On the 20th March 2023, St Edmund’s ESA group (Ethnic Student Alliance) went on a trip to visit the Mayor’s parlour in Wolverhampton. We were able to meet Cllr Sandra Samuels OBE, the former Mayor of Wolverhampton. Not only is she the 163rd Mayor of Wolverhampton, but she was the first African-Caribbean female to have ever been elected to run our city. ESA felt proud and honoured to have her as Mayor and wanted to express our gratitude in person.

 

When we arrived we were led to a big room, where we were going to be spending our time with Councillor Samuels. The moment that we met Councillor Samuels for the first time was overwhelming, yet we couldn’t have been more excited to meet such a remarkable woman. She spoke to us about her life and her job as a nurse before she became Mayor. She told us about her motto “Dare to Dream” and how “no dream is too big or too small, as long as we do it with confidence”. She told us to do everything with confidence as “with confidence, you have won before you have even begun”.

 

When she finished her speech, we were shown her conference room, which is where she holds big meetings with members of the council. We were able to take it in turns to ask her questions and discuss the struggles she went through being a black woman running for Mayor. She told us about how we should never let racism take over our lives, that “racism is their problem, not yours”. We talked about what work she has done for the community and what it takes to be truly successful in life.

 

Once everyone had asked their questions, we had some refreshments and told Councillor Samuels a bit about our school diversity group, the ESA. When we were leaving, she gave us hugs and a small gift to remember our time at the Mayor’s parlour. It was an eye-opening experience, we have learned so much from Mayor Samuels and can’t wait to share it with others.

 

“People won’t always remember your face, what you’ve done or what you’ve said. But they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Cllr Sandra Samuels OBE

Written by Pooja Sonsana

 

 

ESA Group Photographs

Shnai Johnson, Peggy Mafiamba, Christina Agbasoga, Christina Cudjoe, Adrianna Brown, Leoni Francis, Temitope Omololu, Reyhan Birdi, Dumebi Umensofor, Khadija Henry, Dylan Coe, Pooja Sonsana and Jovita Edobor

Staff:  Mr Taylor (Head of Year 8) and Mrs Grant (Assistant Head of Year 8)