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Following on from the success of 2021's inaugural 1Xtra Future Figures, celebrating Black British movement makers, Â鶹ԼÅÄ 1Xtra is back this year celebrating 20 pivotal individuals, groups and organisations from across the UK ‘Making Black History Now.’

Hailing from the worlds of sport, tech, gaming, the arts and social action, we're continuing to celebrate and champion those who are making a lasting impact within the Black British and diaspora community.

Listen throughout October as 1Xtra celebrates a Future Figure every weekday.

Who are 1Xtra's Future Figures 2022 Inductees?

Region: µþ¾±°ù³¾¾±²Ô²µ³ó²¹³¾â€‹

Sector: Arts/Community

Adjei is a poet and community organiser who explores themes of masculinity, mental health, love and identity through his work.

As well as creating his own poetry work, Adjei organises impactful community driven projects - fundraising for inclusive youth projects, anti-youth violence and play schemes for children with special needs. Adjei began by self funding these schemes while still in college in 2018. Since graduating in Politics and Philosophy, Adjei has created a community driven discussion and concert series where themes such as mental health, masculinity and gender have been explored.

He has now begun teaching poetry workshops at schools and youth clubs in inner city Birmingham. This empowers them with the tools to express themselves, helping to tackle mental health inequalities.

Region: London

Sector: Digital/Arts

Events and creative producer, Audrey is the founder of - a creative agency and educational networking platform for Black content creators.

Starting the initiative as a movement in 2019, Black Creators Matter soon became the 'go to' networking platform for like-minded Black content makers. The platform aims to pull down the borders, marginalisation and bad press that is sometimes attached to the Black community - by providing support, encouragement and educational resources to energise content creators.

Prior to launching Black Creators Matter, Audrey worked at YouTube where she developed and hosted many events for the platform.

Region: London

Sector: Arts/Fashion

The Black Costume Network was formed in 2020 by Rianna Charles and Jodie-Simone Howe as a response to the outpouring of emotions over the murder of George Floyd.

Both experienced costumers and creatives, the duo are passionate about advocating change through representation. They've helped to build a safe space and network for fellow Black creatives within the costume industry. In doing so they've amplified the voices of the underrepresented - all while focusing on positivity, progression, action and support.

Region: London/Nationwide

Sector: Arts/Community/Media Representation

is the UK's first arts and culture festival dedicated to Black women, girls and non-binary people - its first festival was in 2017.

Founded by Nicole Crentsil, Black Girl Fest has grown in stature and reach. Prior to the 2020 lockdown, Black Girl Fest 2019 took place at Islington's The Business Design Centre, attracting over 3000 attendees. In 2021, Nicole was part of Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her contribution to the arts and culture.

Region: London

Sector: Charity/Community

Launched in 2013, the Brixton Soup Kitchen is a community hub providing hot meals, a food and clothes bank, legal advice and companionship to the homeless and families below the poverty line.

Created by Brixton residents Solomon Smith and Mahamed Hashi, they both realised the need for a scheme to help feed and support fellow Londoners in a judgement free space.

Since its inception, the Brixton Soup Kitchen has gone from strength to strength. It's estimated they have provided over 20,000 hot meals to those in need, either on site or distributed during drop-offs.

Region: Birmingham

Sector: Arts/Business

CJ is an award-winning writer, producer and activist encompassing the creative arts, business and social justice fields.

Through his social enterprise, , CJ provides employment opportunities to its members, while offering support to many Black business owners. This has included helping them launch and develop their business and careers, running mentorship programmes and being a hub for all forms of business support in the west Midlands.

Region: London

Sector: Business/Tech

Frustrated by the lack of representation in the tech industry, former Silicon Valley executive Dion McKenzie and ex-Google employee Ashleigh Ainsley founded in 2016, to create a more inclusive space for Black tech specialists.

Colorintech believe that a more inclusive tech industry will lead to better innovation, impact and opportunities. They have one mission: to make Europe the most inclusive tech hub in the world. Combined with their grit, experience and passion, there's no doubt they will achieve this.

Region: Scotland

Sector: Charity/Mental Health

Counsellor Cynthia is part of The African and Caribbean Society, a group that organises charity events to bring Black people together within the small but growing community in Scotland.

The African and Caribbean Society strives to promote diversity and inclusion for people of African and Caribbean heritage. Through Cynthia's professional work, she raises the awareness of mental health care for Black and People of Colour (BPoC), as well as promoting Black businesses in Scotland.

Region: London/Nationwide

Sector: Community/Youth

After being stabbed 18 times, Faron has dedicated his life relentlessly campaigning to prevent knife and gun crime across the country.

Faron set up the charity FAZAMNESTY to physically take knives off the streets and has worked with organisations across the country to promote creating safe spaces for youth and adults to do this anonymously.

He has built up a trusted social media presence which has enabled him to go into potentially life-threatening environments to recover dangerous weapons with minimal resistance from those he is collecting them from.

Region: London/Nationwide

Sector: Digital/Arts/Media Representation

is a media publication committed to telling the stories of Black and people of colour from marginalised genders.

Their work seeks to address and redress the racial imbalance in the British media by making underrepresented voices heard, exploring themes including art, music, politics and lifestyle. Gal-Dem note that about 60% of their audience is under 35, the majority identifying as women and non-binary people of colour.

