BUILDING NETWORKS TO ADVANCE RACE EQUALITY BY DR DEBORAH GABRIEL IN SUPPORT OF BU BLACK STUDENT’S CAMPAIGN

Lessons From Black British Academics Established in 2013. Started as a membership network. Now focused primarily on consultancy and collaborative projects that are transformational.

To enhance the voice and visibility of 1Black academics within higher education. To build intellectual, social and cultural capital within our communities and highlight our contribution to the knowledge economy. To transform the institutional culture from one that is Eurocentric to one that is culturally democratic. To contribute to social change through research and educational practice. To shape policy and practice around race equality initiatives in the higher education sector. To maintain a supportive and collaborative community and promote mental and physical well-being among colleagues within the network through events and activities BBA’S MISSION

Staff and students of colour have a key role to play in defining issues around race equality and advancing effective solutions. Our chief concern is in challenging the status quo, rather than assimilating into a flawed system – that was not designed for us. BBA’S VALUES

COMMUNITY

RESEARCH MAIN STUDENT CONCERNS Lack of ethnic diversity of staff Lack of diversity in the curriculum RESEARCH

RESEARCH ‘sense of belonging’ phd network ‘ inside the ivory tower’ Black sister network ‘Inside the Ivory Tower’ ongoing research project – just completed Phase 1- book: to empower women of colour and to inform policy & practice around race/gender equality. Phase 2 is focused on academic and educational practice: ‘Women of Colour Transforming Academia’. RESEARCH ‘sense of belonging’ phd network A qualitative study with Prof Kevin Hylton to examine whether a sense of belonging impacts the experiences and outcomes of Black doctoral researchers (in progress).

CONSULTANCY CURRICULUM DIVERSIFICATION UAL (2014-date) Decolonising & democratizing the curriculum Training staff in inclusive teaching practice. CONSULTANCY

EVENTS Our events are usually linked to key areas of our work and form part of our public engagement strategy.

PAST EVENTS AT BU

SHAPING MEDIA DISCOURSE ON RACE IN HE OUR WEBSITE INTERVIEWS WITH THE PRESS SOCIAL MEDIA

RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE A CLEAR MISSION BE CLEAR ON YOUR VALUES IDENTIFY WHAT THE KEY ISSUES ARE – THROUGH RESEARCH USE FINDINGS TO INFORM STRATEGY BUILD A COMMUNITY ON PRINCIPLES OF SOLIDARITY AND COLLECTIVE ACTIVISM CRITICALLY EXAMINE AND CHALLENGE WHITE PRIVILEGE COLLABORATE WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANISATIONS ON A RECIPROCAL BASIS RECOMMENDATIONS

BUILDING INTELLECTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHITE PRIVILEGE TO HELP YOU ARTICULATE THE KEY CHALLENGES FACING BLACK STUDENTS AT BU DEVELOPING COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES (I.E. RESEARCH) CO-HOSTING EVENTS AT BU VISIT THE WEBSITE AND JOIN OUR COMMUNITY HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU?