Sofia Crawford

Digital Activist Coordinator for Nottingham (yr1) & Mansfield (yr2)

I currently hail from Mansfield and work in Nottingham. I’ve lived in the UK for almost seven years and originate from El Paso, Texas in the United States. It’s very different to Nottinghamshire. I’ll put it this way – there are 300 sunny days a year, with little rain and grass, but with lots of tasty Mexican food.

I speak Spanish fluently, which comes in handy when telemarketers ring at the wrong time of day. I love music and used to play the drums in both marching bands and once, in an all-girl punk band. I am a big fan of film, art and books, but my one regret in life that I will never be able to watch enough television.

I am a big fan of all things techie and am rare in that I love Macs and PCs the same! I will apologise in advance for being one of those iPhone users that is constantly on the thing and finds it an answer to every one of life’s pressing matters. I got involved in communities several years ago and know it’s where my heart is.

Email - scrawford@wea.org.uk
Call – 07810 834 539
Notes – Usual working days are Tuesday to Thursday

Mary Moss

Digital Activist Coordinator for Chesterfield (yr1) & High Peak (yr2)

I’ve lived in the High Peak for over twenty years, and I’m really looking forward to working here too! Most recently, I’ve been working for NIACE who are involved in the DAIN project, and before that I’ve been a project worker promoting the benefits of the internet to voluntary and community organisations, as well as a tutor in ICT and ESOL.

I’ve always been keen to use technology to improve teaching and learning and I believe that understanding how to use technology well can make people and communities more powerful. I have a large family, and spend what free time I have reading novels, playing online scrabble, and – in nice weather- walking in the peaks.

Email -  mmoss@wea.org.uk

usual working days Tuesday to Thursday

Angelique Bodart

Digital Activist Coordinator for Leicester (yr1) & Kettering (yr2)

I’m a Knox County country girl come London city girl that moved to Nottingham to study Sociology at University…and never left.

After University and months of interviews, living in limbo trying to make that transition from student to professional, I managed to secure a job in Ofsted. I became involved in communication groups…communication, the key to success…and the learning and development of staff within Ofsted.

I’m passionate about society. Knowing how it works, how it can be made better, and the importance of ‘community’…something that can be hard to find in the city. Which is why I was drawn to Africa…the unknown.

I travelled around Africa for five months starting in Nairobi, Kenya and moving down towards Cape Town across to Johannesburg in South Africa, via Letsotho and Swaziland, dipping my toes into Mozambique as I passed by. I hiked to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, had close encounters with wild animals, hitchhiked, got caught up in a tear-gas frenzied protest, and committed myself to the World Record bungee jump and abseil. But I mostly enjoyed interacting with local communities. Visiting local shebeens, volunteering in a home for children orphaned by AIDS, and just sitting down and talking to people about themselves and the things they have experienced…the apartheid, AIDS, the good times…and their hopes and dreams.

Success may be about communication and education, but life experiences are the things that make the path you take more interesting. That is why community work appeals to me.

Email – abodart@wea.org.uk
Call – 0115 933 9022
Mobile – 07825 934 105
Notes – Usual working days are Tuesday and Wednesday and Friday morning.

Andria Birch

DAIN Project manager

I originally came to work for the WEA on a part time 12 month contract while studying for my PGCCE (teaching qualification) and nearly 6 years later I’m still here! It’s a great organisation which combines 2 of my passions; education and community work.

Prior to joining the WEA I managed the East Midland’s ESF Global Grants programme ‘Catalyst’, which gave me a broad overview of the diversity of the region and the countless small community groups which provide so many important services and sources of support for local communities.

I love both learning and teaching and my current ‘hobby’ is doing a Masters in Migration and Transnationalism which I am really enjoying. My other big passions are my children one aged 19 and one aged 2 who make me feel both pretty old and very alive all at the same time – so when I’m not doing all of the above my most pleasurable time is spent with family and friends.

I was first employed by the WEA as local ICT (Information Communication Technology) project manager which involved organisation of community based ICT courses in Nottingham and have been an active member of the regions Equality and Diversity group since joining the WEA. I therefore have a good understanding of some of the issues around digital participation and the barriers which can prevent people getting involved in using digital technology. The DAIN project represents a wonderful opportunity to work with different communities around the region to identify and develop new and innovative ways to increase digital participation. We are all looking forward to ‘tackling technology together’.

Email – abirch@wea.org.uk

usual working days Tuesday to Friday