GUEST POST: Shalini Sinha on practical ways to fight racism

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Calls to Action from Shalini Sinha, long-term Antiracism and Anti-Oppressions Consultant and Chair of the City of Edmonton’s Antiracism Advisory Committee.

1. Immediately – Connect with me! I want us to do this together… with connection. Email me now at shalini.respect@gmail.com. Tell me who you are and why you want to connect (where you’re currently at in your Antiracism journey).

Remember, you don’t need to prove yourself to me; just show up. I will be connecting with you from here, sharing anti-racism and anti-oppression knowledge, developing social change ideas and engaging with you in actions.

We’re in this together with connection. You can watch my TEDx talk and my talk when His Honour the Dalai Lama came to Ireland on my LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/shalinispeakercoach


2. Short-Term – Make a list of the people in your life who are currently committed to an Antiracism journey and will walk this path of healing and self-evolution with you. We need to start setting up personal support networks of connection, letting go, knowledge building, and human evolution.

Even if there is only one person you can name in your life who will come to this topic with no judgement or defensiveness and is willing to work on themselves deeply, that is a good start. (If there is not yet one person, set an intention to find people in your life who are willing to transform themselves and end this system, together.)

Reach out to the people on your list, speak openly and honestly about transformations you would like for yourself and revolutionary new outcomes you want to see in society, and seek out agreements for connections to walk this journey together. Email me and tell me about your connections and hopes for transformation. Let’s support this together!

 

3. Longer-Term – Actively get involved in your community. Ask your Community League to put on an antiracism program – one that’s not just a single event that folks attend and feel they did something, but a process and series of events to bring about transformation in your neighbourhood.

Encourage people targeted by racism to form antiracism projects and apply to for the City of Edmonton’s new Anti-Racism Grants Program at https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/funding_grants/anti-racism-grants-program.aspx.

Let yourself and society back the leadership of Indigenous people, Black people and all people targeted by racism, especially our 2SPGBTQ+, women, and people with varied abilities within these communities. Learn to step back and follow our lead.


 

 

 

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