East London leaders pioneer civic engagement at London Citizens' Accountability Assembly

East London leaders pioneer civic engagement at London Citizens' Accountability Assembly

By Chelsea Joseph and Ericka Go, leaders at East London Citizens

"I can only pray that I am given the chance to continue working for people to live in a clean, safe, and affordable London - the city we call home." - Chelsea Joseph, East London Citizens leader

Leadership has always come easy to me - I was given leadership responsibilities at a young age and have been public speaking since I was five years old. But this barely satisfied me - as a Christian, I knew that God gave me this gift to do more for my brothers and sisters in need.

Hence, I found myself one rainy April evening advocating for Care Workers to get a real Living Wage at an Action Group meeting in my Church - St Antony of Padua in Forest Gate, Newham. The branches of my Citizens leadership soon spread to my workplace - Chobham Academy, Newham- where, as a Science Technician and Citizens UK Co-ordinator I have answered my calling to develop young minds to work for social change.

“Mayoral Assembly” were the buzzwords in my ear since October, when I had my first co-chairing experience at the London Citizens Manifesto Workshop. After constantly working with an amazing team on the Housing Manifesto (both, in London and nationwide), I knew that on the night of my first Mayoral Accountability Assembly, I would want to be on stage pinning the candidates for their commitment to make London Housing affordable and safer.

After two weeks of deliberation, practice, and internal negotiation, it seemed like all was coming together, but soon James Asfa’s words of caution- that a pinner’s role would be the only non-scripted one of the night- rang true when the Conservative Mayoral Candidate declined to attend the Assembly at the last minute. Overwhelmed by the sudden change, I doubted myself- but still persevered, reminding myself that a successful pinning meant major commitments from the Mayor’s Office- a huge win for London!

Before I knew it, I was on stage with Mayor Sadiq Khan at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, negotiating commitments on tackling the multi-faceted Housing Crisis. Somewhere in the crowd with my students and friends was five-year-old me, watching shell-shocked as I took the biggest stage of my public speaking days. I was so buzzed after that I barely slept that night!

Anyone would say that my biggest achievement of the night was doing politics with the Mayor of London in front of over 2000 people, and I felt just as much- until the following Tuesday when my students shared their surreal experience of “seeing my teacher look eye-to-eye while speaking to one of the most powerful men in London”. Me being representative to a group of 14-year-olds the true power of the “common person” is my biggest achievement of the London Mayoral Accountability Assembly.

They know now that a person is only ever as powerful as you make them out to be and once that mindset kicks in, nothing is stopping them from creating their path and leaving behind them, a trail to be followed. On 2 May, I voted for the first time in the United Kingdom - and I can only pray that I am given the chance to continue working for people to live in a clean, safe, and affordable London - the city we call home.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has" - Margaret Mead

Chelsea Joseph, East London Citizens leader, at the London Citizens Accountability Assembly 2024

"I’ve learned that through my voice I can bring light to causes that I’m passionate about and begin to be a catalyst for change." - Ericka Go, Newham Citizens leader

Leading the march to represent East London (TELCO) Citizens at the Mayoral Assembly with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the communities across London was deeply empowering.

We recognise the power of the people to create the change that we need but we must also recognise that we have it within ourselves to be that change as well. I know that my younger self would have been proud seeing that I could show up in rooms that would bring about change for the better.

While looking for work these past few months, I was fortunate and grateful to be around people who inspire me to step up. That there is so much more work that needs to be done and we cannot do it alone. We need to take action and use our voices to raise awareness of intersectional causes that in hindsight have an impact on us all. We must take up the responsibility because no one else will do it for us except ourselves. We must be willing to fight to create a better life, especially for future generations and those most vulnerable in our community.

Being able to step up helped me to realise my full potential and gain a better understanding of who I would like to become moving forward. I’ve learned that through my voice I can bring light to causes that I’m passionate about and begin to be a catalyst for change. With the help and support from my community, I am able to let go of the fears that dim my light and shine a light. We don’t have to do it alone. We can find like-minded people that are ready to take the stand like us to bring about the change that we need in our society right now!

Ericka Go, Newham Citizens leader