The University has always been committed to working across all protected characteristics and promoting a culture of diversity and inclusivity for all. Recent global events have pushed issues related to race and ethnicity to the fore, prompting Kent to seek to better understand and tackle racism at the University.
The University is leading the way in the sector by launching its “Challenging Racism” campaign, which includes a blended programme of learning and development for staff. The programme will be delivered by Inclusive Employers over a period of six months. It aims to open channels of discussion and reflection around racism, as well as awareness and understanding of challenges associated with ethnicity and race.
Tuesday 2 February 2021 sees the first of three 90-minute Live Webinars on the topic of “The history of race in the UK”. The University will be partnering with Liverpool John Moores University and City, University of London, to deliver a series of live webinars, followed by an Inclusive Allyship programme for a cohort of 40 people across all 3 institutions. Staff at Kent will also be invited to participate in two closed Inclusion Circles designed to enable BAME staff to share their experiences on the topics of ‘BAME wellbeing’ and ‘Taking action on race inequality and inclusion’.
Race & Racism Webinar Series
Webinar 1: The History of Race in the UK – Tuesday 2 February 2021 at 10.00
Join us for this webinar looking at the history of race in the UK, including the UKs role in enslavement, the British Empire, and the impact this legacy has had on the present day.
We will be looking at:
- A brief history of how and when Black people came to the UK, their experiences, and rights
- The effect of Britain’s history on today’s inequality
- Why it’s important to understand Black British history
The guest speaker at the first webinar is Chantelle Lunt, a final-year student at Liverpool John Moore’s University (LJMU) studying Criminology and Sociology. During lockdown Chantelle founded the Facebook group Merseyside BLM Alliance which was formed with the goal to address the issue of racism and to create a space where people can safely channel their passion for fighting racial injustices. You can find out more about the group from this LJMU news article.
Chantelle Lunt
Here’s two other webinars to look out for:
Webinar 2: White Privilege – What is it and how does it affect society? – 18 March 2021 at 12.00
Webinar 3: Let’s Talk About Race – 19 April 2021 at 13.00
Look out for more info on upcoming events!
Please scan the QR code
or click this Eventbrite link to register.