Make it Mine Workshops & Power Over

Today was Make it Mine at St Anne’s community centre. A lovely women-led space where we have all kinds of deep and meaningful conversations whilst taking part in art. Gloria from Global Arts was hosting the space today and showing us how to make dolls. She was passing on the skills her mother had taught her in the Congo as a child. It was a small gathering, the weather was harsh and three of the women had babies with them. I love how the group has begun caring for the children as a collective. As someone with grown up children, I for one, enjoy the time spent with babies, giving parents time and space to join in.

About halfway through the meeting a Council officer arrived, having been given the keys by the centre to show people around from the NHS. Just like that, no consideration for what was happening, like it was just okay. As one of the group members said, ‘imagine if we just walked into the town hall, interrupted a meeting and then stood there in the middle chatting.’ 

They don’t seem to be able to see that they were using their positional power over the women, who were taking part in activities in their home space. I was left wondering what plans the professionals have for using the community space and whether that will mean that there’s less time for community life? Let’s see how this story grows.