Marie-Ermelinda Mayassi

Member since May 26, 2022

Newham resident and founder of Skate Gals & Pals and Melanin Skate Gals & Pals, U.K. based not-for-profit skate organisations for marginalised genders, the LGBTQIA+ community and People of Colour. I gained knowledge and experience during her time in the West Bank and Athens’ Refugee Camps, where I was teaching and working to share my love for skateboarding and the benefits that comes with it: mental and physical wellbeing, creativity, self expression and community building.

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Marie-Ermelinda Mayassi3 years ago The project has been completedhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1af5MEoZRkSRrw0pBH37aeCiXGMh0n85u?usp=drive_link UPDATE: Exciting news! We’re starting weekly skate lessons at City Mill Skate from this week, June 8th! Two donation based lessons every Saturday: Open Lessons: 10:30-12:00 (Families welcome) BPOC + LGBTQIA+: 12:30-14:00 Just bring yourself and your friends—we've got the equipment and coaches! Roller skaters, please bring your own skates. Also, we're hosting monthly skate meetups at different skateparks! Follow us on socials for updates. Spread the word! 🛼🎉Follow our page on Eventbrite for more info on upcoming events: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/skate-gals-pals-cic-melanin-skate-gals-pals-37469169963Context:The City Mill Skatepark project, led by Skate Gals & Pals, aims to deliver three structured skateboarding & rollerskating lessons and one weekly skate meetup to residents of Newham, with a particular focus on underrepresented skaters. In 2023, we have hosted sessions for 300+ from March to September for a minimum donation of £1 per session. Here's a summary of the project's key elements:Project Beneficiaries: The project significantly benefits the local community by fostering community engagement, youth development, providing a safe recreational space, empowerment, and cultural enrichment. It brings children from diverse backgrounds together, promotes social interaction, nurtures friendships, and enhances neighborhood cohesion. The project empowers children with positive activities, imparts valuable life skills, and changes perceptions of skateboarding & rollerskating as a constructive activity. Whilst skateboarding is still a predominantly male activity, we aim to champion those underrepresented within the sport, POC individuals, LGBTQIA+, kids of marginalised genders and in deprived boroughs, neurodivergent folks as well as elders.Physical & Mental Health and Exercise: Participants actively engage in physical activities during the coached sessions, contributing to regular exercise and physical development. These sessions enhance balance, coordination, and overall fitness while fostering enthusiasm among participants.Structured Coaching Sessions: The project conducts weekly coached skate sessions over a six months period, providing participants with structured learning opportunities. Experienced coaches offer personalised feedback, resulting in visible skill improvement.Passion and Skill Development: Participants demonstrate dedication and eagerness to learn, igniting a passion for skateboarding & rollerskating and facilitating skill enhancement. Progression in executing complex manoeuvres showcases their commitment to mastering the sport.Personal Growth and Confidence: Coached sessions boost participants' self-confidence and courage as they attempt challenging tricks. Participants exhibit remarkable improvement and a greater willingness to take calculated risks.Educational and Safety Components: Coached sessions include safety demonstrations and educational discussions on skateboarding principles. Participants gain a better understanding of safety practices and navigate skating responsibly.Outcomes: The project has resulted in skill progression, community building, holistic education, and changing perceptions of skateboarding. Participants have improved their skateboarding skills, formed a stronger sense of community, and gained valuable life skills.Timescales and Risks: The project's key milestones include skill development, community engagement, educational workshops, and evaluation. Risks such as delays due to external factors and personnel changes have been addressed. The project is committed to timely execution and responsible fund allocation.Positive Impact: Collaboration with the Community Neighbourhood team and Community Assembly Working Group has enhanced access, inclusivity, diversity, trust, and sustainability of the project. It has provided access to resources, promoted inclusivity, built trust and credibility, and ensures long-term sustainability.In conclusion, the City Mill Skatepark project is not just about skateboarding & rollerskating but also about community engagement, youth development, and promoting a positive and inclusive environment in Newham. It has demonstrated significant positive outcomes and benefits for the neighborhood.

