Cyndee Mitchell (she/her)

Last week, I read Audre Lorde’s book The Cancer Journals (1980) and found myself enraged at the simply woeful and damning reminder of how so many aspects of life - be it related to ableism, women, people of colour, or the LBGTQIA+ community - have barely changed at all in FORTY SIX YEARS.

And it feels like it’s getting worse. As a person of relative privilege, what can I do to help? I am keenly aware that those with lived experience of exclusion are the voices that are needed. But at a time when those who shout the loudest are erasing people who don’t look or think like them, I feel it is crucial that I do all I can to combat that right here at a level where I can truly make a difference.

I am also looking forward to making new Green friends!

With a varied background, I've myriad skills that don’t fit into neat little boxes. I have a creative (neurodivergent) mind and often hear ‘I’d not thought of that before!’. I've worked in citizen participation and it was this and the EU Referendum that ignited my political fire.

I’m very into community engagement and have been involved in lots of local activities over the last year. I recently trained as a facilitator through Palliative Care Scotland and began holding events around demystifying death. I’m also a new Trustee of Leith Community Centre.

I am a Mental Health First Aider, EU Brain Ambassador and have lived experience of chronic illness. So I feel I could bring a lot to the role, be it coordinating, campaigning or just being kind.