Meet the Team

People of Colour Paddle is a sports club managed entirely by volunteers. We are dedicated to the sport and our mission as paddlers but also make time for our families, friends and our individual adventures.

Adya Misra

Founder and Chair

Adya founded People of Colour Paddle in April 2022 to provide paddlesport opportunities to people of colour and ethnic minorities in the UK. Adya is a British Canoeing coach in Kayak/Canoe and Stand up Paddleboarding.

Official-event-photo-courtesy-of-Nicki-D

Anna Stishova

Outreach and Engagement Lead

Anna is actively working towards making paddlesports welcoming to Muslims in the UK. Anna is a British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor and has been instrumental in setting up the first Muslim Girls Paddlesport Club in Bolton.

Janine Alexander

Marketing lead

Janine is a keen sea kayaker, paddleboarder ,and an avid climber, mountaineer. Janine loves the outdoors and passionate about connecting people from disadvantaged communities with outdoor spaces.

WHY PEOPLE OF COLOUR PADDLE?

We recognise that the work we do at People of Colour Paddle will benefit EVERYONE, that's why our club is for everyone. Our club activities will be designed for the inclusion of people of colour in paddlesport but we are not excluding any groups from taking part. We welcome white allies to join our club if their values align with ours.

We also recognise that many folks will have questions about why this work is needed. Please do not contact us or burden other people of colour to question the value of this effort, the reasons we need a "special" sports club and instead take a look at the multiple articles published about us in 2022.

British Canoeing Announcement on People of Colour Paddle: https://bit.ly/3CKLOoo

Paddleboarding London partnership with People of Colour Paddle: https://bit.ly/3CFk7x5

Adya's blog on why People of Colour Paddle is needed: https://bit.ly/3xhH7yn