About Us – The Black Excellence Project

The BE Project Committee

Find out more about the The Black Excellence Projeect commitee.

Kim Waring Paynter

Co-Founder/Commitee Chair

About Kim

Kim Waring-Paynter In her 15 plus years as an educator, Kim has had the privilege to work with students and teachers in a variety of educational settings. She has worked as a classroom teacher, Reading Recovery Teacher Leader, Educational Consultant and is currently a University Lecturer leading a school-based teacher training programme.

She is interested in fostering, supporting and developing young people and their talents. Her goal is to create engaging learning experiences through environments that foster creativity, curiosity, confidence and kindness.

Kim is co-founder of the Black Excellence Project and leads Curriculum Development.

Euton Daley

Co-Founder/Treasurer

About Euton

Euton Daley is a theatre maker, director, producer and writer based in Cowley, Oxford.
Director credits include: Artistic Director/CEO Pegasus Theatre, Oxford (1990-2013); Youth and Community Director, Royal Court Young People’s Theatre (1989-1990); Theatre in Education actor and Youth Arts Tutor, Greenwich Young People’s Theatre (1982-1987). Recent theatre credits include: Director, dramaturg, producer and workshop leader for Oxford-based Kuumba Nia Arts award-winning production of SOLD. This show recently opened the 2022 Bermuda Festival in March and performed at the Chicago Physical Theatre Festival in July. Arts Development Officer, Oxford City Council (2016-2020).

Relationship Manager for Council-funded cultural organisations, managing arts budget, cultural grants programme and council arts and cultural events. Production and Project Manager, Dancin’ Oxford (2013-present). Managing and delivering logistics for 3 festivals per year including events in parks, Gloucester Green, Broad Street and Westgate Shopping Centre. Writer/Director for Politics of Love (2015), #Ending the Silence (2018) Still Breathing (2021)) for Unlock the Chains Collective; Director for Winnie The Witch (2012 & 2018), Supermarket Scrooge (2019), Heidi & The Snow Globe (2020) for Wild Boor Ideas. Other credits: Producer for Mandala Theatre Company (2016-present); Visiting Course Tutor at University of Oxford (2003-present).

Euton is co-founder of The Black Excellence Project and Tutor.

Amantha Edmead

Co-Founder/Committee Member

About Amantha

Amantha Edmead is an actress, storyteller/ drama and writer based in Cowley, Oxford.
Storytelling credits include WOMAD and Nne Agwu storytelling festival 2015 – 2021; The Story Museum Incredible journeys (2015), Jingles Magic Sleigh (2017), Stories from the WoodShed (2020 -2021); Oxford Cultural Education Partnership Journeys to Oxford project with primary school children (2019-20); Oxford Windrush Oral histories at Pitts Rivers and the Ashmolean Museum (2018-2020). Sheba Souls Ensemble online stories (2020).Writing Credits include: Sonhgai (2009) – Burton Taylor Studio; The Backside Monologues (2009) – Pegasus theatre /South Street, Reading/ Harrow Arts Centre; Finding Beulah (2010) Pegasus Theatre; On their Own Ground (2012) Off Beat Festival/ Edinburgh Fringe 2018; Mary Prince, Her story and Me (2018) Off Beat Festival – became SOLD (2019) Old Fire Station Oxford/ North Wall/ Pleasance Attic Edinburgh fringe/ Cornerstone/ Vault festival/ Highlights/ Migration Festival/ Birmingham Fest, Park Theatre.

Amantha is co-founder of The Black Excellence Project and Tutor.

Junie James

Committee Member

About Junie

Junie James is a community and voluntary sector project developer, event organiser and freelance consultant. She has experience in project management; events planning and management; marketing; fundraising including research fundraising and consultancy.

As a creative person Junie develops projects on African history, heritage and culture. Securing funding for projects she works collaboratively to deliver programmes. This frequently involves booking artists, performers, speakers, caterers etc. Since graduating with a Law degree from Oxford Brookes University she has been Director of Oxford Inspires (2006 – 2009); Director/Project Development and Coordination Manager for the African and African Caribbean Kultural Heritage Initiative (ACKHI) (2007 – 2011); Community and Voluntary Sector Project Developer, Event Organiser and freelance consultant for Generation 2K from 2000 until the present day; Project Development and Coordination Manager of ACKHI from 2007 until the present day; Director and Trustee of the Cowley Road Carnival from 2008 until the present day.

Junie is a steering committee member of The Black Excellence Project.

Astrid

Committee Member

About Astrid

Black Excellence Steering Commitee Member.

With 20 years of experience in property and facilities management I am currently responsible for overseeing 18 buildings across 9 locations in the UK as part of my role at Ethical Property, which I’ve held since 2015.

Prior to this I managed a multi-occupied building at Science Oxford, including a significant refurbishment of the ‘Hands On’ Science Centre. I also managed the Old Fire Station during its major refurbishment in collaboration with Oxford City Council, Crisis, and Arts at the Old Fire Station. he public facing role was a continual hive of activity comprising the Theatre, Artist and Dance Studio, Gallery, Shop, Café, and Learning spaces.

I has been involved in several major projects at Ethical Property, including The Green House, Streamline, Hastings House, and Brick Yard. Currently, I’m working on developing the Sustainable Environmental Strategy with a Net Zero Pathway. Additionally, I have recently been appointed Head of Facilities and Operations at Helen and Douglas House.

Jaqui

Committee Member

About Jaqui

Jacqui is a trainer and is passionate about supporting parents to create warm and safe families where children’s emotional and social development is nurtured and fostered.

She holds a first degree in Community Family Development and a Masters degree in Childhood Studies. She has also trained in Pre-school practice and Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector, and Parent Education.

She has worked over 10 years in Oxford supporting families in order to maximise children’s emotional and psychological well-being and improve academic learning; through outreach work in the families’ homes as well as educational settings. She strongly believes in multi-agency working, collaborating with other practitioners in Health, Social Care, and Education sector to reach the best outcomes for the children. She works in a Children’s Centre.

Jacqui is a steering committee member of The Black Excellence Project.

Jo Brown

Committee Member

About Jo

Jo Brown works in art therapy in neuro-rehabilitation. With a love of art from a very young age, Jo went on to get her degree in illustration and has seen her work commissioned for a book cover, music events, murals and conferences.

Jo has worked creatively with leading projects in many areas of youth work, behavioural interventions in schools, hospices and respite care. Jo believes that creativity in any form is an exploration of expression, escape, empowerment and self which takes you on a never-ending beautiful journey. Art will set you free!

JO is a Tutor and steering committee member of The Black Excellence Project.

Who is AHCA?

The Afrikan Heritage Community Association is a cultural heritage community Interest group. It is a consortium of African heritage organisations and networks interested in the support and betterment of the diverse communities of the African diaspora living or working in the City of Oxford and surrounding areas of Oxfordshire. AHCA’s long term gal is to secure, manage and maintain an Afrikan Heritage Centre in Oxford for all people of African heritage.

Our Partners

Support provided by our sponsors and partners allows for the development and implementation of the Black Excellence Project and resources. These partnerships make it possible for young people to receive the opportunity to participate in educational and creative workshops and to use and access resources developed for the programme.