Standing Firm in Power and Pride: Reflections on Planning, Place and Representation
From left to right: Kayleen Owusu-Boateng (Cavendish Consulting), Raheem Adepoju (Quod) and Charlotte Palmer (Turley).
This Black History Month, we caught up with Charlotte Palmer, Raheem Adepoju and Kayleen Owusu-Boateng — three professionals working across planning, development and communications at organisations partnered with PREACH Inclusion®.
Charlotte is a Senior Planner at Turley with over a decade of experience navigating the complexities of planning policy and place. Raheem works as an Assistant Planner at Quod, specialising in retail and logistics schemes. Kayleen, a Senior Account Executive at Cavendish Consulting, holds an MA in International City Planning and brings a planning-informed lens to her work in stakeholder and community engagement.
In this conversation, they reflect on their roles in shaping the built environment, the visibility of Black heritage in public spaces, and how identity and lived experience influence their work. From community engagement and cultural representation to power and policy, they speak candidly about what meaningful inclusion looks like — and what this year’s Black History Month theme, “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” means to them both personally and professionally.
Grab a cuppa and dive in.
Embedding Black Heritage in the Built Environment
While their professional work hasn’t always centred directly on Black communities, Charlotte, Raheem and Kayleen each offered thoughtful reflections on how Black heritage is – or isn’t – visible in the public spaces around them.
Charlotte pointed to the Drum Arts Centre in Aston, Birmingham, an example that has stayed with her despite not being involved in the project herself. Originally created in the 1990s to celebrate and platform Black British and South Asian arts, The Drum served as a cultural anchor for the local community. Its closure in 2016 due to funding challenges, she noted, speaks to the vulnerability of Black-led spaces in the built environment. But its revival in 2019 as the Legacy Centre of Excellence marked a powerful transformation: now Europe’s largest independent Black-owned business and arts centre. “It’s not just about sticking up plaques,” Charlotte said. “It’s about the journey and the struggle for financial support that tells the real story.” For her, this example illustrates how Black heritage must be embedded through ownership, longevity, and community agency – not just commemoration.
Raheem shared a personal connection to Windrush Square in Brixton, where he grew up. “A few years ago, an installation was commissioned to honour the Windrush generation. It had a massive impact. You’d see famous writers and poets there, and it was a real collaboration with the local neighbourhood.”
Kayleen acknowledged that her exposure has been more limited, shaped by geography. “You’re more likely to see these kinds of spaces in London,” she said, pointing to the Burney Grant Centre in North London and broader conversations about the lack of third spaces for Black communities.
“When I started [in the industry], I worried about things like my hair – ‘Am I being too Black?’ Now, I know my hair is part of who I am. I’m often the only Black face in the room, and often the only woman too. But the older I get, the more I know, *this* is who I am.”
Planning with Lived Experience in Mind
When asked how planning policies can better reflect Black communities, all three highlighted the importance – and limitations – of their roles.
Charlotte emphasised the need for Cultural Impact Assessments and evidence-based approaches that ask the right questions: “Who are you building for? What kind of tenure or housing types are needed? Planners can challenge assumptions, but we also need diverse teams who bring lived experience into the room.”
Kayleen stressed the importance of trust-building: “It’s about engaging the right community leaders and using the right channels. You can’t just parachute in – you have to build relationships.”
Raheem was candid about the constraints: “Sometimes it feels like a tick-box exercise. People are busy, and it’s not always front of mind. But public art is one area where I’ve seen communities reflected more meaningfully.”
Redistributing Power in Planning
Power, they agreed, is often concentrated and rarely shared. But there are models that show what’s possible.
Charlotte cited The Tube Works, a community-led initiative in Birmingham driven by Civic Square. “They’ve gone beyond pop-ups. They’ve hosted neighbourhood lunches, play sessions in the park – long-term engagement that builds trust. That’s what redistributing power looks like.”
Kayleen shared her experience working on the Smethwick Local Plan, where she engaged with mosques and schools to shape a long-term vision. “It was about asking the people who would actually use the plan what they wanted to see.”
For Raheem, it’s about making development feel meaningful: “If the local community doesn’t feel like it benefits them, it’s hard to build support.”
All three agreed that trust is built through consistency, transparency, and a shift away from performative engagement.
Charlotte pointed again to Civic Square’s approach: “They’re honest about what they can and can’t do. That honesty is just as important as the engagement itself.”
“Stay true to who you are... There’s a fine line between being personal and professional, but don’t lose yourself.”
Power and Pride: What This Year’s Theme Means
This year’s Black History Month theme, “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” resonated deeply.
“For me, it’s about not compromising how I present myself,” said Kayleen. “Being proud of where I come from and knowing I deserve to be in the room.”
Raheem reflected on the challenges of being in the minority at work: “A lot of people can relate to codeswitching. It’s not always easy to stand firm in who you are.”
Charlotte spoke about the evolution of her confidence:
“When I started, I worried about things like my hair – ‘Am I being too Black?’ Now, I know my hair is part of who I am. I’m often the only Black face in the room, and often the only woman too. But the older I get, the more I know, *this* is who I am.”
What Needs to Change
Each interviewee offered a vision for change in their workplace or sector.
Raheem called for more cultural celebration in the workplace: “It doesn’t have to be big – just more opportunities to share and connect. I loved our World Food Day – my Nigerian Jollof Rice was such a hit, and someone even went to a Nigerian restaurant after to try more of this cuisine.”
Kayleen urged a move away from tick-box engagement: “Be more creative. Tailor your approach. Use social media. It’s hard to change old habits, but we have to try.”
Charlotte highlighted the importance of deliberate action: “At Turley, we’ve signed up to the 10,000 Interns programme and committed to three interns a year. I want to see more co-owners from different backgrounds. I’d love to have a line manager who looks like me – but if I have to be the first, so be it.”
“You belong in the room – even if you don’t believe it yet.”
Advice for the Next Generation
To young Black professionals entering the sector, their advice was clear and heartfelt.
“Stay true to who you are,” said Raheem. “There’s a fine line between being personal and professional, but don’t lose yourself.”
“You belong in the room – even if you don’t believe it yet,” added Kayleen.
Charlotte encouraged building networks and finding mentors: “It helps to know you’re not alone. Find someone who understands you and pushes you. And don’t be afraid to challenge the way things are done.”
Thanks to Charlotte, Raheem and Kayleen for joining us on the hotseat.