Vertus Partners’ Post

In honour of #BlackInclusionWeek, let's take a moment to elevate Black narratives, confront our preconceptions, and actively pursue a society that embraces everyone. Jason Dunwell's article sheds light on the role our everyday, informal dialogues play in perpetuating biases or fostering an environment of acceptance. The article also highlights the significant influence that our media has in moulding our views and the importance of critically analysing what we are told, especially in light of social media forums and fact-checking. Additionally, it touches on the UK government's policies and actions, which have sometimes been a source of contention, particularly regarding issues of race. I recommend delving into Jason's article and engaging in introspection as he advises. Ponder over these entrenched issues and your perspectives during this week. Let's actively work towards a society that embraces and uplifts everyone. Discover the complete article here: https://lnkd.in/gbREtjme #Inclusion | #Diversity | #Equality | #BlackInclusionWeek | #WorkingForYourTomorrow | #Hays

The question of whether Black people have given up on #Diversity, #Equity, and #Inclusion (DEI) or are simply exhausted is a reflection of the relentless challenges faced in the struggle for equality. Despite widespread adoption of DEI initiatives, only 3% of Black professionals believe that their race is a significant factor in career advancement, according to a McKinsey report. This statistic underscores a pervasive sense of disillusionment. Exhaustion from continuous microaggressions, tokenism, and the emotional labor of advocating for change might not signify giving up, but rather a momentary retreat—a survival strategy in an ongoing battle. #DEIExhaustion #BlackVoicesMatter #LeadershipInclusion #EquityInTheWorkplace #BlackProfessionals #ExecutiveLeadership #DiversityFatigue #InclusionMatters #BlackLeadership #EquityOverTokenism

This week, I attended a diversity summit that focused on addressing wealth disparities in historically marginalized communities. The goal of these events is to tackle the persistent effects of racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination, while also promoting the business case for diversity—that inclusive practices lead to greater financial success. During a conversation with a White attendee, I was asked to explain why businesses like banks and municipalities would deny Black people equal access to financial resources like loans and property tax benefits, especially when those institutions could arguably profit more by being inclusive. His question made me pause. It reflects a common disconnect: a lack of understanding that systemic racism and other oppressive practices aren’t just ‘bad business.’ They’re deeply ingrained, self-sustaining systems of power and privilege that have long prioritized exclusion over profitability in marginalized communities. This is exactly what we are trying to dismantle at diversity inclusion events—to show that diversity isn’t just about morality, it’s about smart business.

Black Inclusion Week is taking place this week, with the key theme of: 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 The foundation beneath this theme highlights the 'significance of collective action and shared responsibility in shaping our world'. This week we are pausing to reflect on what we, at Active Suffolk, are doing to build a better future together. How are we contributing to black inclusion? As we recently shared on Stephen Lawrence Memorial Day, at Active Suffolk we are on our own journey to become an anti-racist organisation. We have also shared our commitment to EDI in our 2024-2028 strategy. But what does this mean we are doing? How are we turning words to action? ✅ Engaging with specialist consultation to review our Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) ✅ Creating and reviewing our task list from the DIAP to remain accountable on our journey ✅ Gathering views from those outside of our organisation, from a variety of communities, to seek informed awareness ✅ Staff members attended the Time for Action: Tackling Racism in Sport event ✅ We engaged in a whole organisation workshop on understanding what it means to be anti-racist provided by the incredible Ladi Ajayi from AKD Solutions ✅ Completing a staff survey on our current understanding of EDI to know where we are starting from ✅ Refining a new zero tolerance statement that will underpin all of our work moving forward, aligning to our 2024-2028 strategy commitment And so much more.. Soon we will be launching a new page on our website dedicated to sharing our current vision, roadmap for change, and updates of our learning along the way. We can’t wait to show you what we are planning and to hear your thoughts and ideas! 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗔 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 - #𝗕𝗜𝗪𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰

Black Inclusion Week, taking place on the 13th to the 19th May, is an annual event that creates a platform for change to enable true equality for Black people. With this year's theme of 'Empowered for change: Building a better future together', reflecting on how we can enhance the Black community's quality of work life is crucial. We need to amplify diverse voices, build authentic connections, and guarantee equal access for all. Inclusivity means more than just opening doors; it ensures everyone can walk through them safely. To drive inclusion, it's crucial to ensure that all your employees feel valued and supported. This not only increases engagement but also enables you to attract a diverse talent pool, creating an environment where everyone feels respected and included, regardless of their race or background. Don't wait for change to happen. Be the catalyst for it. Your voice today has the power to shape a better tomorrow. Get in touch to find out how we can support you with your EDI initiatives: https://hubs.ly/Q02xqsFX0 #BIW2024 #TogetherInAction #EDI #Inclusion

