Louis Byrne’s empowering and identity movement, I Can I Am and I Will (ICIAIW), joined forces with Vicky McClure’s sensational Dementia Choir on Monday 24th October, together they brought a heartening voice and positive identity message. The community centre exhibition popped-up in the heart of Soho on the iconic Old Compton Street and was home to 18 hours of activities that touched hearts, minds and spirits.

The Atelier Movement: The Heartland of the Relationship Between Hairdresser and Client

A bespoke hairdressing atelier held appointments that were the heartland for this movement in the relationship between hairdresser and client and the positive effect of this upon both parties.

The Atelier Movement is about a new way of doing things. It's about taking an approach to hair that is not only artistic but also one that is personal, intimate, and based on time spent together.

The confessional booth is a place of great importance. It is a place of private reflection, leading to public pronouncement of a spoken manifestation of each part of I Can……I Am …… and I Will.

Thousands of confessions have been captured and released from this booth during the campaign.

This is one of our favourite booths, because it reminds us to always be true to ourselves. We're all so busy trying to fit in with the crowd—but what if you were just yourself? What if you could just be who you really are? Community voices that have been captured in the confessional booth over the years, were played on a vintage TV VCR.

The ICIAIW Journal is a journal for self-exploration and growth. It helps you reflect on your own life, as well as the lives of others around you. It's designed to help you understand your own thoughts, emotions, and motivations so that you can better understand how to use those things to improve yourself and those around you.

The working studio workshop had photographer Liam Bundy capturing unique ICIAIW portraits. They also held a projection exhibition showing artistically filmed clips of a few of the thousands of participants who have shared their own personal stories, sorrows, joys, intentions and promises for the future. These were played on a huge 16ft screen that illuminated the room - a visual delight! 

Louis commented, “This event was the culmination of my dream to bring wellness and hope to everyone but very specifically to meet a great need of those in the LBGTQIA+ communities too, working with my great friend Vicky was the dream to bring together all of our voices in a very meaningful way.”

 
Louis founded ICIAIW four years ago and is fully open and accepting of his own story of trauma, addiction and living with an HIV diagnosis.  His recovery journey is rooted in the very foundations of this ICIAIW movement that now reaches into colleges, hairdressing and broader industry.

Louis’s story has been supported by his family, friends and colleagues who have all played a part in supporting him through his journey. His resilience in overcoming the stigma within our industry is truly inspirational and one that we are proud to be part of as ICIAIW. Thank you Louis for your tireless efforts.

The Dementia Choir was the perfect way to close out our second day of the festival. The Old Compton Street space was flowing all day from the first appointment to the finest of musical finales, thanks to Vicky McClure’s Dementia Choir who raised their voices and the hopes of the 170 gathered, all to raise awareness in hope of making a breakthrough with this devastating condition.  The evening closed with DJ sets by BBC Radio host Katie Owen and the fabulous Princess Julia.

Vicky McClure commented, “I’m very proud of my best friend Louis, of how far he has come and how hard he has worked. And to see the choir performing in Soho bringing all ages together with the power of music and I Can I Am and I Will was a night I shall treasure.”

If only all Mondays were so motivational.

Own your identity embrace who and what you are.
 

To find out more about I Can I Am and I Will, visit the website at iciaiw.com and to begin your journaling journey, head to https://iciaiw.com/product/wellbeing-journal/