You’re welcome here
Where do you feel a sense of belonging? At work, in social groups, in business hubs, at home? Do you know that when you walk in the door, people are pleased to see you? Do you get the freelance work you go for, do you get the pay rise, do you get to sit at the table in the boardroom, are you picked for the team? If you can say yes to those then you understand what it is to be accepted for who you are and celebrated and rewarded for being you. If at any time in your life you have been ignored or threatened or abused or passed over, then you know what it feels like to be perceived as different, to not belong.
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Bushra Ali
She knew what it was like to feel that she didn’t belong. Now she works to give everyone a fair chance.
This week’s guest is Bushra Ali, the Founder of Bushra Ali Solicitors whose work includes immigration law. The youngest President of the Leicestershire Law Society, Bushra was only the eighth female to serve and the second female of colour. Bringing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to the table she works tirelessly to convey that law can be a vocation for all.
Bushra talks about being the only girl of colour in the Welsh village where she grew up, about discovering she was blind, and about her determination to become a lawyer against the tradition of her Muslim upbringing.
Nothing that has blocked her way has prevented her from doing what she wanted to do, and instead only served to add oxygen to her fire. Indeed as a result of knowing what it is like to overcome challenges she has consistently sought to help those in society who have also had doors banged in their face.
With the recent events in Afghanistan and so many people coming from traumatic, war torn countries, risking their lives as they escape, only to face racism and bureaucratic stonewalling, Bushra talks about how she tries to do everything she can to get them through the system.
Thank you so much to Bushra for showing us that with a vision for our future we can strive to achieve our best lives and as we do, we can also help those who are coming up behind us.
If they tell you, you aren’t welcome…
Go do your thing anyway.
Lou Hamilton is an author, artist, filmmaker and founder of Silk Studios- The Podcast Guest Agency. Her book Dare to Share- a guide to telling your story and sharing your message is published on 6th October. Available on Kindle and paperback.