Meet an inspirational Rotaractor from Bradford

Meet an inspirational Rotaractor from Bradford

On the day after International Women’s Day on 8^th March 2021 it was an inspirational pleasure to meet Katie Mahon, Artistic Director of Bloomin Buds Theatre Company, who is driving Rotaract development. Katie is part of new breed of Rotaractors who are welcoming the support of Rotarians but are very much self-driven as they pursue their passions in life. On International Women’s Day Katie spoke eloquently about her life and the input into her community when she appeared on BBC Radio Bradford. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09806zp I hour 15min into the Mid-Morning Show on 8^th March 2021. Limited shelf life link - ending around 7th April 2021

Katie has a BA HONS Theatre and Performance in Industry and an MA in Applied Theatre and Intervention from the University of Leeds. She is passionate about the Bloomin Buds Theatre Company’s mission to increase access to opportunities and to the arts for working class communities. This is as a result of her own barriers accessing higher education, being the first in her family to go to university and tackling the stigma of being working class in the arts.

Under Katie’s leadership, Bloomin Buds have been successful in securing funding from the likes of Bradford Soup, supported by Bradford area Rotary Clubs. The aim of The Soup is to change local communities for the better by bringing together members of the community to pitch their ideas for improving Bradford, from art to social entrepreneurship, from urban agriculture to justice.

Also, under Katie’s leadership the Bloomin Buds Theatre Company took part in the Edinburgh Fringe which led to an opportunity to perform in New York. This You Tube trailer link gives you a flavour of Brenda’s Got a Baby at the Fringe in 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUtflOO8iDc&t=2s

Katie is a self-motivated young mum with a one-year-old baby boy. She has learnt to network with a range of organisations in order to drive Bloomin Buds forward and hopes also to inspire people to join Rotaract, so they can make a difference in their communities and support people as they grasp life changing opportunities.

Thanks to Assistant Governor Caroline Murie and District Rotaract Lead Tony Jordan for the introduction to Katie from Bradford.