Community Aunties, Activism, and the Weight of Representation — with Kaltum Osman Rivers

Описание: On this episode, Donald and I had the honour of hosting Kaltum Osman Rivers—researcher, activist, PhD candidate at the University of Sheffield, and former Green Party councillor.


Kaltum’s story is one of resilience, vision, and deep commitment to community. Born in Somaliland, raised in London, she has carried the weight and the grace of representation—knowing, as many of us do, that people of colour are often seen not just as individuals but as ambassadors for their entire communities.


Raised by her elder sister in the absence of parents, she spoke powerfully about the necessity of kinship how siblings become proxy parents, how aunties emerge as cultural pillars, and how communities of colour are bound together by duty as much as by love.


We explored everything from the vibrancy of Sheffield’s Somali community, to the responsibility of activism, to the quiet but revolutionary act of building family across lines of race and culture. A mother of four boys, married to Chris Rivers, she reflected with candour on the sideways glances interracial families still receive, and on the beauty of defying those narratives with love and conviction.


Her ongoing work at Unity Gym Project born in response to violence in Broomhall is yet another testament to her commitment. Here, research meets grassroots action: young men and women reclaiming space, building strength, and speaking boldly about mental health under the guidance of scholars and community leaders.


Kaltum is, without question, a community auntie in the truest sense: a trusted elder, even if younger in years, whose wisdom, experience, and presence help to steady the ground for others.


🎙️ This is one of those conversations that lingers long after the cameras stop rolling.


Listen, reflect, and share.