To be anti-racist is to actively fight against racism, rather than passively claim to be non-racist. The first step to being an anti-racist ally to Black people and other marginalised folk, is for white, able-bodied, cis-gender, straight woman with considerable privilege (like me) to educate ourselves, and then take action.  

Personal Commitments

My business cannot be any more anti-racist than I am, so change starts with me.

• I will continue to learn more about how whiteness works, my own privilege, and challenge what I've been taught and believe about race, marginalised folks and underrepresented/ exploited cultures.

• I will continue reading (non-fiction & fiction), following, and learning from people of colour, and from other marginalised groups, as well as make a stronger effort to consume media content from BIPOC creators, rather than media/tv/art that only centres white voices.

• I will continue to have uncomfortable conversations within my communities and I commit to doing the work around learning how to have more effective conversations around racism and bias in these spaces.

• I will be conscious of where my personal spending is going and purchase more goods from businesses owned and run by marginalised folks.

• I will put my money, vote, and volunteer efforts behind candidates and causes that include or centre BIPOC and other marginalised groups.

Business Commitments

There are so many areas of my business where I can make anti-racism and inclusion a priority, so I have broken it all down into separate areas. To create this plan I’ve been asking myself two questions: Can marginalised groups feel this effort? And Is this costing me and the business anything? (money, time, energy etc) because if it doesn't cost anything, then it's not enough.

Speaking at, and attending events

• I commit to only get involved with events that represent a diverse group of speakers, and are paying all of their speakers fairly.

• When speaking at events or working as an influencer or collaborator I have an inclusivity rider: *Please note, with any work I take on as a panel speaker, influencer or collaborator, I have an inclusivity rider which means that I will only work with brands who represent a diverse range of people and marginalised folks.

• On a sustainability note, I also commit to supporting events that have made a genuine effort to make sustainability and reducing any environmental impact a core value

Press and collaborations

• I commit to working with influencers and media outlets that represent and champion a diverse mix of people, not just in their content but in the contributors / influencers they collaborate with too. I will also seek to work with influencers and media outlets that have made a genuine effort to make sustainability a core value in their business practices.

My Podcast

• I commit to inviting and featuring a diverse range of people on my podcast as well as making my podcast as accessible as possible, which will include providing transcripts for each episode.

Video + Instagram and my blog

• I commit to making my content accessible to as many people as I can. To meet this commitment I will:

  • Create transcripts for my video trainings in my courses

  • Create audio content for each of my blog posts, and written content for all of my podcast episodes

  • Add alt text and image ID to my Instagram posts 

Working with me

• I commit to making my programs and courses as accessible as possible by sub-titled videos and written and audio learning options.

• I strive to make my programs a safe space where a diverse mix of people can learn and grow together.

• I commit to investing in educating myself on topics that will enable me to offer the safe space that I strive to create in my programs where everyone feels safe, seen and heard.

• I commit to finding accessible venues for my workshops and in-person events.

Clients

• Black lives matter. If you're a potential client, collaborator or service provider, it's expected that you share this value and are doing your own work to be inclusive and anti-racist, white people especially.

• My gender pronouns (she/her) have been added to my Zoom and Instagram bio name, where my clients communicate with me and each other, and I will invite clients do the same to create an inclusive environment where everyone’s identity can be respected and honoured.

• Any groups I run will have community guidelines which include a zero tolerance policy on prejudicial comments, including racism, ageism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and fat phobia

Paying for expertise

• I commit to paying all guest speakers in my programs fairly, within 14-days (max) of receiving their invoice.

• I commit to seeking out teachers and mentors who are marginalised folk, so I can learn from those with different lived experiences and perspectives.

• I will teach what is mine to teach; I am not an anti-racism educator. I will set and hold standards for our community, but refer to qualified anti-racism educators when resources are requested or needed.

Service providers and my team

• I commit to working with a diverse mix of service providers, and team members in my business. I will also be asking my suppliers how they champion anti-racism and inclusion in their own businesses and strive to work only with suppliers who have made these core values.

Before I wrap up, let me add that this is a long-term commitment and it’s going to take time for my business to get to exactly where I want it to be, because there are always places where I can be improving.

And of course, I still have lots of learning to do around anti-racism, equality, diversity and inclusion, and I am going to make mistakes with this stuff along the way. I might word something awkwardly or struggle to find the perfect supplier. But it’s through making mistakes that we learn the most and we learn fastest.

So my final commitment is this, this commitment stands even when it feels scary, difficult or when I’m worried I might get something wrong.