Healed People Heal Structures & Heal Others
Knowledge Systems Creator
Naomi’s Truth
MA degree in Race and Resistance (University of Leeds)
MA degree in Library and Information Studies (UCL)
Critical Race Literacy Expert
Critical Pedagogy Expert
New World Visionary
Unapologetically Different
For six years, Naomi built a global reputation in the field of Critical Librarianship, a discipline that examines and challenges systemic inequalities within the profession. Known for her positively unique outlook and strong advocacy for change, she led powerful conversations on Decolonisation and Social Justice. She delivered keynote addresses at prestigious institutions, including the University of Cambridge, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (USA), and South Africa’s Breaking New Ground: Carving a Decolonised Collection Path Symposium. Recognised for her expertise, Naomi was sought out by the British Library to provide guidance on their Black Collections. Despite a demanding schedule, she also organised and hosted the widely attended webinar :’Librarians for Critical Digital Justice #CritLibVsTech’, in collaboration with UCL Information Studies, drawing over 170 global participants. Her impact earned her recognition from IFLA and the Goethe Institute as an Emerging International Voice, cementing her influence in the field.
Her future in academic libraries seemed bright and promising (from the outside). In reality however, Naomi was suffering from ongoing experiences of workplace microaggressions. Therefore, in December 2024, Naomi made a decision to simply walk away from her role as the Global Black Studies Subject Librarian at her London based institution, and take control of her own destiny. Her LinkedIn post about this decision went viral.
Now, through her consultancy, Black and Gold Education, Naomi is using her lived work experiences, theoretical expertise in Race and Resistance theories, Decolonial frameworks and Indigenous Knowledge Systems to reshape the future of academic spaces nationally and globally.
Her aims:
To centre Liberation, Decolonial justice and systemic change to heal systems, structures and people.
To uplift and protect marginalised identities from microaggressions and the insidious layers of organisational, racism(s) that led her to experience the following illnesses and dis-ease :
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Psychological
Depression
Anxiety
Insomnia -
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Physical
Painful Menstruation
Acne
Migraines -
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Immunity
Regular Rhinovirus
Alopecia flareups
Black and gold Education is an acronym for:
B- Black
L- Librarian
A -Addressing
C- Critical
K- knowledge Gaps
A- aiming to start discussions &
N- new ways of thinking for
D - disadvantaged people .
G- guiding anyone and everyone
O- on how to
L- learn and use
D- difficult critical theory to make more empowered, critical choices in life
Pillars of care that ground my work:
Intentional
Affirming
Generative Accessible Inclusive Courageous
Gen Z & Alpha Don’t Read—They Engage. Black and Gold Education Curates and Design Creative Educational Content and Events to encourage accessible Decolonial Learning
Continuous, Ongoing Learning
I am enrolled on a 9-week course, ‘Designing Possible Futures’ by Slow Factory Founder Céline Semaan. Slow Factory is an award-winning organisation for collective liberation, led by Arab and Afro-Indigenous women and queer gender non-comforming artists. They produce media, conferences, interactive exhibitions, gatherings and workshops centering the lived experience of people of the Global Majority. Built on a feminist lens for climate and social justice, its practice is to create in a way that is good for the planet and good for people.
My Modules include :
Applied Imagination Lab
Resilient Design Framework
Radical Healing as Justice Work
Building International Solidarity
Decentralized Design Practice
Fashion & Politics for Cultural Change
Designing a Giving Framework
Lifelong Unlearning
Radical Imagination / Foresight
My Services
Public Speaking, Guest Lectures, Webinars and Workshops for Academic Libraries, Universities and other Organisations nationally and globally
“Your presentation at the last National Conference of African American Librarians (NCAAL) in New Orleans was one of the great presentations and resonated across the audience. Thanks for being the best”- Olanike Olaniyu.
As a decolonial public speaker, my purpose is to connect to your Soul. I spark introspective and transformational conversations that leave audiences feeling deeply moved, informed, empowered and motivated long after the event has ended. As Professor Gus John, renowned Race Scholar said:
“Please tell Naomi she had me spellbound. At Coventry, I did (until
2022) a lot of work on decolonising the curriculum and decolonising libraries and archives as a key component of that. I wish
those library colleagues in HE institutions in that region could have heard what Naomi shared today.”
