25 May 2021 marks one year to the tragic death of George Floyd.
The killing of George in Minneapolis led to an international outcry. Millions expressed their horror, anger and despair that such a terrible event could happen – at the hands of the authorities supposed to protect them. In the US, the incident led to many protests. As a result, issues such as systemic racism, policing, socioeconomic concerns and healthcare were brought to the fore. The message sent around the world was loud and clear: Black Lives Matter.
A proudly diverse college
Craig Tupling, Vice Principal, said: “Bradford College stands against intolerance or inequality in all its forms and says, today and always, Black Lives Matter. Individuals from different cultures, perspectives and experiences are at the heart of Bradford College. We therefore strive constantly to make sure every single person has the opportunity to succeed with us. We are a proudly diverse college and will never tolerate any form of racism, bigotry or social injustice.”
As part of the College’s ongoing commitment towards maintaining and developing a working environment that is welcoming to people from all backgrounds and abilities, the college embarked on a journey with the National Centre for Diversity. This journey aims to lead Bradford College to achieving the Investors in Diversity Award.
To support this, the college has encouraged all staff to have their say on how the college is doing in terms of: Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement (FREDIE).
In response to the events of last year, Bradford College launched initiatives to address hate crime, racial injustice and inequality. As part of this, the college launched a campaign linking Black History Month and Hate Crime Awareness Week in October 2020. It has also held other activities over the past year. They include online workshops and awareness raising events aimed at tackling social inequality and injustice.
Global issues: How can we help?
Major global issues can bring out a variety of responses, ranging from a feeling of powerlessness and anger to a determination to make a change for the better. To help with this, there are a number of ways in which students can access support to deal with distressing scenes in the media such as George Floyd’s death and the recent Israeli- Palestinian conflict.
Bradford College Students’ Union President Marvina Newton and the college’s Personal Development team are hosting an open discussion on Friday 28 May, entitled Current Global Issues: How are these affecting you and how can you help?
Marvina said: “Have you ever wanted to make a positive impact in the world, but not known where to start? Maybe you’ve felt overwhelmed by information. Maybe some issues are impacting you directly and might be affecting your wellbeing. So you might be asking yourself can one person, really, truly, make that much of a contribution? Can I make a difference?”
Making a positive difference in the world
The following points are going to be discussed during the event:
- Positive Activism
- How to run a successful campaign
- Humanitarian Activism
- Successful lobbying
- Wellbeing – how to look after your wellbeing
- Volunteering
- Creative Expression – Using Art to raise awareness of global issues
- The impact of Social Media
This event, for students only, is taking place from 10am to 12pm at the Bronte Lecture Theatre at the David Hockney Building and online. Due to the COVID-19 safety measures, physical numbers of attendees need to be closely monitored, so prior booking is essential. To book, contact Lenka Kaur on [email protected]
Working in partnership to eliminate hate crime
Bradford College is a proud member of the Bradford Hate Crime Alliance (BHCA). The purpose of BHCA is to work jointly with strategic and operational partners to eliminate hate crime within Bradford Metropolitan District Council area.
If you are a student who wishes to campaign on issues affecting you, Bradford College Students’ Union can also support you. For support and advice, contact [email protected] or 01274 088007.
To find out more about Bradford College Students’ Union, visit https://www.bradfordcollegesu.co.uk/
