On racial justice
As part of our Trajectory on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and broader work on Shifting Power and decolonization, Partos recognises that racial equity is a crucial and inherent part of our work to dismantle all forms of discrimination and call for social justice within the world and our institutions. Since 2020, spurred by #BlackLivesMatter, development organisations picked up social movements’ alarm rings on the racial injustices that still prevail in our world. While the colonial roots and need for more equity and justice in global partnerships are becoming more widely accepted, “the global development sector has a very poor track record as it relates to engaging with issues of racial equity and racial justice in a meaningful manner.” (Global Mapping Survey, Racial Equity Index). A number of years later, international justice is still under pressure closer to home and further away, albeit in different forms and crisis. Priorities may shift, but injustices against racialized minorities remain. Acknowledging this gap and our position as a convener for social change, Partos has committed to walk the talk, together with our members and network.
About the affinity spaces
From February onward Partos will start hosting affinity spaces to unpack and confront racial justice in our individual and organisational practices within the context of international cooperation, and offer spaces of reflection, collective care and activism. In collaboration with BRAP UK, these sessions will be guided by experienced racial justice facilitators, and will start in affinity groups for white and non-white people to ensure safety and collective care. In these affinity spaces we aim to:
- Provide affinity spaces for awareness, care & support
- Create action spaces to identify & develop a learning or action resource
- Share our learning back to the community.
- Establish advisory group which voices a vision and action points for more accountability for racial justice in the sector.
On the 11th of December we offer a taster session with BRAP UK to discuss the relevance of Racial Justice in international cooperation, and what to expect from the affinity spaces. This session will be facilitated by Julian Walker & Rebecca Pillière, find their bio’s below.
How to register for the affinity spaces?
Registrations will open after the introduction session on the 11th of December. Due to limited availability (12) the spaces are on a first come & first served basis and currently only available for Partos members and their partners. Send an email to gigi@partos.nl & aleida@partos.nl for more info.
Register for the taster session
Bio’s facilitators (BRAP UK)
Julian Walker
Julian joined brap as an associate in July 2019. Much of her prior career felt like preparation for the work of unpicking systemic racism in the UK. She spent 15 years at the Home Office and Cabinet Office working in immigration, criminal justice policy and civil service improvement. As an independent consultant she worked in globally on evidence-based policy making and centre of government capacity building. She was Director of Policy and Research at Barnardo’s from 2006–2010, leading a programme to promote race equality and diversity, which kick-started her journey to explore her whiteness. She is a member of the NTL Institute of Applied Behavioural Science.
Rebecca Pillière
Rebecca joined brap as a Facilitation & Learning Development Partner in 2021. Her background includes specialising in qualitative and quantitative research on identity development through symbolic interaction and she graduated from the University of Warwick with a PhD and MA. Rebecca is also a skilled mentor and teacher and has expertise in engaging participants in topics around race, secularism, sexism, and the environment. Her inclusive approach to teaching earned her the certificate for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and she was commended for the Warwick Award for Teaching Excellence for Postgraduates. She is a trained and certified DPI coach, using her knowledge of identity theory to examine the impact of power in leadership roles.