North

North London has a large South American, European and Jewish population. From important cultural centers such as the Latin Village to Golders Green road being important for Kosher food and community, the north is an incredibly vibrant and important area. It is also home to two of London's football teams, Arsenal & Tottenham Hotspurs, the latter of which we spoke to fans and the importance of soccer in their lives.

Areas in the North we visited:

• Camden High Street

• Golders Green

• Finsbury Park

• Seven Sisters

• Tottenham

• Wood Green

Below you can find the various activities we did across the northern boroughs.

Spurs REACH

REACH – which stands for Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage – spoke to us about the necessity to further promote and encourage the sharing of information and good practice by including diverse and under-represented ethnic communities within football - a sport that - historically in the UK at least - has often been very white and very male. Working closely with the club and other groups and fandoms, REACH are looking to smash these narratives and myths by bringing a more diverse range of voices to the sport through London.

Golders Green Tour

Interestingly, we were able to speak to a Rabbi there, who spoke to us about how the Jewish identity has historically been written around their negative struggles. For him, it’s imperative to now own the idea of positive things, challenging and supporting people in defining their identities through the positive things that have happened and are happening to them, rather than the negative.

Camden Arts Centre

This group spoke about the changing nature of the city and how their physical spaces have been reduced in London, often due to the increasing gentrification of an area. As they explained it: “London use to be a big community map of people, but now it’s a big community map of money and gentrification.” They talked about how they used to drop in on their ‘Aunties’ [a somewhat nominal name for older females in the community, not necessarily an actual ‘aunty’] when traveling across London when they were younger, for instance, from Hackney to Brixton, but how increasingly these informal networks are being taken away as they become more and more expensive areas to live in.

Made in Hackney

Seeing health inequalities across London, they spoke to us about increasing access to food for the communities while inherently addressing conversations around climate change too. For them, they’re bringing people - and communities together "through the power of plants".

Javie Huxley Dinner

As she explains it “Moving to Tottenham made me feel at home. It’s the first time in my life I am surrounded by a black and minority ethnic [BAME] community, which has done wonders for my sense of identity,” which reiterates the importance of them seeing versions of themselves reflected. She continues: “I couldn’t believe how big and prominent the Latin community is here in London too – the Pueblito Paisa - the Latin Village - is an essential hub for London’s Latin American community in town.”

Flavia Dinner

For Flavia and her friends, she spoke to us about how she tends to access Brazilian culture through “the internet, friends and flatmates”; one of which is always listening to Brazilian music, an easy way for consumers like Flavia to connect with home. Interestingly, she also shops at a Brazilian cafe to enjoy and savor the taste of Brazil too. With myriad opportunities to access Brazil through London, this is how Flavia, Anais, Matheus and Otavio can feel closer to home while maintaining their lives in London.

JW3 Food Bank

As the volunteers told us, they feel they’re “at the age where multiple identities can be and should be celebrated.” They’re striving to “not to be seen as victims or puppeteers but truly just us,” explaining “that's basically our goal.” For them,  they see great power in opening up a traditionally very private community and culture to the world and changing that narrative for the greater good.

André and Nabil Dinner

Recently ‘banning’ clients from coming to the ‘ends’ [their neighborhoods] Andre and Nabil are highly aware of the appropriation of the working-class youth when it comes to creativity and campaigns. Empowering the next generation to take creativity into their own hands feels crucial, believing that "the more you create, the freer you become.” While they’ve been involved in the industry for years, they know see they can create more power as ‘an outside agitation’ and are looking to really help the new gen take the story into their own hands.

Chuku's Dinner

As they explain it, “We had this friendship group of all sorts and we could share their cultures, but we didn’t have a place where we could show them ours. So we opened a restaurant. You’re not going to come to Chuku’s and become an expert on Nigeria, but you’ll get a sense of it. It’s an introduction.” For them, sharing a love [and interest] of food is sharing community. Breaking bread, literally, becomes the bond.

Dinner with Fats Shariff

At this dinner, the team talked about vulnerability and the power of close connections - both online and virtually. There was a clear foundation for open conversation because everyone brought their real selves and real talk to the table. Additionally, the trio talked about the power of community and community activism for marginalized communities. The importance of community and relationships built over time was a thread of this group in what kept them close - despite life changes, career changes, divorces, marriages and world events they remained friends and supporters, together.