But now, I am confident taking public transportation and guiding people through London. Although I have grown familiar with London, there is still much more to see and learn. I have also been taking advantage of traveling to new places. So far, I have had the opportunity to travel to Barcelona, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Paris, and Edinburgh. I never expected to be able to travel like this. 

Even though traveling is a great opportunity, the deciding factor for studying abroad in London was participating in an international internship. About halfway through my program, I learned I would be an intern at You Press. Once I learned more about the organization and my role, I was excited to get started. You Press’ dedication to helping underrepresented groups and young people find their voice drew me to the organization. You Press holds functions, supports people to be creative, gives community members a platform to share their talents, and more. I currently mentor two individuals back home. I am happy to learn more about helping young people and having the opportunity to implement skills I have already been cultivating. In addition, I hope to assist underrepresented groups in the future through law and journalism. You Press believes this is important work and that people should have a voice and others should listen. I agree. Any opportunity to help others is fulfilling and good training for my future.

By: Chloe Franklin

My name is Maddy Adler and I’m a 20-year-old college student born and raised in New York. This semester, I chose to study abroad in London to immerse myself in a culture significantly different from what I have grown accustomed to since childhood. I saw this as a chance to push myself to experience new things and grow my independence as my college career starts to come to a close.

Although graduation is still a year away, it’s only a matter of time before I’m thrown into a new reality of my adult life. It’s been hard to come to terms with the fact that I can no longer have the comfort of college as a transitionary period and will soon be entirely independent. Living in London has undoubtedly been one of the most exciting things I have experienced. So far, it has been a pleasure getting to know the intricacies of British culture, and will remain a pivotal part of my adulthood.

As a political science student, I have learned a lot about the current and historical political climate in the United States. With a large emphasis on reading, writing, analytical thought, and critical thinking in my classes, I hope to take these skills I’ve learned from my studies in undergrad and put them to use in law school and an eventual career in the legal field. Although my interests within types of law vary and I’m unsure of exactly which one I’d like to go into, entertainment, copyright, and immigration law are all at the forefront of my mind. I see the chance to intern at You Press as a way to sharpen my professional skills and gain familiarity with work environments which can help pave the way for my future career endeavors.

Aside from my studies, much of what I’m passionate about has been related to the arts and writing. I have had a strong affinity with photography for much of my childhood and teenage years, and have attended programs that have versed me in both digital and film photography. This has led me to work with many different cameras and equipment. I, too, have had an interest in graphic design and layout work and enjoy tapping into my creative side when I have the opportunity. I have also done a lot of writing during my college years at HerCampus, a female-owned and operated publication where I curate articles on current events, lifestyle, and wellness. I have since been promoted to section editor there, where I manage the progression of staff articles from submission to publication.

Many of my passions–both academic and personal–align with my idea of You Press and its mission as a social enterprise, which is what I believe makes me a great fit for interning here. I can resonate deeply with its emphasis on giving young creatives a platform, as there can often be a gap in connecting youth talent with an audience. It’s wonderful to be able to pinpoint a passion for the arts, but discouraging when you feel like your talent isn’t reaching its potential. You Press gives people a vessel to be heard: a thing that everyone deserves.

Action for Race Equality is a charity with the mission to confront the institutions around them that are inherently discriminatory and racist. Deputy Chief Executive Tebussum Rashid immerses herself in this grassroots initiative and she has for almost 30 years. She got involved with the organisation after migrating to London from Pakistan and wanting to make a difference in the community.  

“I think the politics of the country keep me going in the sense that it’s hard work because we constantly get that pushback,” Rashid said. “But recognizing that if people like us or organizations like us weren’t in this space, the discrimination would be worse.”

Just a year ago, the organisation rebranded to become a Black training enterprise group to focus specifically on policies concerning people of colour. The feeling of injustice is all too familiar to Rashid from her childhood. 

“One of the things that has shaped me and in terms of what I do and my passion behind the work is a situation that I was faced with at quite a young age that stems back to the prejudices within communities and the social norms that I grew up with.”

In Pakistan where Rashid grew up, it is customary for young girls around age 17 to get married and not be educated. However, she was determined to break that cycle. 

“I remember my resilience. Everything was against me, but I was determined,” Rashid said. “I was so wanting to pursue education and I loved reading.”

Not only did she pursue her personal education but she also passed her driving test at 17, which was rare for girls in her position at the time. 

Action for Race Equality is another way for Rashid to make change in the world. So far, it’s been successful, but like many other organisations after the pandemic, they are short of staff members. 

“We can only be in so many places at one time,” Rashid said. “As much as we need to be in those spaces, we can’t because of our capacity, which directly links to funding.” 

With more funding in the future, Action for Race Equality will move into more spaces and lend a helping hand to even more communities in London that are in need.   

Outside of Rashid’s work, she finds her own personal freedom through riding a motorbike. 

