大象传媒

For the third year running, 大象传媒 1Xtra's Future Figures salutes Black Britons who are making moves in their community and the nation.

Coming from a variety of sectors including sport, wellness, social action and the arts, each of the 20 recipients are being celebrated for 'Making Black History Now' and much like our previous Future Figures alumni of 2022 and 2021, we will continue to celebrate and champion those making an everlasting contribution and impact to the country - from grassroots to national levels.

Listen throughout October as 1Xtra celebrates a Future Figure every weekday.

Here are the 20 Future Figures inductees of 2023

Region: London

Sector: Community/Activism

Abdirahim Hassan is the Founder of , a grassroots award-winning community organisation working across five London boroughs. Run by a small team of dedicated staff from communities of colour, who have lived experience of mental health, problematic drug use, homelessness, and poverty, and are focussed on highlighting and improving issues of social and health inequality for local communities of colour, in particular the Somali community.

Region: Northern Ireland

Sector: Community Empowerment

Barrister Angela Ifonlaja changed career directions to be a powerhouse in her community. Amongst many roles, Angela actively serves in her church, is the director of a community youth choir called NXGN Collective - providing musical training and opportunities for young people aged 12 and upward to perform publicly and build on their skills. in addition, Angela is also part of UK Pivot, a collective that hosts and produces UnMute Now, a podcast aimed to ‘raise the volume on the whispered conversations’ within diverse communities.

Region: London

Sector: Activism/Disability Awareness/Fashion

Danielle Oreoluwa Jinadu is a Warwick Law Graduate, disability advocate, speaker, fashion content creator and writer. A GUAP 30 Under 30 Blacklist alumni, Danielle was named a Next Gen Trailblazer by Prince Harry and Megan Markle. She has utilised her voice to inspire change in the Global Health community. This was demonstrated through her TEDx Talk, 'The Big Back Blood Issue' - plus her work with 大象传媒 Africa, Google, Facebook and ITV News. Most recently, Danielle was featured on the GUAP’s 30 Under 30 Blacklist.

Region: Manchester

Sector: Mental Health/Well-being

Javeno Mclean has taken his unique message of exercise is for all across the globe - via social media - with his health facility, , based in Manchester. Born from a dream Javeno wrote on a piece of paper in his Mum's kitchen, Javeno has dedicated his time for free to his clients with physical disability, cancer, rehabilitation for stroke survivors, dementia sufferers to name a few - and garnered support and coverage with his infectious energy around the world.

Region: London

Sector: Culture/Tech

Jide Adetunji and Ibrahim Kamara showcase the cutting edge of art, music, culture and fashion with their growing digital media brand, . The brand showcases up-and-coming creatives via their digital magazine, podcasts, live events and branding studio. In 2022, they took over the London Museum of Natural History for their first GUAP Gala--an awards ceremony honouring creatives across music, film, media and fashion.

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Region: London

Sector: Entrepreneur/Community Engagement/Author

Kenny Imafidon is the co-founder and managing director of , an agency that specialises in research, strategy, and engagement projects focused on diverse and underrepresented communities. A trustee of many charities such as 大象传媒's Children In Need, Kenny is also the co-founder of My Brother's Keeper, a voluntary group that supports men in six prisons across the UK. In 2022 he was featured in Forbes' annual 30 under 30 list for Social Impact. Most recently, his debut book "That Peckham Boy" was recently published by Penguin Random House (Torva imprint).

Region: Croydon/Surrey

Sector: Youth/Activism/Mentor/ Music Industry

MOBO Award-winning Still Shadey is multifaceted entertainer and electric performer. Outside of his music accomplishments, Luke is deeply passionate about community and youth. Using his inspirational story the artist visits, speaks, and delivers workshops in schools, aiming is to inspire and educate the future generation. In September 2022, Shadey was appointed as the new director of Croydon’s much-admired mentoring charity, Ment4.

Region: Brighton

Sector: Activism/Climate Change

Mikaela Loach is the best-selling author of 'It's Not That Radical: Climate Action To Transform Our World' (April 2023), a climate justice activist, co-host of The YIKES Podcast and public speaker. Her organisation work and writing focuses on the intersections of the climate crisis with oppressive systems. In 2020, Forbes, Global Citizen and 大象传媒 Woman's Hour named Mikaela as one of the most influential women in the UK climate movement. In 2021, she was one of three claimants who took the UK government to court on the "Paid To Pollute" case.

Region: Birmingham

Sector: Female Empowerment/Mentoring/LGBTQ+

NAMYWA is a music industry artist and songwriter - and founder of (GGUK) CIC. With a Honours degree in Applied Performance from The Birmingham School of Acting and nearly a decade of music industry experience, working with communities of young people, women and teen girls, LGBTQ groups and adults living with multiple physical and learning disabilities, NAMYWA brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as the founder of GGUK.

