Help these trailblazing Lewisham women get their own murals

News Shopper caught up with Moira Tait, founder of the Brockley Max festival, to hear about eight local women that are so incredible she’s trying to get murals painted of them in the borough.

While only three will be depicted in murals, all eight women are the definition of inspirational.

Speaking about the initiative Moira - who founded Brockley Max 21 years ago - said she hopes she can succeed in getting the project funded.

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A steering committee of black women will then be installed before a public vote on which three women are memorialised in mural form takes place.

The following eight Lewisham trailblazers are in the running.

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah is a grassroots campaigner in Lewisham.

She has spent nearly a decade raising awareness of asthma and the health problems that can be caused by air pollution, following the death of her 9-year old daughter, Ella Roberta, in 2013.

Mavis Best

In the 70s, activist Mavis Best played a key role in scrapping the infamous Sus Law alongside a group of black women from Lewisham.

The Sus Law was based on the 1824 Vagrancy Act – which was used by police officers to stop, search, arrest, detain and assault young black men and women.

Following a series of demonstrations and meetings, Mavis and other women from Lewisham saw the law scrapped.

Malorie Blackman

Malorie Blackman is a renowned British children's books writer and was the first black person to be appointed the Children's Laureate (2013-2015).

She grew up in Lewisham and joined other prominent authors in supporting the Let Books Be Books campaign, which seeks to stop children’s books being labelled as "for girls" or "for boys". She also supports the non-binary and transgender communities.

Barbara Gray

Barbara Gray is the ex-mayoress of Lewisham and Council Adviser on BME health inequalities.

She also founded Urban Dandelion; a social enterprise specialising in inspiring change for communities and organisations.

Doreen Lawrence

Baroness Doreen Lawrence is a campaigner and the mother of Stephen Lawrence, a black British teenager who was murdered in a racist attack in South East London in 1993.

In 2003 Doreen was awarded an OBE for her advocacy and in 2008 opened the Stephen Lawrence Centre in Deptford.

This gave thousands more young people an opportunity to nurture and explore their creativity.

In 2013 she was invited to become a Life Peer in the House of Lords where she lifts the voices of marginalised people.

Rabia Nasimi

Rabia Nasimi's family fled Afghanistan and settled in New Cross.

They were forced to leave Afghanistan when her father, an academic, was targeted by the Taliban for believing in the equal rights of women.

Rabia has worked for the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) and was responsible for launching several services and shaping the charity’s long term strategy.

She has been nominated for several awards including the Lewisham Mayor's Award for her contributions to the borough.

Dame Erica Pienaar

Dame Erica Pienaar is a teacher and educationist.

She was awarded the status of National Leader of Education and led a federation of three schools in Lewisham as the Executive Head Teacher.

She was awarded the Freedom to the Borough of Lewisham award in 2013 for her services as a teacher.

In 2014 she was awarded a DBE.

Dame Sybil Phoenix

Dame Sybil Phoenix was the first black woman to receive an MBE in 1973.

She lived in Lewisham for many years and founded the Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust in Brockley, a supported housing project for single homeless young women aged from 16 to 24.

Brockley Max festival will return to Lewisham on May 27 and run until June 4.

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