History of Race Legislation. Time for Change. Northamptonshire Black History Month Lecture with Steve Stephenson

Distinguished social justice advocate Steve Stephenson MBE is an award-winning, multi-sector pioneer, youth advocate, human rights campaigner and academic.

Often stopped and recognised on UK city streets and all over Jamaica, by people he has never met, that have heard of his greatly impactful work, Steve has been lauded by world-famous political, sporting and cultural figures, including Queen Elizabeth II, former Jamaican prime minister PJ Patterson, the late Lord Herman Ouseley, Chris Gayle, John Barnes and Rudolph Walker.

The multi-award winner was born on Human Rights Day in 1953, in Kingston, Jamaica. He moved to Britain in 1971 and began an impactful career, serving as director of the Race Equality and Human Rights Service in Bristol, changing lives through social, youth and community work, academic lecturing, sport event promotion and charity fundraising, encouraging many young people, including those who went on to become famous sportsmen.

Steve began his career as a youth worker, then went to become a social worker and Principal Equality Officer in the Chief Executive departments of two local authorities. His last substantive post was Director of the Race Equality & Human Rights Service in Bristol.

Whilst working in local government within Bristol, Bedford, Luton, Birmingham, Northampton and Swindon, Steve Stephenson has extended his support and influence back home to the Caribbean, raising £25,000 in 1988 for the recovery of Jamaica after Hurricane Gilbert.

He is one of the few Individuals to have the distinction of being honoured by both the British and Jamaican Governments. Steve has received 18 local, national and international awards to date, including an MBE in 1996 and the Jamaican Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation in 2003.