Standing firm in pride: celebrating Lorraine Michael this Black History Month

09/10/2025

For Black History Month, we’re spotlighting Lorraine Michael, Facilities Coordinator in our Communities and Neighbourhoods team. She’s also part of our Staff Exec team, representing colleagues’ voices across the organisation.

Growing up in East London with Jamaican roots, Lorraine carries a strong sense of culture, resilience, and pride. That mix of heritage and local upbringing shapes the way she works, bringing care, energy, and a true sense of community to everything she does.

“I love seeing how people use our spaces and knowing that what I do makes their experience better,” she says.

Making our community spaces work for everyone

Lorraine has been at Poplar HARCA for many years, initially working at the Linc Centre and St Paul’s Way Centre before moving into her current role. Outside of work, she enjoys music, dancing, reading, and creating art.

Today, she looks after our community centres, nurseries, and shared spaces that local people use every day. Her role involves coordinating repairs, keeping on top of compliance, and working with different teams to keep everything running smoothly. On any given day, she might be planning improvements, such as sourcing quotes to replace the doors at Poplar Union, or solving unexpected issues – like when a fire drill at St Paul’s Way Centre caused the kitchen shutters to jam during lunchtime. Lorraine quickly found a short-term solution so staff could carry on trading and arranged a longer-term fix soon after.

Passionate about people, always learning

Lorraine works closely with our multi-skilled caretaker, Agim, who takes care of day-to-day repairs. When specialist contractors are needed, she makes sure everything is coordinated safely and efficiently.

And her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed by her colleagues. Her manager, Nasim Ahmed, says:

“Lorraine is really passionate about her work and the people she works with. She’s always striving to provide the best service, even when it means going above and beyond.”

For Lorraine, no two days are ever the same – and that’s part of what keeps her going.

“Every day is different,” she explains. “You have to be flexible. And you can learn so much by listening to people and understanding their needs.”

Lorraine

Standing firm in heritage and pride

This year’s Black History Month theme, ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride,’ really speaks to Lorraine.

“When I was growing up, we didn’t have Black History Month,” she says. “Before it was introduced, I knew very little about positive Black history in the UK. It’s given us a platform to celebrate our achievements and recognise our contributions – like when John Archer, who had Caribbean heritage, made history as the first Black mayor of a London borough in 1913.”

Lorraine

For Lorraine, Black History Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on Black people in our community and the difference they make. She’s glad Poplar HARCA marks the month with events in our community centres and shared spaces, giving people a chance to learn, celebrate, and come together.

Keeping our community connected

Lorraine doesn’t shout about what she does, but her impact is clear. The community centres and shared spaces she cares for are places where people meet, connect, and grow – and that’s thanks, in no small part, to her dedication.

As we celebrate Black History Month, Lorraine’s story shows that pride and strength aren’t just in the past – they’re being lived in our community every day.