The Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton North East, Sureena Brackenridge, has endosed the debut poetry collection by Saida Chowdhury  calling it "a tool for change" following her appearence on Black Country Xtra.    

Saida Chowdhury (pictured) was invited to read 3 of the poems from her forthcoming debut poetry collection on The Ian Henery Show on Black Country Xtra which is part of Black Country Radio.  Other guests on the show included Community & Wellbeing Champion Tal Singh and former Mayoress of Wolverhampton Sureena Brackenridge who is now Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton North East.   

Sureena, who represents Bushbury, Low Hill, Fallings Park, Heath Town, Wednesfield, Short Heath and Willenhall, said:

  "Saida Chowdhury may be a new voice in the poetry scene, but she has been quietly crafting her work for over twenty years. Only recently has she found the courage to share her deeply personal and evocative poetry with the world. Her writing, spanning themes of racial discrimination in the post-9/11 era, love, grief, loss, and mental health, is both raw and profound.

This collection is a testament to her resilience—a journey from brokenness to healing, and ultimately, to empowerment. Saida’s work is not just about personal catharsis; it is a beacon for others navigating their own struggles. She is deeply committed to the idea of women empowering women and is using her voice to break down barriers, particularly around the stigma of mental health within the Asian community.

I wholeheartedly applaud Saida for her bravery in addressing these issues and for using her poetry as a tool for change. This book is an important and necessary read—one that will resonate, inspire, and encourage healing."

 Saida`s forthcoming book is called "Broken Minds" and Sureena`s words will be included as the foreword to the book.   

Saida has performed her poetry recently at spoken word events in the Black Country and Birmingham including the Human Rights Day at the University of Wolverhampton.  She is a member of the South Asian Women`s Writing Group with Wolverhampton Poet Laureate Kuli Kohli.    

"I am very grateful to Sureena for supporting my book" said Saida Chowdhury "and it was wonderful meeting her and Tal Singh in the studio at Black Country Xtra."   Saida is currently planning a series of book launches across Birmingham and the Black Country and her book, "Broken Minds" will be launched later this year.    

Black Country Radio broadcasts on 102.5 FM, DAB Online and is the sound of the Black Country.