September 18, 2026ROOTED: Our Hair Stories
Black hair is never just about hair.
A family-focused Black History Month event exploring hair, identity, culture, representation and positive self-image.
17 October 2026 | Firepit Art Gallery & Studios, Greenwich Peninsula
Why ROOTED
Hair can carry so much.
The rituals we learn at home. The styles passed between generations. The relationship we have with our texture. The first time a child notices that their hair is different from somebody else's.
ROOTED began with a desire to create space for those conversations.
ROOTED: Our Hair Stories is a celebration of Black and Brown hair, but the conversation reaches much further. Through hair, we're exploring identity, heritage, representation, confidence and the ways children learn to see themselves.
We want children to encounter images, stories and people that reflect them. We want adults to have space to share what they have learned, question what they inherited and pass something different forward.
And we want to do it together.
What to expect
ROOTED brings children, parents, families and adults together for an afternoon of:
Guest conversations exploring hair, identity, wellbeing and culture
Natural hair expertise and practical conversations about caring for our hair
Books & storytelling centred on Black heritage and representation
Creative activities designed for children to explore identity and self-expression
Chess & connection with Say It With Your Chess
Independent businesses whose work reflects the ROOTED community
Food, conversation and space to simply spend time together
For the next generation
Representation shouldn't be something children have to search for.
From the books they read to the images they see and the conversations happening around them, ROOTED is designed to give children opportunities to see Blackness reflected with breadth, care and joy.
Hair is our starting point. The bigger conversation is about who we are and what we pass on.
Who ROOTED is for
ROOTED centres Black experiences and has been created with Black and Brown children and families particularly in mind, while welcoming everyone who wants to join the conversation, learn and celebrate with us.
Come with your children, your family, your friends or come by yourself.
Meet the hosts
Harieth Founder, Mothers Recharge CIC
Harieth is the founder of Mothers Recharge CIC, a community-led organisation creating spaces for women to connect, recharge and feel supported beyond motherhood.With a background in Early Years Education and marketing, much of her work is shaped by an interest in childhood, community and the environments that influence how children see themselves.As a mother raising a young Black daughter, Harieth created ROOTED: Our Hair Stories from conversations already happening at home around hair, identity and representation. ROOTED brings those conversations into a shared space, creating opportunities for children and adults to explore Black hair, heritage, culture and positive self-image together.
Donalee
Founder, Say It With Your Chess CIC
Donalee is the founder of Say It With Your Chess CIC, a community-led organisation using chess as a catalyst for social development, meaningful connection and long-term community impact.
Her work is rooted in the belief that chess is more than a game. It can create opportunities to connect across generations while developing patience, strategy, confidence and decision-making skills that extend beyond the chessboard.
As co-host of ROOTED: Our Hair Stories, Donalee brings this community-focused approach to the day alongside her interests in nutrition and wellbeing. Through conversation and play, she’ll invite children and adults to explore some of the connections between how we care for ourselves, how we see ourselves and how we engage with one another.