The official launch of a new book celebrating Black role models provided for an evening of lively debate, straight talking and inspired presentations.

‘Everyday Heroes: Learning from the Careers of Successful Black Professionals' by Frances Mensah Williams is a collection of interviews with sixteen professionals from different careers including law, accountancy, music, publishing, medicine, banking and architecture. In a practical, easy-to-read format, the ‘everyday heroes' talk about what it takes to succeed in their careers, their own influences and the life lessons they have learned along the way. The book also includes a number of projects and exercises to help readers assess their own skills and identify potential career routes.

The book launch featured a presentation by the author as well as a lively panel discussion and open forum. Panellists included Eric D. Edwards, Deputy Head of a large comprehensive school in North London and Ayesha Patel, Regional Manager for London and the South East for the organisation Career Academies UK. Also on the panel was Toyin Dania, Business Counselling Manager for Wandsworth Youth Enterprise Centre (WYEC) and one of the ‘heroes' featured in the book. The panel discussion was followed by a short personal testimony from University student Jeffrey Muthee on the importance of role models in shaping his career opportunities to date.

Hosted by the Centre of African Studies at the Brunei Gallery of the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS), University of London, and sponsored by the African Peoples Advocacy (www.apadvocacy.org), the launch brought together representatives from education, business and academia as well as students and members of the African diplomatic corps.

Introducing the book ‘Everyday Heroes – Learning from the Careers of Successful Black Professionals', the author Frances Mensah Williams set the context for the publication.

"Every year in the UK, October is designated as Black History Month and is used to celebrate the achievements of Black people to this country and to the world. But we seem to be stuck in the same old narrative when it comes to celebrating Black Heroes, many of them coming from past times and different cultural experiences," she said.

"Great though their achievements are, the old heroes are not the only story and, in many ways, they are not today's story. It is time to celebrate a new set of heroes – today's heroes – that can help our young people navigate the challenges of the world as it is today."

Many young people have high aspirations for their careers, she said. But what is often lacking is the support and the advice they need to channel their ideas into productive career directions.

Faced with high levels of unemployment, with over a million young people out of work in the UK alone, as well as a steep hike in university tuition fees, the youth of today are facing what is arguably the most difficult job market in a generation, said Mensah Williams.

"A book like ‘Everyday Heroes: Learning from the Careers of Successful Black Professionals' matters for three key reasons. Firstly, it provides young people with ideas about possible careers. Studies show that over a third of young people in UK state schools do not know anyone in a job that they would like to do, highlighting the need to give students a glimpse of some of the professions about which they may not be aware.

"Secondly, it provides inspiration by showcasing role models who are not celebrities, but who are quietly succeeding in their chosen fields of expertise. Thirdly, it provides education in how to access and succeed in those careers, with useful projects as well as a range of careers exercises to help the reader explore their own skills and potential career direction."

During the panel discussion, Eric Edwards, the deputy head teacher of a North London school that had been at the heart of the August riots but whose students had not participated, appealed to audience members to act as mentors to young people.

He cautioned against a short-term, ‘ticking the box' approach, pointing out that engaging young people requires commitment and authenticity.

Business Counsellor Toyin Dania spoke of the opportunities that entrepreneurship offered young people and what she hoped her interview in the book would achieve.

"My career entails providing a place for young people to come to that allows them to be themselves and explore what their options are," she said. "Personal and business development is a tool that can support so many of our young people especially in this climate and I am happy that "Everyday Heroes" allows them to see the type of work I do and the type of work that they may be interested in going into."

Audience members, including the school students present, contributed their suggestions for promoting awareness of the book to its target market of schools, libraries, further education colleges and university careers services, while organisations working with young people also pledged their support to engaging with their young people around the themes of the book.

Expressing her delight at the success of the launch, Frances Mensah Williams said: "Young people, whatever their background or ethnic origin, really need guidance to understand that they can be successful simply by understanding their own skills and talents and applying them with integrity to whatever career they choose to undertake.

"By reading about people in the book who look just like them and who are working in careers they may feel intimidated about considering for themselves, my aim is for today's generation of youngsters, and particularly those from minorities, to not only feel inspired but also to aspire to professions that will give them better and more sustainable opportunities in life."