Community Voice: Change starts at home – Meet Yusif

Research is another word for knowledge and knowledge means to know how.

I’m Yusif Morris. I’ve been part of the research community for a year now. The fastest year gone yet. I’m from London, South West London. The “gutter” as they call it. The “dirty south”. Where seeds are planted, but the flowers are seen everywhere else.

I grew up around racism, homophobia, islamophobia - the whole shebang. But when you’re young, you don’t see it as seriously or as consciously as you do when you have knowledge. Things were always taken as a joke or pushed under the table. South has always been tough for the Black man and still is. Most of us just won’t make it due to consistent disappointment in society, and in the people and systems, we should trust. I grew up knowing freedom was far from here.

But this journey has taught me to be independent and become a businessman. To work for yourself so you won’t be let down and make good alliances along the way.

My involvement in Community Research is to first benefit the community I have come from and then repeat this process, once successful, in other communities. I have the skills because I’m in the field. Simple. Being able to be part of the Community Research team is a pleasure and I ensure my power and position will benefit future generations. Working with other Community Researchers has shown me there are many people who have an interest in making change. Like me, they see the mess our communities are in, such as having no youth centres, so it has shown me there are many angles to get the community back to being united.

Development and progression are the goals, and Community Research allows me to enter new sectors and meet people who share my passion and drive to make a difference in this world. And where better to start than home.