Social Worker Matters

In our last interview before the summer break, #DrAgnesBryan takes an even deeper dive into the role of the anti-racist facilitator/trainer in supporting transformation. She touches on the emotionality of the space, the feelings of the parties involved, and the need to keep moving forward through relationship-building and increasing our political savvy to promote understanding of the context in which race, racism, and discrimination are difficult to discuss. 

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On the 5th Anniversary of The Social Workers Matter Podcast, Dr Sylvia is interviewed by Academic, writer and coach Ms Sharon Jennings.

Sylvia and Sharon discussed various aspects of Sylvia's life and career, including her interests, her approach to work, and her personal and professional journey regarding anti-racism. Additional discussion topics included Sylvia's Interests and Approach to Work, Anti-Racism Journeys and Collective Wisdom, Black African Women's Experiences and Legacy Preservation, Sylvia's Shift Towards Creativity and Fulfilment and Ancestral Resilience, Creativity, and Performing Arts.

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In this episode, Dr. Agnes Bryan provides a deep analysis of the dynamics and processes involved in engaging in challenging conversations about race and racism. Specifically, she delves into the topic in Chapter 4 of her unpublished manuscript. Dr. Bryan explores the concept of racial anxiety and fear, examining how these emotions manifest in the interactions between black and white individuals. She emphasizes the importance of understanding that seeking knowledge and wanting answers to "fix" the issue is not the same as truly knowing and comprehending the complexities of race. Dr. Bryan encourages the development of highly attuned listening skills as a means to navigate these challenging conversations effectively.

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In this episode, Dr Agnes Bryan continues to share another chapter from her manuscript - chapter III.  We discuss in detail elements of 'Holding Spaces for Conversations' about race, racism and anti-racism. 

A fascinating discussion where I shared my experiences when delivering anti-racist training and Agnes applied her thinking to the live material.  

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Sylvia and Louisa discussed the importance of accessibility for the deaf community, with Louisa sharing her personal experiences as a black parent of her son who became deaf following illness.  She shares some of the challenges she faced in navigating the healthcare system. They also discussed her son's educational journey and his later career prospects.   Louisa's son Ashton is an inspiring story, as he has not let his hearing impairment hold him back, and has received a tremendous amount in his life.  The conversation also touched on the challenges of communication with the deaf community, the importance of parental research and advocacy, and the need to better represent the disabled community in various fields.

Link:  National Deaf Children's Society   -   https://www.ndcs.org.uk/ 

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After a break of almost 6 months, SWM is back - in this 81st episode, I am in conversation with academic, author, coach and facilitator Dr Agnes Bryan. 

Agnes discusses in detail, chapter 5  from her manuscript: 'Facilitation Leadership & Containment'.

She highlights the need for skillful and courageous facilitation as we seek to navigate transformative change personally, professionally and within organisations on issues of race, racism and anti discrimination, in the work place and societally.

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In this episode, Stefan Brown joins SWM again for part II of his interview.  He shares aspects of his anti-racism work as a Social Work Programme lead at Royal Holloway, University of London.  Stefan has worked at the University for 14 years. You will also hear about his interests in Mental Health and Criminal Justice in relation to the treatment of Black Men in these spaces.

Topics we cover include:

•  involvement in #SWEARN - Social Work Education anti-racist network.
• project - decolonising the curriculum
• Work with Black & Global majority (B&GM) students, teaching staff
• setting up a mentoring scheme for B&GM students
• mental health services and the treatment of Black men and the cross-over with the criminal justice system.

Stefan can be reached at:  [email protected]

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Richard Ashigbor is a social work academic based at Southbank University.  Richard is a lecturer and the Course Lead for Social Work at the institution. Richard shares aspects of his rich practice and leadership background and how he reluctantly became an academic which he had not planned.

He shares;

• the route to his academic career - citing the murder of George Floyd and Hackney's Child Q as significant events during this period of his life
• discovering differences and similarities between social work practice and academia, seeking ways to challenge established norms in terms of theories and their origins
• the challenges of teaching and managing the multitudes of dynamics and politics in the teaching space - where surprisingly respect and dignity were noticeably absent
• locating support for himself and finding his voice

His vision:

• achieve top University spot 
• become an increasingly inclusive programme
• develop varied assessment approaches
• complete a teaching qualification as part of continuous professional development

Future research interests:

• Youth violence
• Familial sexual abuse
• adultification
• aspects of allied services and working together

Richard wants to be 'intentional' about achieving change and inclusivity.

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In this episode, Sharon and I reflect upon and explore how we feel about doing this work, our conversation includes the following touchpoints:

• we don't want to do this forever, so we approach this work with caution, race and racism are part of my life, not my passion, and constantly weighing up whether this is going to wipe me out, this work takes something from you
• What was our resistance to undertaking this work?
  Is this work the only thing I think about
• Race and racism  - is not the only thing I think about, am I in denial about these painful aspects of my life?
  We have witnessed awful experiences for trainers undertaking this work we aren't talking about ourselves.
  It's our lived experience and personal (the material)
  We are role models for black brown and white participants.
  What do black practitioners get out of anti-racist training?
  Separate spaces are needed for participants.
  We need to protect participants who are sharing harrowing stories.
  We need to honour those painful stories
  what do white participants bring of themselves to the training space?
  What stories could they admit in separate spaces?
  What are the critical conversations for white people?
  What impact do two black trainers have on a mixed group?
  How are white trainers challenging their inherent racism?
• the need for white-only spaces will be]enable discussion of epiphanies, which can often be waring and burdensome for black participants, there is a need for honesty
• What are the issues for us as black trainers: should we be doing this training, often told  'You're the experts', What does that even mean?
  As educators inevitably we water down the material, consequently do we lose aspects of our integrity?
• Leaders tend to want step-by-step answers to anti-racist practice.  Change comes from deep introspection, not a list, there needs to be some sweating and self-challenge involved.   
  There is value in exploring social graces, it's a start.
  What does allyship mean?
  What can we as trainers do for ourselves?
  Are you ready for that?
• Moving forward;
• Offer colleagues space for proper training, courses, and workshops.
• Proper developmental spaces to further develop, grow and strengthen as anti-racist educators and trainers.
• See what interest is out there for this offer
• and the need for writing 

Ref's, all available in audio books :-)

Black Fatigue -  How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit by Mary-Frances Winters (2020) 

Living while Black - by Guilaine Kinouani (2021)

How to be an Antiracist - by Ibram X Kendi (2019)

What white people can do next - by Emma Dabiri ( 2021)

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Our guest in this episode is Bash who is the Director of Mkbcare Ltd, a semi-independence care provider for  16yrs + &18yrs + and family support. In today's episode, Bash shares her professional and personal story which includes her progress in continuing her education,  and poignantly, the significance of the year  - 2017 - which was marked by family health challenges, Brexit and Grenfell.  She describes this as the year she did not stop crying......... she shares how these events drove her and her son to set up Mkbcare Ltd and why they did so.

For more information about their great work check out the links below:

• Company website is https://www.mkbcareltd.co.uk/
• Our Instagram is @mkbcare_semi_independent
• Removal business is called Furniturecab our website is https://www.furniturecab.com/
• Instagram is @furniturecab

Please follow both Instagram sites and consider them for any future large item removals as this continues to give their care experienced young people volunteer work experience and prepares them for future work.

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