Reflections

GM Moving Conference 2024

Maya Chowdhury, Young Identity

connect, connect, connect
hubbub fills the space,
bright, beaming smiles as people come together,
active soles at the ready

heart held on, clutched tightly as stories shared,
become stories felt
heart held on;
as mentee becomes mentor,
as community comes together,
isolated no longer

all in moving,
moving through the streets of manchester,
murals embellish the walls,
benches become rest points,
school streets become safer

think,
to first memories of movement,
think,
to movement evoking memories,
think.

realities that
barriers build up,
problems perpetuated

but,

breaking down barriers,
for progress made, actions taken, changes made
breaking down barriers, giving a chance
to those blocked by inequality and indifference
for a moment to

think,
feel,
breathe,

move.
to move,
in their own way, the way that feels right

evidence supports theory but lived experience not numerical,
instead, effects immeasurable

connect, connect, connect
hubbub fills the space,
bright, beaming smiles as people come together,
active soles at the ready

heart held on, clutched tightly as stories shared,
become stories felt
heart held on