Marie-Ermelinda Mayassi4 years ago Skate Gals & Pals wish to create a semi-permanent skating facility at Pool St, London E20 2AF Near UCL Stratford Campus with City Mill Skate. With the equipment and mobile skatepark stored in a container, to allow other residents to access the space.Our aims are to give more variety of physical activities options to Newham residents and facilitate a space for local skaters, for people of all generations and genders in Newham, at no or low-cost.Due to youth clubs and after school clubs being defunded there are a lack of activities available to young people in the area which increases the criminalisation of local youth. We would like to bring after school and weekend programs.Create sisterhood amongst girls to support each other instead of being against each other. We would like to deliver two skateboarding programs to young girls under 18. Our project would increase the use of City Mill Skatepark by the local community. There is currently a lack of skating facilities in the whole of Newham, yet it is an ideal place to install a mobile skatepark and start skate sessions as it is easily accessible by transport and in a safe location for participants to get to with a large area available for sport activities. For years people from all over London have been coming to Stratford for roller skating. We believe it is time to dedicate a space to those already practising and those wanting to learn. Moreover, the park will install new skate facilities on the Newham side which is the opportunity to develop more technical skate programs for participants to continuously evolve outside of provided sessions.To respect the natural environment of the park we will be working with a local school to decorate and paint a mural on the container to blend with the park landscape.We would like to collaboratively deliver a range of activities to our local community such as:For all skaters and skateboarders; Deliver weekly open skate sessions for adults, Group skate lessons for families and people of all ages, Group lessons for kids, 1-to-1 skate lessons, After-school groups skate programs, Skate meet-ups, Skate jams events. Deliver school programs to local schools. Use the facility to re-run weekend Roller skating activities for both Adults and Youths Beginner Coaching lessons, Open Skate session for roller-skaters, Jam Skate lessons for those wanting to learn how to dance on skates, Skate Jams events. Check out our current work at the Olympic Park for adults:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flxqM82p7i0Our work with young girls:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUxTkZjmRBQUpdates: Planning permissions have been completed! We have launched our skate coaching program where we commission 10 experienced skaters from our community to come teach with Our We Skate London sessions, BPOC Beginner sessions, Meet-Ups and Drop-Ins at City Mill Skatepark! We are in the consultancy stages with out container provider, getting closer to being able to provide skating equipment onsite! We have contracted 2 project coordinators for the project! Our skating schedule with City Mill Skatepark is as follows:Wednesday SGP We Skate London Sessions (Kids Only) Promotes gender equality and a safe space for practice For kids of marginalised genders Coaches arrive at 4pm and will end at 6pm SGP and MSGP Saturday SessionsSaturday Drop-Ins (Everyone) Coaches will be helping adults learn how to skate on a as needed basis Open to all, with equipment provided Starts at 10:15 and ends at 11:15 with the aid of two coaches Saturday BPOC Only Beginner Sessions These sessions we will be teaching BPOC only adults with little to experience how to skate Equipment provided and lessens the gap between class and race within the sport Sessions start at 12:30pm and end at 1:30 pm, coaches will be available Saturday BPOC Only Meet Up Sessions These sessions are for BPOC skaters to get together, skate and build community freely. Sessions start at 3pm - onwards. We have successfully run a number of community workshops such as; Introduction to DJ'ing Workshop w/ Pioneer DJ Global & Red Bull UK MAKE IT LONDON/Hugo Boss video campaign feature showcasing women owned businesses. Creative Writing Creative Employment Sessions Grant Writing Jewellrey making and "how to" Crochet Book Clubs Art Trails Community Get Together's - workshops within community centres in the area involving the children and parents. Skatestival - a camp for BPOC/QTBPOC women & non-binary skaters to get together, skate and participate in outdoor activities. Go Skateboarding Day event with RedBull Hosted our first Birthday with Snapchat Hosted events in NYC & Paris and bridged with other BPOC Skate organisations. We have expanded MSGP and SGP across social platforms and continue to create a better, safer space for the BPOC/QTBPOC community within skating.

Marie-Ermelinda Mayassi

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Skate Gals and Pals Skateboarding and Rollerskating lessons

Straford Skate Hub – City Mill Skate