Region: Scotland

Sector: Charity

(IYS) is Scotland’s leading charity for young Black and people of colour (BPoC).

IYS is the only major organisation that is both youth-led and BPoC-led with their programmes - all having developed from direct consultation with their network of Youth Ambassadors. Describing themselves as a community, service and voice for young BPoC, IYS provides a safe space for members to nurture their talents.

Region: London

Sector: Arts/Activism

In 2018, multi-hyphenated creative and mental health researcher Kay created the internationally acclaimed - a research-led well-being project with a mission.

Its aim is to address the specific mental health needs of Black boys, whilst challenging the negative stereotypes often associated with this demographic in the mainstream media and wider society. Kay's portraits of the S.M.I.L.E-ING Boys Project - includes students from schools in East London - and have been featured in exhibitions across London.

Over the past eight years Kay's work has been exhibited in countries such as Colombia, Ethiopia, Germany, Nigeria, UK, USA and more.

Region: Bristol

Sector: Digital/Business/Fashion

Lisa is the founder and CEO of , a platform dedicated to delivering virtual events online based around the latest in technology and digitalisation.

With over a decade's worth of experience in the tech industry, Lisa launched and self-funded Discussion Box at the end of 2019, grossing £1.2 million in its first year of trading in 2021. Lisa subsequently went on to launch Spotlight - a space built by women, for women.

Future plans for Discussion Box include launching the Spotlight Academy, free workshops for women to help equip them with the necessary skills to succeed and get ahead in business, including a subscription-based model of the Discussion Box platform.

Region: Manchester

Sector: Social empowerment/Education/Digital

Lisa is one of the founders and former Managing Director of (BURN), one of the biggest organisations in the North of England for the Black community focusing on economic and social empowerment.

Through the network they challenge the ethos of the modern-day working sector whilst campaigning for change for Black people at senior levels, with a particular focus on leadership.

In addition to this, Lisa is an accomplished social media and marketing strategist who has worked with brands such as Harrods in developing their social media presence. Lisa is also an associate lecturer at the London College of Fashion.

Region: Birmingham

Sector: Community

Luke is the founder and CEO of the youth crime prevention company .

"I was a man destined for prison or the grave, but I knew I wanted more in life". He self-funded and created the app 'It's On You', a game and urban drama. Playing as the character Curtis, you navigate the dangers and obstacles faced by some of those growing up in disadvantaged environments.

As well as creating the app, Luke tirelessly works in the community with youth service agencies to provide resources and preventative tools to help young people.

Region: London

Sector: Arts

Magdalene Abraha is an award-winning publisher, cultural curator and writer who has dedicated her creative career thus far to developing young Black creatives into published writers.

Among her many accolades, Magdalene was a Bookseller's Rising Star in 2019 and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRSA) in 2020 for her contribution to the media and literature sector. In that same year, Magdalene was also hailed by Elle Magazine as "integral to raising voices of Black writers in the UK and beyond", featuring in their Black History Month's list of ten trailblazing women to look out for. Most recently, Magdalene was listed on the 2022 Forbes '30 Under 30' list for her work in publishing and literature.

Magdalene is also the creator of 'A Quick Ting On' series - celebrating and exploring all things Black British Culture.

Region: London/Nationwide

Sector: Business/Tech

Raphael is the visionary, founder and CEO behind the , plus UK Black Business Week, Birmingham Black Business Show and many more.

Through his Black Business brand, Raphael's mandate is to highlight the many Black-owned businesses across the UK that contribute to the British economy. His work has garnered praise and support from international business and banking powerhouses such as JP Morgan, Forbes and HSBC.

Raphael also launched the Black Tech Achievement Awards to celebrate Black role models and innovators within the tech sector.

Region: London

Sector: Youth/Community/Activism

Temi is a racial justice campaigner and founder of , a youth organisation that serves young people who have experienced violence, trauma and racial injustice.

Passionate about transformative justice, Temi is committed to practicing approaches to address conflict and harm that prioritise healing and centre empowerment. The 4Front Project serves its members by fighting for their rights, supporting them to heal and empowering them to build communities where they are nurtured, protected and respected.

Temi is dedicated to building a powerful youth-led movement to transform the way peace and justice are understood by centring healing rather than punishment.

Region: Manchester

Sector: Health/Activism

Originally working in human rights law, an experience where health activist Victoria Abrahams was representing a vulnerable woman saw her change career direction to campaign for Black women who are being failed by the system.

Becoming a business development specialist, Victoria launched the Black Women's Reproductive Health Project. She spearheaded the first ever UK project that looks at the reproductive and menstrual health journeys and needs of Black and mixed-race British women. With a commitment to understanding the experiences of African and Caribbean women in the health system, the organisation provides research and support to those that access their services.

Region: Luton/Nationwide

Sector: Youth/Charity/Arts/Digital

Founder of the movement making platform , Jamal Edwards MBE was an award-winning entrepreneur, content creator and connector who sadly passed away early 2022.

Jamal was an integral part of the Black British music culture, and many a music artist and personality got their first 'big break' via his platforms. His passing sent seismic ripples within the creative community, but his legacy continues to live on with his various charities and trusts, headed by his mother Brenda Edwards.

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