Professional social workers have been invited to a course exploring the impact of race on inequality.

The seven weekly classes starting next month can accommodate up to 12 professionals in the field.

It marks a continuing collaboration between the Inter-Agency Committee for Children and Families and Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda.

IAC announced registration was open for “Healing the Practitioner: Critical Conversations about Race and Social Equity”. It launched on April 7 from 9am to 11.30am.

IAC said the seven sessions were aimed at giving participants “a critical understanding of the root causes of social inequities and the often hidden historical truths that impact social service providers and their clients alike”.

The guided sessions will examine the impact of historical racism and injustice.

The charity added there would be “healing-centred discussions about difficult topics such a privilege, race and trauma”.

“Ultimately, the experience provides self-healing and relationship building across our sector of helping professionals.”

IAC and CURB launched their collaboration in 2020, and the sessions will be the third between the two charities.

A participants from the 2021 programme said the course “certainly helped me understand in a more concrete way how past trauma affects individuals and communities”.

“We all carry our culture, social systems, and experiences with us.

“We all have biases – recognising this is an important first step.”

Lynne Winfield, the CURB co-founder and chairwoman, said: “Facilitating these workshops with social service providers was a learning experience for all involved, helping participants to more fully understand the root cause of the trauma, poverty and dysfunction they witnessed and aided in the community, and allowing participants to see how their organisation’s different missions were firmly interconnected with other social agencies and recognise the importance of cross-collaboration.”

The cost of the training is $120, but the course has been 80 per cent subsidised for IAC members, with help from the insurance firm SiriusPoint.

Registration for social sector professionals online at the IAC site.

Details are also available by e-mailing the IAC programme manager, Shana Williams, at programmes@iac.bm.