“It is my main form of commuting into London. It’s my little world and I absolutely love it.” 

Rashid is a changemaker in Central London. With more people like her, the world could be a better place. 

To donate to Action for Race Equality, visit their website www.actionforraceequality.org.uk/donate/ or participate in the cause on social media using the hastags #TimetoTalk and #TimeforAction. 

By: Naomi Washington, Creative Writer and Digital Media intern

Aliya Ahmed’s passion transformed into her professional work two years ago when she started the Functional Learning Programme. The programme provides one hour long sessions for parents to learn techniques to help with their child’s developmental needs. With non-verbal activities and mind-stimulating toys, there is an opportunity for parents and their children to connect with one another.    

Ahmed did functional learning with her own children and saw how positive it was for her family. This inspired her to open her home and offer therapy to families who could not afford it. 

“The most important thing is to understand that every child can learn no matter their race, their nationality, their background, their religion, their disability, function learning enables all parents and all children to have that belief that every child can learn to their best ability,” Ahmed said. 

Before You Press’ Functional Learning Programme became what it is today, it was Ahmed’s university research project. She chose to do a school-funded project with a special needs college. After working in schools with children for five years, Ahmed was ready to pursue the next step. 

“I didn’t plan it so it was very natural,” Ahmed said. “I didn’t create functional learning. It was something I was delivering to people who needed it and it became a demand.”

Now, Ahmed has over 10 years of experience being a family therapist, working in special education and with disabled children. 

According to the You Press website, Functional Learning is a tool that was developed in 1976 by Dr. Geoffrey Waldon. Ahmed combined this research with her own experiences to start the Functional Learning Programme. The Islamic Relief Worldwide organisation heard Ahmed’s personal story and became a sponsor of the Functional Learning Programme. 

“It’s very important to me because I’m also Muslim and Islamic Relief Worldwide has always been something I’ve always donated to,” Ahmed said. “It’s quite hard to believe I am a part of a bigger organisation which I have donated to since I was a young adult. I still haven’t got my head around it.”

The children and their families who utilise the Functional Learning Programme come from many different backgrounds and with that comes barriers. The greatest challenge is learning each child’s “type of play” and using that information to help with their development, according to Ahmed.  

“The most important feedback I get from the children and from parents is that functional learning can be very emotional,” Ahmed said. “I recently did a workshop and I had a person in there start crying while we were doing the workshop. It became very overwhelming for them. … Functional learning is all about letting go of your emotions and taking it all in.” 

In the future, Ahmed hopes more families sign up for the Functional Learning workshops and implement what they learn into their home routines. 

“We know it’s not going to be a magic wand,” Ahmed said. “We’re not changing [people]. We are helping the children or young adults have the best stability. So that’s why we call it functional learning. It’s functional living.”

To participate in a Functional Learning Programme workshop, visit the ‘Projects’ tab on the You Press website, go to the ‘Functional Learning’ information box and press the ‘Apply Now’ button.

By: Naomi Washington, Creative Writer and Digital Media intern

Peabody is an organisation that helps people in disadvantaged communities flourish by providing homes and investing in said communities to aid their resiliency. Their model is based on George Peabody, who declared that his obvious humanitarian mission is to “ameliorate the condition of the poor and needy of this great metropolis and to promote their comfort and happiness”. 

The first-ever Peabody Young People Awards event was held last Friday night, January 20th. The purpose of this celebration was to honour the contributions of their esteemed partners and volunteers and showcase gratitude for their initiatives to make their communities stronger, wealthier, and more resilient. This event was executed wonderfully. To adequately convey my experience, I will highlight key aspects which contributed to the success of the evening.

 The highlight of the evening was the entertainment. I thought it was fantastic that Peabody provided youth members of minority communities the chance to display their incredible artistic abilities. Anu Balofin, a passionate poet, performed three poems about her experience of being a member of Generation Z. Musician Nate Lyken sang a handful of his favourite tunes, including a rendition of Location by Khalid. Both of these performers immediately captured the audience. 

Maryam Chowbury, the Community Mobilisation Officer, and Kate McAleer, the Community Mobilisation Coordinator, created a lively atmosphere through their enthusiastic personalities. They focused on, and achieved, strong engagement with the audience and generated a lot of cheering and applause. Maryam presented various awards including, Volunteer of the Year, Community Group of the Year, Champion of Young People, and Inspirational Impact. I appreciated how each award honoured a person or group who had made a significant contribution to their community and Peabody, without expecting anything in return. The recipients of these awards were extremely appreciative.

There were countless aspects of this evening to enjoy. It is an honour for You Press to collaborate with Peabody. Youth empowerment and increased self-assurance are goals of You Press, but none of it is possible without adequate housing and the work of Peabody. In conclusion, especially because it was the pilot award ceremony, I would rate this event 5 stars. 

Written By: Jenna Goldberg