I couldn’t understand it. 

 

The warm welcome was absent. It was as if they had never met me or Marley before. 

 

I collected Marley and we left the park and went home. 

 

As I walked home, I couldn’t piece together what I had just experienced. 

 

What had gone wrong? 

 

Did I offend someone? Was Marley anti-social with another dog? Did I miss something? 

 

Did I misunderstand what was said? Had the group had second thoughts about me? 

 

None of it made sense – and it still doesn’t. 

 

I clearly was made to feel unwelcome and I certain didn’t belong. 

 

So - what is belonging? 

Checkout Assistant “Ok….. can you remove your items from your basket and place them onto the conveyor belt please? Thank you………………. 

 

*Beeping of the item being scanned* 

 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy/Racial Equity statement following the death of George Floyd in 2020 - check; 

 

*Beeping of the item being scanned* 

 

External Diversity, Equity and Inclusion /Race Equality audit commission - check; 

 

*Beeping of the item being scanned* 

 

External Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultants commissioned - check; 

 

*Beeping of the item being scanned* 

 

Staff training sessions booked with the solutions to key Diversity, Equity and Inclusion /Race/Sexuality/Religion issues in two sessions or less - check……..” 

 

If you are a Trust leader or school leader - this may be a little bit (or a lot) tricky to read. 

 

There is a lot of discontent in the world today. 

 

It’s got me thinking, has it always been this way? 

This blog is inspired by a thread initiated by @msybibi (Yamina Bibi) that I engaged with on X, formerly known as Twitter, stemming from her participation in the @ChilternTSH #REND event on July 15th. The acronym REND stands for Racial Equity Network Dinner. This remarkable event, among other crucial messages, highlighted leadership narratives from individuals who, at first glance, may not have been perceived as leaders. The subsequent expressions of appreciation, love, and respect in tweets from school leaders and supporters who attended underscored the inspiration drawn from the journeys of those who had overcome challenges. 

Leading in Uncertainty. 

 

Understatement of the century. 

 

Leading? Really? 

 

Uncertainty? Yes. Plenty of that going on right now. 

 

It's always hard to recognise what you are good at. We are quick to recognise what is good in others - but we hesitate when it comes to ourselves. If I was a body builder, or an athlete, or any profession where I needed to display my physical strength, the visual representation of rippling biceps or the ability to carry weights/people would be applauded. And rightly so - strength doesn't come instantly. I believe that strength is a process and we can start that process whenever we choose to. We can rest well in our strength; or we can doubt it, question it, reject it. I truly believe that we all have strength. 

 

I am sure that intention (and I would add 'purpose') is part of what makes us human. We want to get 'it' done. We want to get 'it' right. "I am going on a diet"; "I am leaving that job/person"; "I am going to get started on learning/playing/doing..." The image shows how intentions may feel like - long; distant; a destination to reach; a journey to embark upon. We are often encouraged when we declare our intentions, that the first step is often the hardest because of the shifting states that we find ourselves in, and that the intention is most definitely a part of the process. 

 

A definition... 'Empowerment is a set of measures designed to increase the degree of autonomy and self-determination in people and in communities in order to enable them to represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined way, acting on their own authority.' Empowerment - for me at least - is the process and realisation of becoming stronger. I don't believe that it means that you are the finished product - sometimes this is not in sight - but it is definitely a state of mind that cannot be wrestled from you once you realise that this is where you heading towards your goal or goals. And like a coat of many colours, you can feel amazing - as Joseph did when Jacob gave his favourite son a present that sadly sealed his fate as he headed, not for the summit as Joseph thought, but for the valleys....the pits. The major difference between you and Joseph is that no one would have given you the coat - you have done the work yourself - or with some support - to have moved on to a point that you may not have thought that you would ever have achieved. This is the fuel that keeps you going in order to 'finish the race'. 

 

When I saw the title of today's #DailyWritingChallenge my eyes lit up....and then they reverted back and my face sported a frown. It's ok - I've stopped frowning, but it's definitely given me food for thought. Writing about them may allow me to make sense of my musings - and maybe it will be the provocation for yours. 

 

What does diversity mean to you? What about cultural diversity? Often mentioned, usually at interviews where the interview panel will want you to know that you "know" about diversity. I would put diversity in the same bag as equality and equal opportunities. When I was a teacher, these words scared me. Not because I didn't know what they meant, but because I couldn't be sure that I was applying them to my delivery of the subjects that I was teaching. As I reflect on those early years, I know that I loved promoting difference - probably because as a black women in a predominantly white world, I embraced difference. I have always loved any aspect of character that shows individuality in any shape or form and it may also answer why I love special educational needs pupils. I was a mainstream teacher before changing phase to SEND in 2008. I guess I thrive on the fact that despite difficulties, we can express our true selves; our true characters. Overcoming our difficulties is a strength and shows true resilience which is a value that I so admire. And we can bring this to any table we choose to come to.