Sharing Poems, Opening Minds
The Transforming Words Foundation (TTWF) is a charity (Registered Charity Number: 1213798) that has evolved from the social enterprise Black in White, which was founded in 2020 by poet and DEI expert Charlotte Shyllon. Over the last five years, the team has successfully run annual poetry competitions, which attract a wide demographic of people of all ages and backgrounds who resonate with the ability to express their experiences through poetry.
Building on this foundation, TTWF carries forward the vision of sharing stories and shaping societies. Our mission is to amplify the voices of those who have been marginalised, providing the tools and platforms to express their experiences through creative writing, visual interpretation and spoken word. We believe in the power of words as catalysts for change and healing and we are committed to fostering a world where every voice is heard, understood and valued.
Our experienced Board of Trustees comprises Keith Aki-Sawyerr (Chair), Annette Fisher, Dean McCarthy and Tanya von Ahlefeldt (Vice Chair). Our committed Executive Leadership team are Chief Executive Officer Charlotte Shyllon, and Chief Operating Officer Jacqueline Muili. The TTWF team also has several amazing volunteers who play a key role in helping to plan and implement our activities and initiatives.
Contact us: info@ttwf.org.uk
Visit our website: www.ttwf.org.uk
We create simple poems to tell compelling stories that enhance lives
Black in White is a book of poems by Charlotte Shyllon describing some of her experiences of racism, unconscious bias and microaggressions while working in the corporate world for over 25 years. As often the most senior UK-based black team member in the companies where she's worked, she encountered both overt and covert racism. Like many black professionals in mid- to senior level corporate roles, she tended not to speak about this, not wanting to cry ‘racism’ at every real or imagined slight.
With the strength of feeling engendered by George Floyd’s murder, Charlotte felt that the time was ripe to speak up about her experiences, and she has chosen to share her stories in these poems. Some may make for uncomfortable reading. But these stories need to be told, in the hope that they can help those who need it on the journey to understanding and change.
On this website, you can purchase:
- Paperback copies of Black in White
- Paperback copies of our other poetry anthologies
- A5 postcards and A4 posters of selected poems
- Discussion guides for two poems, to help workplace teams discuss the issues the poems raise
You can also book Charlotte for EDI consultancy, presentations, panel discussions and poetry readings
AVAILABLE NOW! SEE OUR BOOKS, POSTERS, POST CARDS AND DISCUSSION GUIDES.
VISIT THE STORE TO PURCHASE...
