A Wolverhampton youth club helps local children pursue creative careers

Diane Spence founded the charity Genesis Sun to provide guidance and representation for young black people in Wolverhampton, England.

She established the organization because her son, Isaac Paris Spence, felt isolated and lacked the necessary support to pursue his dream of becoming a musician. The charity holds meetings every two weeks to connect young people with mentors who provide career and life advice.

The organization has helped Isaac Paris Spence reach the Academy of Contemporary Music in Birmingham, a university he once thought was out of reach. Other participants use the space to work on creative projects, including comic books, music, and photography. One participant, 18-year-old Nai Whittaker Samuel, says the community helped her build confidence in her work as a singer and music producer. Genesis Sun also runs a project called Black Country Roots and Realities.

This initiative involves young people capturing the stories of people with African, Caribbean, and mixed heritage across the Black Country. The project aims to give young people the skills to preserve and share these lived histories.