Ahalya Bala

Ahalya Bala (she/her) is a social sciences lecturer who is aligned with the principles of social and environmental justice. She strives to foster connections between higher education and local communities and has coordinated and participated in initiatives including challenging state violence against historically oppressed groups, building solidarity with Palestine, supporting prison education, and celebrating African heritage through music and dance. Ahalya is also a committee member of a local community choir and loves engaging in activities, which value diversity and generate community cohesion - you can regularly find her singing, dancing, practising yoga and getting involved in various events and initiatives in the community! Ahalya has been a member of a community-owned housing cooperative and a renters' union in Oxford and understands local needs for available, safe, and affordable housing. She is an active trade union member and is the Race Equality Officer in the University and College Union's (UCU) local branch; she strongly believes in supporting and protecting people delivering essential services across the public sector. Like so many others, Ahalya has found hope in the Green Party and is working hard with other locally elected Green Party councillors to make Oxford a safer, cleaner and welcoming place for all.