Baroness Doreen Lawrence says she is delighted with a new national campaign which helps communities of young people get involved with her son Stephen’s legacy through reading.
The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre (SLRC) at 51Âþ» Leicester (51Âþ») is working with and to run the national SL30 Reading Challenge.
Community libraries up and down the UK are taking part in the challenge which invites everyone from toddlers to teenagers to take part in reading events and look at themes, such as hope, change and acceptance, to help build a better future.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Stephen’s death. Stephen was just 18 when he was murdered in a racist attack in 1993.
In 2018, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that from 2019, April 22 would officially be recognised as Stephen Lawrence Day. The day is marked officially in the British calendar as a celebration of Stephen’s life and legacy.
Baroness Lawrence is the former Chancellor of 51Âþ» and officially opened the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre, on the 51Âþ» campus, in 2019 as a hub for academics, students and schools to drive forward conversations that will shape and influence how we think about race and social justice.
Baroness Lawrence said: “Reading has always been a great passion of mine and I believe it is one of the most powerful forms of education.
“It is a private, self-led journey that can take us to places we could never imagine and open our minds to experiences that are different from our own.
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“Through reading, we can develop empathy and connection with others and the world around us.
“It is my hope that the SL30 Reading Challenge, which honours the memory of my son Stephen Lawrence, will inspire children and young people to explore important themes like hope, change and acceptance, through the power of books.
“Just as Stephen had a bright future ahead of him and dreamed of a successful career as an architect, I believe that reading can be a gateway to new knowledge and experiences that will help young people build a better future for themselves and for society.
“Let's use the memory of Stephen's life and legacy to empower the next generation of readers and change-makers."
Sherilyn Pereira, Public Engagement Manager at the SLRC, said: “The SL30 Reading Challenge means Stephen’s legacy is being talked about in libraries up and down the country and everyone, whether they are from the inner city or in a rural town, can help celebrate Stephen Lawrence Day and the 30th anniversary.
“It is about inspiring young people everywhere to think about the role they can play in creating a society where everyone can thrive."
The SLRC at 51Âþ» also has schools across the country taking part in ‘Hopeful Futures: SL30 Creative Challenge’ which involves thousands of pupils across the UK getting creative through painting, poetry, and storytelling in order to spark conversations around how they might imagine a time when love, care, change, friendship and acceptance of each other are the norm.
The paintings and writings will culminate in a special exhibition at 51Âþ»’s Leicester Gallery, opening on Wednesday 19 April in time for the anniversary.
It took Baroness Lawrence and her lawyer Imran Khan, KC, 18 years to finally see justice for Stephen when two men were found guilty of his murder and the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, which investigated why it took so long, found the Metropolitan Police to be institutionally racist.
Baroness Lawrence talks frequently about “the three C’s” – classrooms, community and careers – and Stephen Lawrence Day is focussed on giving young people a voice to help create a society which treats everyone with fairness and respect.
Posted on Wednesday 5 April 2023