THE founder of the Anti-Racism Cumbria organisation has worked to bring tolerance and understanding to the county in wake of the George Floyd protests.
Janett Walker, from Windermere, created the group in 2020 as a response to the Black Lives Matter protests that erupted across the United States following the death of George Floyd while in Police custody.
NOMINATED: Janett Walker nominated for her work in Anti-Racism Cumbria
Anti-Racism Cumbria’s mission statement is to tackle and end racism by education and action in Cumbria.
Her friend and fellow activist Lekhani Chirwa, nominated Janett for Person of the Week for her efforts.
Lekhani, part of the organisation's Arts and Culture working group, met Janett in September 2020.
She said: “Janett set up Anti-Racist Cumbria in response to the George Floyd protests.
FOUNDER: Janett is the co-founder of Anti-Racism Cumbria
"Feeling the need for a call to action herself and business partner Sophia Minden put time aside from work to create the voluntary organisation that’s mission is to identify, challenge, tackle, and end racism in Cumbria.
"She works tirelessly and non-stop to make a change; she deserves recognition.
“Being the chair of Anti-Racist Cumbria Janett is the glue, heart, and soul of Anti-Racist Cumbria. What’s more amazing is that she finds balance between being a mother, B&B runner, and events planner to be our leader.
"She is special as she genuinely cares about the county and the community.
“Janett does this all this for the community of people of colour and marginalised individuals in the heart of Cumbria.
SMILES: Janett pictured with friends, is also an avid hiker and mother of two
"She does it so that future generations and her girls don’t have to suffer the injustice that is racism in their hometown. She works hard within the community she serves so that it has equal opportunities. She does this as she wants to make a change.
“She would say that she definitely didn’t expect to be given the flowers and would probably say thanks to us for all our hard work even though she definitely deserves the recognition.
“Janett is an incredibly selfless individual who gives her all to everyone around her. I’ve never met someone so veraciously full of life and funny. When Janett walks into a room the energy feels alive. She has an infectious vibrant energy, and you can’t help but smile whilst being in her company. Outside her work she is an avid hiker, walker and a devoted mum."
“Janett needs to give herself more credit for all the fantastic things she’s done. So far, she’s organised an event to tackle racism within schools and spoken to Governors in the county. She’s spoken with the Police Commissioner and local MPs of Cumbria.
"She’s trying to make Cumbria a place you will never have racism and it’s the first of its kind to dedicate making an entire county anti-racist. She deserves the recognition so that other people can recognise the work she is doing.”
For more information on the work of Anti-Racism Cumbria visit their website.
PROTEST: Anti-Racism Cumbria was set up in response to the Black Lives Matter protests in America
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