Wendy Cummins is the Founder and Director of Radiate Festival. She was previously head of Projects at Livesey Exchange and has a history of working in cultural delivery, community engagement and the events industry. She is a GLA Advisory Board member.
Daniel Díaz is a Colombian-British filmmaker based in San Francisco, California. His debut short film ÉLEFAN – a documentary about London's Latin American community in Elephant & Castle has screened at film festivals across the US and Colombia. His other credits include producer on award-winning Chilean feature film CAMALEÓN (BFI London Film Festival 2016: Sutherland Award nominee) by Jorge Riquelme Serrano and co-producer on climate-activism documentary FINITE: THE CLIMATE OF CHANGE (FIPADOC 2023: Impact Award winner) by Rich Felgate. Daniel is also the founder of Latin American documentary platform CiNEOLA and Director of Marketing & Communications at BAVC Media (formerly Bay Area Video Coalition).
Sarah Goldzweig is Research and Policy Officer at Latin Elephant. She is originally from Los Angeles, California, where she was involved in community activism and organising projects on issues of climate justice, housing justice and reimagining community safety. She moved to London in 2020 to complete an MRes Interdisciplinary Urban Design; her dissertation discusses how the post-WWII development of Downtown Los Angeles can be understood as racialised and settler-colonial ‘spatiolegal violence’. In addition to Latin Elephant, she works for another London-based charity that brings together tenants’ groups around strategic social housing issues.
Latin Elephant is a registered charity that promotes alternative and innovative ways of engaging and incorporating migrant and ethnic groups in processes of urban change in London, in particular among Latin Americans. They are committed to empowering Black and minoritized Londoners to engage in processes of urban change. In particular, they are dedicated to voicing the concerns of racialised communities in Elephant & Castle. Their work is involved in research and policy development, business support and community engagement.
Livesey Exchange (LEX 1) is a grassroots project initiated by Pempeople, to transform 60 garages on the Ledbury Estate into workshops, studios and multidisciplinary spaces for local makers and creators. Livesey Exchange (LEX 2) will open in 2023. The new building will be an important piece of social infrastructure, designed and led by local residents. Through its mix of accessible social, cultural and community space, it will serve to support the local community as the neighbourhood undergoes major regeneration.
Emad Megahed a displaced trader and ran Tekk Room, a computer shop based in Elephant & Castle, and acted as spokes person for the traders of the Latin Elephant community.
Daniel Oduntan is an interdisciplinary media artist and designer occupying the spaces between visual arts, sound and performance media. The core of his work is asking questions of his spatial reality, which encompasses the built and the multi-sensory environment. Daniel's practice is idea first, medium second, which allows him to create in a style described as explorative participation design: a method of research and speculation to build inclusive futures. Daniel has worked with the V&A Museum, The Bartlett School of Architecture, Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing, Warp Records and The Design Museum.
Jeremy Ogilvie-Harris will be a pupil barrister at Cornerstone Barristers starting in October 2023. He has previously taught Public Law at Queen Mary University. In addition, he has held positions at Hackney Community Law Centre and Southwark Law Centre. His work is involved in public law, social housing, welfare benefits, planning and environment, national security, human rights and equality rights.
Nicholas Okwulu is founder of Livesey Exchange by Pempeople, which will launch it’s new building on the Old Kent Road this year. He’s also co-founder of Southwark South Design district, which celebrates local designers, makers and creators who work, live and play in the area through exhibitions, workshops, open studios, talks and much more.
Pempeople (People Empowering People) is a non-profit organisation that works with residents and community organisations in the London Borough of Southwark. It forms a bridge with the local council, institutions, and charities; enabling residents to showcase the wealth of talent that exists within the community. It also creates opportunities for local people to initiate and develop solutions to local issues and needs.
Natalia Perez is co-director of Latin Elephant and has been in involved in the frontline delivery of services at the organisation for the last 5 years. Natalia has over eighteen years’ experience in the voluntary sector involved in the operational and strategic development of large and small frontline organisations including Latin American and other Migrant and Ethnic led initiatives. Natalia has also been part of an infrastructure of organisations providing capacity building and training in different aspects of running and resourcing services as well as quality assurance.
Diana Sach runs La Bodeguita, a Colombian restaurant and bar which she opened on the edge of Elephant and Castle shopping centre. It has served the Latin American community in the area for over 12 years.
Radiate Festival is a grassroots festival which champions Black cultural expression. They host the annual Radiate Windrush Festival which celebrates Black British Caribbean and Creole history. Entering its 6th year, the diverse programme includes music, art, fashion, dance, food and more. The festival aims to platform the cultural contributions and achievements of the Windrush generation, highlighting the continued influence of Black identity on British culture.
