Angela Solomon, MBE, WBENC, WOSB, CPRW, CIC’s Post

Black Experience: Monolithic or Mosaic? The Black experience isn't monolithic - it's a diverse mosaic. 🎭 Our creative expressions and walks of life differ greatly. Embracing differences among Black, Hispanic, Native American, and all backgrounds is crucial. Individuality is key in fostering true diversity, equity, and inclusion. #BlackDiversity #InclusiveRepresentation #CelebratingDifferences

At Lexxic, we believe in the power of stories—stories that shape our history, our identities, and our future. 📖 This year's Black History Month theme, "Reclaiming Narratives," resonates deeply as we work to empower diverse voices in the workplace. Throughout history, many Black individuals with neurodifferences like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia have faced double layers of marginalisation—both for their race and their cognitive differences. Their stories often go untold. This month, we honour all of these individuals who defied odds and reshaped history and those who will continue to do so. By embracing their full unique identities, we not only correct the past, but pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future. Let’s continue to amplify diverse voices and ensure that every narrative is heard, valued, and celebrated 🎉 #BlackHistoryMonth #ReclaimingNarratives #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #Equity #Empowerment #Lexxic

Is the Black experience one-size-fits-all? 🎭 The Black experience isn't monolithic. We're all different in our creative expressions and walks of life. Embracing these differences is crucial for true diversity and inclusion. Companies must recognize and value the unique perspectives each individual brings. #BlackDiversity #InclusiveWorkplace #CelebratingDifferences

Uplifting Black voices and experiences should happen more than just one month per year. Creating a truly inclusive workplace is an ongoing commitment that goes beyond celebrating Black History Month, which means embedding practices that celebrate and support diversity all year round. While Black History Month is a powerful time to recognise Black contributions and challenges, our actions should extend beyond October. Create space for Black voices in everyday conversations and encourage open dialogue by inviting Black colleagues to share their insights and ideas during team discussions, and actively listen. Amplifying these voices in regular meetings and strategic discussions brings richer perspectives, which fuels more creative and innovative thinking. When every team member feels their unique experiences and insights are valued, it fosters a collaborative environment where all perspectives are welcomed. Embracing diversity in discussions is essential to building an inclusive culture where new ideas can flourish, and solutions are more comprehensive. So build a diverse workforce. Ensure equitable hiring. Implement processes that are fair and unbiased, and ensure clear pathways for career development. By incorporating these practices into your organisations operations, you can help foster a culture of respect, inclusion, and growth that benefits everyone. #BlackVoicesMatter #InclusiveCulture #YearRoundInclusion #BlackHistoryMonth

Listening to and uplifting Black voices is essential to our mission as a purpose-driven business. This month is Black History Month in the UK and, at Bright Network, we've been marking it through a series of initiatives aimed at raising awareness, fostering understanding and championing Black perspectives. It’s a meaningful opportunity to both celebrate progress and reflect on areas where we can improve, this month and beyond. Here’s what we’ve been up to: 📚 Culture spend: All Bright Network team members are encouraged to take part in our Black History Month Culture Spend initiative and invest in media that celebrates Black voices, be it through a book, film or a visit to an exhibition. This initiative is designed to deepen understanding and spark self-reflection around Black and racial identity - something that impacts not only us but also our members, employer partners and the wider community. 🤝 Lunch and Learn with Social Matters: We had the pleasure of hosting our friends at Social Matters for an insightful Lunch and Learn session. The team shared invaluable perspectives on Reclaiming Narratives, showcasing influential Black icons beyond mainstream culture and emphasising the importance of belonging and recognising intersectionality in the workplace. Key takeaways included actionable allyship tips, such as how to uplift Black voices and de-centre white voices to foster genuine inclusivity. 🎬 Sharing our recommendations: To help everyone immerse themselves further in Black culture, we've gathered a curated list of recommendations from the Bright Network team. Attached to this post, you’ll find suggestions for films, TV shows, exhibitions, books and theatre productions that celebrate and champion Black voices. Thanks to Lois Lawrence, Nathanielle Kumar Townsend, Josh Triggs and Anna De Pascalis for supplying some great personalised recommendations! We hope to inspire our community to find new perspectives and impactful stories now and all year round. It’s essential that we diversify the stories and perspectives we hear consistently, not just for the month of October.   Add your recommendations to our list using the comments below ⬇ Here’s to meaningful change and continued commitment. #BlackHistoryMonth #ReclaimingNarratives #BrightNetwork #Inclusion

How is your organisation marking Black History Month 2024?   This year’s theme is Reclaiming Narratives, focusing on correcting inaccuracies in Black history and shining a light on untold, hidden and mistold stories.   While this is something we should not limit to one month of the year, Black History Month 2024 presents organisations across the country with a unique opportunity to: - Unite under a common theme to celebrate and amplify Black stories and voices. - Explore the modern challenges Black employees face both within and outside the workplace. - Consider ways in which we can overcome these challenges.    If you would like to use this opportunity in your organisation, business psychologist Norma Molla (MBPsS, MSc) has some limited availability in October to deliver Let’s Talk About Race sessions.   Session content includes: - An introduction to key concepts and constructs such as race, the history of race and racial hierarchy - How racism has evolved, what modern racism looks like and how it impacts global majority employees - Practical tools to empower attendees to handle difficult and challenging conversations relating to race at work   Let’s Talk About Race can be delivered in person or online and as a workshop, webinar, speech or panel discussion, depending on your needs and audience. Please get in touch with us via [email protected] for more information. #BlackHistoryMonth #ReclaimingNarratives #LetsTalkAboutRace #DEI #Inclusion

I am excited to share the ‘Let’s Talk About Race’ initiative with you all! LTAR: Reclaiming Narratives’ is designed to help you and your organisation start having conversations about race, while focusing on this year’s Black History Month theme of reclaiming narratives. If you are interested and would like more information, get in touch with me today!

**Why Conversations Matter in the Black Community** Engaging in open, honest conversations is vital for the growth and empowerment of the Black community. These dialogues foster understanding, build stronger connections, and pave the way for collective progress. 1. **Healing and Support**: Conversations provide a space to share experiences, find common ground, and offer emotional support. This is essential for healing historical and personal traumas. 2. **Education and Awareness**: Through dialogue, we can educate ourselves and others about issues that affect our community. Knowledge empowers us to take informed actions and advocate for our rights. 3. **Breaking Barriers**: By discussing taboo subjects and challenging stereotypes, we can break down societal barriers and promote a more inclusive and equitable environment. 4. **Inspiring Change**: Conversations ignite ideas and inspire action. They are the starting point for initiatives that can drive meaningful change in our communities and beyond. Let's continue to engage in these critical conversations, uplifting and empowering each other. Together, we can create a brighter future for the Black community. #Community #Empowerment #BlackVoices #ConversationsMatter #Inclusion #Equity

Navigating the world as a black man comes with its own set of challenges. From systemic racism to stereotypes, the burden can be heavy. In Corporate America, these challenges often manifest in subtle biases and barriers that affect career progression. Yet, in the face of this adversity, black men continue to excel, bringing unique perspectives and resilience to the table. It's a constant effort to break through these barriers, prove one's worth, and challenge preconceptions. The weight of representation is felt, as the pressure to succeed extends beyond personal achievement to paving the way for others. However, it's crucial to acknowledge these struggles, foster understanding, and work towards a more inclusive and equitable society. Let's celebrate the achievements of black men in America and recognize their invaluable contributions to our workplaces and communities. #BlackMenInAmerica #BreakingBarriers #Resilience #RepresentationMatters