The Inter Agency Committee for Children and Families joined forces with a local antiracism charity to offer a series of training sessions on historical racism, social injustice and racial healing.

The 7-week series, titled Healing the Practitioner: Critical Conversations about Race and Social Equality, was crafted in partnership with Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda (CURB) to help participants better understand the causes and impacts of racism.

The course series was modelled on CURB’s Community Conversations, but tailored to caring professionals, with participants including members of the non-profit, government and private sectors with a diverse range of racial backgrounds.

Shana Williams, who participated in the series, said: “I signed up for this course expecting to be challenged and uncomfortable. I left this course motivated and thirsty for more.

“The value that CURB has brought to the fabric of Bermudian society is unmeasurable. We owe it to our country to educate ourselves on what diversity and inclusion in the Bermuda context truly is.”

Participants were guided through discussions to explore how historical racism and injustice plays a part in their lives, and were given the opportunity to share and discuss these difficult topics in a safe, structured and supported environment.

Lynne Winfield, CURB president, said it was a pleasure to work with IAC to help build dialogue among professionals about how past oppression has caused intergenerational trauma.

Those interested in taking part in a future session are asked to e-mail admin@iac.bm, or visit www.iacbermuda.org/events for other training and professional development opportunities.