Bethlehem Tewelde joined the Board of Governors in December 2022 as an advisor and now serves as a Co-optative Member, and Co-Chair of the Development Partner Programme Steering Group. She also sits on the Programme Committee, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Advice Projects Steering Group and Islington Giving Grants Committee.

She came to Islington when she was six years old and has lived in the borough since that time. She brings a wealth of experience of challenges facing local communities and wants to use her insight to make Islington a better place. Bethlehem works at The Maya Centre as the Engagement and Community Outreach Officer as well as a Women’s Day Support Worker. She is also a trustee of Elimu, a charity that champions black futures and she has volunteered at FoodCycle and her local food bank. In her professional life, Bethlehem works as an Alumni Officer for Settle Support and is a Covid-19 Vaccinator.

“I believe we could all work together to make Islington better as there is lots of inequality such as access to affordable housing…or access to work opportunities. I want to use my voice and experience of being a black woman who grew up in a council estate to bring about new exciting opportunities for our community. I look forward to using my voice and experiences to have a positive and meaningful impact in Islington as I have lived in the borough for most of my life.” ~ Bethlehem Tewelde