Please click on the link below for the Harvard Implicit Bias tests which Shane O'Curry referred to in his presentation

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

You can view a video of the event at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cbHM9Mahuw 

The IASW Anti-Racism Advisory Group invites you to join us in a conversation about Racism and your role in dismantling it.

Speaker Biographies

Shane O’ Curry:  Director Irish Network Against Racism (INAR)

Shane O’ Curry is the Director of INAR – the Irish Network Against Racism, a network of 124 civil society organisations working together to combat racism in all its forms in Ireland, and an active participant in the European Network Against Racism. Working with INAR members, Shane has co-developed the iReport.ie racist incident, hate crime and hate speech recording system and uses the information gathered to support media analysis, regular data reports on racist hate incidents, and the institutional responses to them. Shane also works with INAR Network members to coordinate common network policy responses to racism in all its dimensions. Working with INAR members, he has advocated for a Durban Declaration compliant National Action Plan Against Racism. 

Diane Ihirwe : Social Worker Anti-Racism Advisory Group (IASW)

Diane Ihirwe is an African Irish social worker, speaker, writer, and social justice seeker. She is a graduate of Master in Social Work from Trinity College and holds an undergraduate degree in Social Care from TU Dublin. Diane speaks about racism from everyday life as well as systemic and structural racism and the role of everyone to create an anti-racist society. Diane is the Co-Founder of Roots in Africa- Ireland Network (RIAINetwork), a network that is building a community through understanding and pride of African Heritage especially for young African Irish people through knowledge, empowerment, and representation. Diane advocates for the abolition of the Direct Provision System. She travelled to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva to advocate on behalf of Asylum Seekers on the Committee of Eradicating Racial Discrimination (CERD). Diane co-founded the Young Mother’s Network (YMN), a support group for mothers living in Direct Provision Centres. Diane hopes to see and Ireland free of hate and fear. An Ireland where difference is celebrated. Diane co-leads the Practice/CPD Workstream of the IASW Anti-racist Strategy.

Nisarg Nagwadia:  Social Worker Anti-Racism Advisory Group (IASW)

Nisarg is an Indian Irish social worker, human rights, and social justice advocate. He is a graduate of Master in Social Work from the National University of Ireland Galway. His other qualifications are Master in Addiction Studies, Pg Dip. in Social Policy and Practice, and an undergraduate degree in Psychology. Over the last five years, he has gained a wealth of experience working with marginalised and deprived communities such as homeless and people living in direct provision centres. Currently, Nisarg is working as a Mental Health Social Worker with a community mental health team in Dublin. His understanding of systematic racism and discrimination comes from lived experiences, professional education and representing people on the margins. He believes racism is a ‘pandemic’, which has lasted for centuries. Nisarg leads the Advocacy/Policy workstream of the IASW Anti-racist strategy.

Dr. Colletta Dalikeni

Dr. Colletta Dalikeni is a CORU Registered African- Irish Social worker, Educator, and researcher, currently based at Dundalk Institute of Technology. She is Board member of the Irish Association of Social Workers, Editorial committee member, reviewer for reputable international journals as well as an active member of the IASW Anti-Racism Advisory group. Colletta’ s local and international social work academic and practice experience encompass various areas that include but are not limited to chid protection/welfare, medical social work and intellectual disability.  Her research and teaching interests have a bias towards culturally competent social work practice with various ethnic minority categories such as immigrants, asylum seeker and refugees.  Her particular focus is on how the intersecting discourse of race, racism, culture, come to bear on their human rights in the context of social citizenship entitlements. Colletta’s emancipatory activist research and scholarship is evidenced through her ongoing active involvement in several community social inclusion and diversity projects. Some of her current work in relation to social work is focussed on creating safe spaces and conducive conditions for addressing race-based issues in both social work practice and education through asking difficult questions about Racism. Her other current preoccupations involve leading collaborative Erasmus Plus funded EU projects that are also aimed at challenging Racism and other injustices to promote successful social inclusion and integration at national and EU levels.