Activist, Zita Holbourne,
Wins National Diversity Award
Congratulations
to Zita Holbourne, who has won the
award for Positive Role Model for Race,
sponsored by Q Hotels, at this year’s National
Diversity Awards. Zita faced some stiff competition to win the award having
been one of the three outstanding shortlisted nominees from the thousands of
nominations received for the awards this year.
Zita is a working mother, trade union, community
and human rights activist, a poet, writer and visual artist. She is co-founder
and national co-chair of Black Activists
Rising Against Cuts, a national campaign group set up to respond to the
disproportionate impact of cuts on black workers, service users and
communities. She is elected to the National Executive Committee of the Public
and Commercial Services (PCS) Union and Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) and
to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Race Relations Committee.
Zita won the award because she is a
champion for equality and diversity and a committed human rights activist with
20 years experience specialising in this field.
On winning the award Zita said;
‘It’s an honour to win the positive role model for race award
and have my work recognised in this way. I hope that the award stands to
recognise the importance of trade union and community activism in advancing
race equality. All of us representing the various equality categories of the
awards, represent the majority, we are not a minority or an add on, we are
society.
Right now, the progress made on equality over decades is under
threat. We have a duty not just to defend the hard earned gains made by those
who went before us but to achieve equality in our lifetime and create a legacy
for future generations.
Freedom is not the power to do what we want but to be empowered
to do what’s right. Until each one of us is at liberty to embrace who we are
without fear of hatred or discrimination we all have a responsibility to stand
up for equality and justice.’
Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of the PCS Union said:
' It is great to see Zita's hard work and commitment recognised in this way. It is also recognition I believe of the central role trade unions and their representatives play today in defending and advancing the cause of equality in Society. Zita's contribution to this cause is much appreciated by me and PCS is proud to have her as one of its leading representatives.'
The National Diversity Awards 2012 whose
headline sponsor was Microsoft was hosted by Brian Dowling at Manchester’s
Midland Hotel on the 21st September. The night was a glittering
success with appearances from Paralympic heroes Jody Cundy and Claire Hardy,
BBC journalist and model Amal Fashanu, the stars of ‘My Transsexual Summer and
CBeebies presenter Cerrie Burnell.’ Spectacular performances also took place
from singing sensation Ruth Brown from ‘The
Voice’ and MOBO unsung award winner Esco Williams. The L project also
performed their moving LGBT anti bullying charity single ‘It does get better’.
The glittering event attracted a wide range of sponsors from the likes of
Northumbrian Water, The Financial Ombudsman Service and Manchester City
Council.
The National Diversity Awards is a unique
event celebrating individuals, community organisations and companies, from a
grass-roots level, for their selfless hard work on a day to day basis towards a
more inclusive society. The event recognises and celebrates all aspects of
diversity within one ceremony including age, disability, gender, race and LGBT.
After generating so much interest and
support in its first year, the awards are sure to go from strength to strength
with next year’s event being held in Leeds.
To contact Zita email: zitabaracuk@gmail.com or zita@pcs.org.uk