🌟We are ready to ignite change at Black Inclusion Week 2024! Are you? This year promises to be nothing short of monumental, with groundbreaking events, awe-inspiring speakers, and enriching content designed to resonate with everyone. The theme for Black Inclusion Week 2024 is "Empowered for Change: Building a Better Future Together." 💪🌍 It's not just a slogan; it's a call to action. We must recognise our individual and collective potential to enact positive change. When we unite our efforts, there's no limit to what we can achieve. This is our moment to seize, our opportunity to forge a path towards a brighter tomorrow! Secure your spot for this year’s events now Go to https://lnkd.in/gGm77vbu #BIW2024 #blackinclusionweek #blackinclusionweek2024 #diversity #bettertogether #diversityandinclusion #togetherinaction #blackexcellence #dei #racialequity #empoweringforchange #blackempowerment #Empowerment #BuildingABetterFuture

The only black person in the room...It's Black Inclusion Week this week and the theme is 'Empowered for change: Building a better future together.' Based on some of my experiences this week I am reflecting on how it feels to be the 'only one' in a room and have a few questions to share that hopefully inspire your own reflections. Being the only one for me touches across race, gender and class. It's definitely not a life- destroying experience. Sometimes it feels great to be able to offer difference, represent and share an experience or a view that would otherwise not have been considered. Other times it's absolutely exhausting, imposter syndrome kicks, you second guess your contributions and you are ready to hide away. For the past 7 days I've been the only one in the bar, the only one in several meetings, the only one on the plane and the only one at two international conferences. It's a hard feeling to put into words really but I think it useful to encourage you to ask yourself, have you ever felt like the only one in a room? Or if you have created space for people to come together and create solutions, have you noticed visibly the only one and if so why is that the case? Who is missing based on who the solution is for and the makeup of your city? I had a chat with a white colleague about this the other day, as we looked around, and they'd shared that they had noticed, and asked me, how it felt to regularly be the only young(ish), northern, black women in the room. They'd never noticed it before and have since continued to. If the The Guardian analysis last year found just 4.6% of people in prominent public positions in Manchester specifically– including politics, sport, education, arts, business and health, but the cities black population stands at 14.8 - where is this underrepresentation coming from and what role do we all have to play, together, in fixing that, without complacency? Black Inclusion Week encourages the celebration of talent so if you are the 'only one', I want to celebrate you! My inner voice says - own your vibe, unashamedly fill your cup to cope when it feels intimidating, share any emotional labour with those who support you and always remember you have so much value to bring! #blackinclusionweek2024

Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of resilience, freedom, and the ongoing fight for equality. As brands, we have the power and responsibility to honor this day through thoughtful actions. As we approach Juneteenth, let’s educate ourselves and celebrate meaningfully: 📣 Amplify the voices and stories of Black creators, entrepreneurs, and leaders. 📚 Share educational content about the history and significance of Juneteenth. 🛍️ Feature and promote Black-owned businesses. 🤝 Reflect on your brand's diversity and inclusion efforts. Dive deeper into how your brand can make a meaningful impact by reading our article. Let’s celebrate freedom and champion equality together. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4ccjGZT #juneteenth #celebratefreedom #equality #diversityandinclusion

Great article by Jason Dunwell for Black Inclusion Week 👏 Some great insights, with the biggest eye opener for me being around the impact of the media on our bias & perceptions 👀 Take a look and let me know which parts resonate most with you 👇 https://lnkd.in/d6BZfYe4

As you’ll know, it’s currently Black Inclusion Week, and fittingly, it’s also Learning at Work Week! That’s why, for our followers keen to make the most of both, we wanted to let you know about another event on the horizon covering ‘Effective Allyship to the Black Community’. We can all benefit from learning more about allyship best practices within the workplace, and there’s no time like the present 💪 Sign up today and learn more about key topics including identifying barriers to change, promoting and recognising Black talent, distinguishing performative allyship from genuine support in the workplace, and more! https://lnkd.in/eX35w44R #BlackInclusionWeek #LearningAtWorkWeek #Allyship