EmbRace

We hear from EmbRace Co-chairs, Maryane Mwaniki and Ikenna Acholonu who along with Adeola Akande Pierre-Nöel, have led the EmbRace senior leadership team through the pandemic and the rise of the Black Lives Matters movement, all virtually.

Contributor(s): | A huge global change left the world trying to process the reality of what was happening. EmbRace took the opportunity to tackle inconsistencies, Blackness and racism within the workplace and to focus on protecting the community during this time. EmbRace went from being just a Staff Network to a place of “safety, refuge, belonging, friendship and advocacy”.

Contributor(s): | After identifying a gap, and looking at best practices from other institutions, Marlene’s desire was to focus on those staff and students of Black African and Caribbean descent while also recognising the necessity and importance of involving other People of Colour who could speak for other communities. Marlene formed a committee of members from across the school and worked towards recognition of one of her immediate priorities – a celebration of Black History Month.

In our second episode, we hear from one of EmbRace’s past chairs, Marlene Worrell, who was instrumental in shaping the network into the structure we see today.

Contributor(s): | Daniel’s hope for the future is for EmbRace to have more impact, recognising that advancing race quality is not an overnight solution but a journey. But to progress this, the School needs to “listen, learn and act” with not merely “words from the lips…but actions from the heart”

EmbRace is excited to release the first in our four-episode podcast series, ‘EmbRace the Journey’!