Ally Spotlight: Kerry Mead
Kerry is our communications volunteer; she helps out with our social media accounts, press communications and writing for our newsletter and blog. Here she tells us a little bit about herself, what attracted her to working for Houria, and what she loves about it.
“I have lived and worked in Bristol for most of my adult life. I have lived in Eastville for the last seven years with my two kids, who are 9 and 12. My youngest goes to school with the founder of Houria's daughter, and that is how we met and I got to hear about Houria.
After more than a decade working as a legal advisor in St Pauls, I left in 2016 to make more room in my life for my caring responsibilities. I knew I needed to find work I could fit in around raising my children, so I decided to concentrate on forging a career as a writer, my childhood dream. I am now a music and arts editor for an online magazine (I am music mad) and work as a freelance writer, whilst working on my own creative writing in what’s left of my spare time (after hanging out with my kids, running a household, reading loads, soaking up everything Bristol has to offer, losing hours on Twitter and spending time with my friends!). Now my kids are getting older I am also planning on starting an MA in Creative Writing in 2021, which is incredibly exciting, especially at the age of 44!
I have always kept my hand in working here and there for charities, after working in the third sector since 2006, because I am really serious about keeping an element of altruism and social conscience in whatever work I do. When I heard Houria needed someone to help out with their communications, it seemed like the perfect fit for me.
I am passionate about community, supporting the vulnerable and less privileged, supporting small businesses and upholding and raising the voices of women. I admire the work Houria is doing to raise up and celebrate refugee women and their talents; to educate people about modern slavery; and to build bridges between communities in Bristol. It feels like an exciting and dynamic organisation to be involved with, and I really do feel it is going to go far. I also love food; cooking it, learning about it, and eating it, so after sampling my first Houria feast delivery I was determined that I wanted to be involved, because it was some of the best food I had eaten in ages!
Working with Houria inspires me. I truly believe in Houria’s vision, message and direction. It is exciting seeing Houria grow, and to see that so many other people believe in it as well; it is a really good feeling coming along for part of that journey. And what is there not to love about working with a bunch of strong, empathic, interesting women? Nothing! Oh, and finally, I get to eat some of the best and most interesting food available in Bristol at the moment; on a very regular basis!”