Cláudia Ramalhosa
"I want the people of Barking and Dagenham to feel like they belong where they live."
Why does working in Barking and Dagenham interest you?
Coming from a different country, I find it so interesting to see how diverse one city can be. I didn’t know much about the borough but after learning about its history and getting to know some of the people in the community I can see this is a special place with people that deserve to be proud of where they live. And I want to be involved in what comes next for them.
What are your ambitions for the borough?
I want the people of Barking and Dagenham to feel like they belong where they live. We know we can tackle some of the biggest issues of the borough and make our efforts an example for other parts of London, without any displacement of its residents.
What role does the community have in realising that ambition?
This can only be done with the help of the community. The power has been shifted to them, they can make impactful decisions and they can bring others in who want to see and be part of systemic change.