Dionne Edwards based in Leeds was one of The Africa4u Award Winners at The Africa4u Awards for African and Caribbean Achievers living in West Yorkshire. The well attended event was held on Friday the 6th of May at The City Library in Bradford.

INFORMATION ABOUT DIONNE EDWARDS CAN BE FOUND BELOW

Born in Leeds, Dionne Edwards grew up within an artistic family. Her brother Donald Edwards is one of the founding member of Phoenix Dance Group, now renamed and owed by Leeds City Council as; Phoenix Dance Theatre, Britain’s leading Dance Company.

Dionne is a passionate campaigner of social and racial injustice and went on study a degree in Law, undertook a further post graduate degree, Solicitors training Practice Course then went on to complete a Master degree.

She is also the founder of Black Voices Matter and led up a national campaign in Leeds which attracted thousands of people locally and nationally giving a voice to many institutes after the brutal death of George Floyd.

Throughout her career path she has worked for numerous high profile Government departments and was
chosen out of hundreds of women applicant, locally and nationally along with a few other women to facilitate a “Women in Leadership programme” which led to a one day Women’s Day event which was showcased in Parliament in front of Baroness Prosser, event funder and a full crowd. Dionne is also an actor in residency and part of a community theatre company with Leeds West Yorkshire Playhouse,
 
Dionne has many hidden talents to her bow and has been the catalyst for many social change programmes throughout West Yorkshire and beyond. She’s passionately about working with young people which as seen her instigated, plan and delivered many youth service projects, citywide. Often working alone being the sole barer of all the organisations activities and also works collaborative with other organisations to initiate further project activities.

Dionne is Cultural producer and founder of a new initiative called, Cultural Arts Heritage Circle a not – for -profit organisation now renamed Nubian Noire which was setup in June 2019. Which aims to provide business start- up opportunities for young and emerging black entrepreneurs who for lack of financial mobility and high unemployment are looking to forge their way into self-employment.

Nubian Noire Expo supports black entrepreneurs to make active their social and economic presence by
providing them with business support and outdoor trading spaces to showcase and sell their creative
artisans inspiring them to collaborate and network with other like-minded business entrepreneurs.

Dionne says, we encourage them to push through the social and economic boundaries beyond their own
expectations to define a new sense of self and business development, reviving their entrepreneur spirit to seize business opportunities. Which will propel forward thinking progress and raise aspirations
Nubian Noire was the first outdoor black business platform, locally and national to showcase entrepreneurial excellence and has been the catalyst for other similar initiatives to follow suite after the tragic death of George Floyd.

Since setting up the initial, Business Start-up programme Nubian Noire has now partner with Leeds Beckett Park University and has received a lot of response, nationally from an array of other black business start- ups wanting to take part in showcasing their creative endeavours, some travelling as far as London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Huddersfield, Liverpool and Nottingham. Nubian Noire has been featured on Look North TV, BBC Radio 1 and the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Dionne is a member of the APPG for black businesses. She is determined to make things happen for black businesses.