If you and your organisation want to address critical topics in the fields of Social Justice and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Workplace Equity, Challenging Systems, Self Care, Wellness and Community Empowerment l I’d love to hear from you
Service Pricing: My speaking fee starts from £1,500 but is subject to negotiation depending on your needs, size and status of your organisation.
Decolonial Educational Consulting for Academic institutions, Educational establishments and School Libraries, Universities, and other organisations nationally and globally
I offer practical and actionable decolonial strategies based on my experiences as a Subject Librarian responsible for Inclusive Collection Development, teaching Critical Information Literacy to students across diverse disciplines ( Global Black Studies, Fashion, Graphic Design Criminology, Law and Policing) and regularly liaising with Academics and Support Staff across different departments and teams. My consulting services cover a range of topics, including:
Decolonial Resource Policy, Services and Collection Audits
Reviewing educational resources and collections to ensure they reflect diverse and inclusive perspectives by assessing and refining collection development policies and guiding inclusive acquisitions, including sourcing materials that represent marginalised voices and make lecture reading lists inclusive.
Decolonial Staff Training & Professional Development
Gently collaborating with staff at all levels to help them to truly understand the difference between performative equity, diversity, and inclusion and real decolonising by offering tailored workshops to embed anti-racist and decolonial practices within operations and within Self.
(Read my free blog and see whether five years later, your institution has still not truly evolved) : How Effective are Academic Libraries' Attempts at Dismantling Racism? https://www.earll.co.uk/post/how-effective-are-academic-libraries-attempts-at-dismantling-racism)
Decolonial Community & Student Engagement Strategies
Developing creative and inclusive, holistic decolonial initiatives for Gen Z and Gen Alpha engagement to enhance student belonging and retention which address the Award Gap in learning discrepancies
Critical Pedagogy: Integrating critical pedagogy to empower learners and challenge traditional knowledge hierarchies and showing educators how to create educational and learning spaces that are sources of inclusive empowerment
Service Pricing: My fee is subject to prior consultation and identification of your needs, size and status of your organisation.
Open New Doors: 1-1 Decolonial Business Mentoring and Holistic Support for those who identify as women and are racialised as non-white nationally and globally.
I offer bespoke entrepreneurial and holistic mentoring and consulting for those who need radical support in order to survive in academia or need help developing an ‘exit plan’ in the midst of job insecurity. Do you want to re-create my own viral Linked in post which requires not only content creation skills, but Radical self-belief and authenticity?
I draw from my confidence and proven skills in content creation, designing an experience that can open a portal to a new life. Sharing business strategies which led me to launch my first successful decolonial business DIE4ART and what I have learnt from mentors that include spiritual healers, psychologists and successful entrepreneurs, I provide insights and indigenous holistic support to help you to rediscover who YOU truly are, without the academic job titles.
I empower you to move courageously and radically transform your inner and outer worlds. Whether that is co-creating something new or co-healing something existent, I am committed to helping you to remove limiting beliefs and empower you to articulate your TRUE needs, desires and dreams. Take a leap of faith. It is time for Black women to nurture their physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing.
Service Pricing for individual sessions: (Depending on your socio-economic needs, any requests for payment plans will be considered).
‘The Open New Doors’ Cluster: (9 sessions): £600.00
Individual 1-hour sessions on individual topics: £200 per hour
Topics include:
Mentoring & Career Guidance: Defining and Aligning your childhood dreams with your adult career aspirations
The Art of Unapologetic Self Love
The Art of Unapologetically Trusting The Unknown
The Art of Unapologetically saying ‘No!’
Your Black Wealth Identity
Social Media Growth Strategy: Youtube, Instagram, Linkedin, Tiktok.
Digital Presence Consulting: Personal Branding and Online Community Building
Website and Newsletter Development
Sessions are online and can be tailored to fit around busy schedules, including : Mornings from 05:30 GMT, Evenings until 23:00 GMT, Weekends and Bank Holidays
Reach out!