Region: Bristol

Sector: Activism

Nasra Ayub is a multi-award-winning women and girl’s rights campaigner, TEDx speaker and writer from Bristol. Her recent TEDx talk entitled, ‘What If Young People Ran the World?’, explored the power shift of philanthropy decision-making away from traditional donors to young people. Also a freelance writer, Nasra has been campaigning and delivering outreach work for over seven years nationally and globally addressing sexual violence, racism and Islamophobia.

Region: Liverpool

Sector: Literature/Female Empowerment/Activism

Natalie Denny is the award-winning force behind, a creative education social enterprise. Her roles include author, activist, writer and EDI Consultant for Anthony Walker Foundation. In addition, Natalie was awarded the Merseyside Women of the Year Social Impact accolade in July 2022 and is also chair of The Period Project Merseyside to end period poverty. In 2023, Natalie's debut book series, 'Keisha Jones Takes On The World' about a 'pint-sized activist' was published by Little Tiger Books.

Region: Manchester

Sector: Community/Representation

Rhiane Fatinikun is a traveller, adventurer, TV broadcaster and the founder of , the UK's largest, Black female-led lifestyle and outdoor collective, formed in response to a lack of safe spaces for women in nature.Rhiane has been awarded the Geographical Award 2022 by the Royal Geographical Society for her work, a National Diversity Award, and named as a Future Leader by the Black Cultural Archives.

Region: Birmingham/London

Sector: Advertising/Representation

Shanice Mears co-founded , an inclusive ad agency prioritizing diversity and cultural awareness, working with brands like Barclays, Samsung and PUMA. Shanice has curated her own events platform called 'Girls, Let's Talk', which is about encouraging young women to connect and build as a part of Girls Talk London. Shanice has also consulted with top brands on finding fresh talent and becoming more collaborative in the wider creative industry. A former university lecturer, Shanice also sits on Clarks' advisory board.

Region: Birmingham

Sector: Community/LGBTQ+

Soriah Lewin aka Just Soriah is a multi-genre DJ from Birmingham, with many residencies in and around the city. She is a regular fixture at Birmingham Pride festival and has also recently joined the team to become a programmer for the Dance Arena and the Future Stage. Soriah also runs her own LGBTQ+ event called '', which Soriah describes as her way of inviting people to spend a night inside her weird and wonderful brain.

Region: London

Sector: Gaming/Tech/Representation

Stephanie Ijoma is a consultant and entrepreneur who founded is an Award-Winning leading premium lifestyle brand, media, sports and gaming organisation built at the intersection of the culture, gaming, sports, tv/entertainment and Community. NNESAGA mission is to help push diversity and inclusion in the gaming and entertainment industry by shifting narratives and creating opportunities for all.

Region: London

Sector: Community engagement/Music

Tony Supreme is an award-winning radio host, producer and DJ specialising in Soul and R&B music. Starting out on community radio stations such as Pulse 88, Reprezent Radio and No Signal, Tony has developed skills that won him the New Voice award at 2020's Audio Production Awards. With a background in community and youth work, Tony’s endeavours are all about bringing people together and using music as a way to create community.

Region: Leicester

Sector: Arts/Youth Engagement

Ty’rone Haughton is a poet, author and care leaver. Born in Jamaica, his poetry focuses on societal issues, identity and lived experiences. He is the founder and artistic director of poetry organisation, - which offers high quality poetry projects. Literati Arts predominantly works with looked after children and care leavers as well as the Black community in Leicester. Ty’rone is currently an ‘Expert by Experience’ for Frontline and is a member of the FosterTalk Advisory Committee. In 2022, Ty’rone’s debut poetry collection 'HOODS', was published by Verve Poetry Press.

Region: London

Sector: Culture/Broadcasting

is a digital collective and platform who are the definitive guide to music and culture from the youth of Africa and the Diaspora. What started as a YouTube channel where a collective of friends would react to music videos by artists from the African continent - amassing hundreds of thousands of subscribers and over 50 million views in the process - has evolved to hosting their own show, #UbunifuRadio - a radio show based on No Signal Radio and setting up Ubunifu Productions in the creative space.

Region: London

Sector: Public Relations/Representation/Campaign

Founded in 2017, VAMP is a specialist public relations and digital talent management agency created by three black women - Ruby Aryiku, Rumbi Mupindu, Christina Okorocha. Dedicated to ensuring that lack British culture is authentically reached across the beauty, lifestyle and entertainment industries VAMP's clients have included Disney, Warner Bros., and META to name a few. They've managed movie campaigns for the likes of Black Panther 1 & 2, Just Mercy, Woman King, Judas and the Black Messiah few thus making their stamp in the PR sphere.

Region: London/International

Sector: Media/Arts/Activism

is an organisation of transformation, championing change through creativity, activism and non-traditional means. Founded in 2018 by Nana Bempah and Kevin Morosky, Pocc was born from the knowledge of what strength lies in the collective; the ability to make a difference in the lives of individuals, communities, and the world at large. What originally started as a WhatsApp group to provide a safe space for creative professionals of African, Caribbean and Asian descent, today Pocc is home to over a thousand creatives working across Advertising, Film, Media and the Arts – with strands in the UK, Europe and US.

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