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A thread: For many across the UK who work in #MusicTherapy there is a belief that @NordoffRobbins1 (the UK org not the wider NR community) has been silent in the public conversation about race and human rights. I wanted to share a little as to the conversations we are having....
about race, power and privilege. While statements are sufficient for moments, movements require deeper discussions.
This is the conversation we began internally, not just at a senior level behind closed doors but an open, org wide convo. Why? I needed 2 listen, I needed 2 hear the lived experience of people within the profession of #musictherapy &our org. I am still listening &will continue2.
Our @NordoffRobbins1 approach is all about social justice and human rights. #Musictherapy in the UK is a predominantly white profession, the charity Nordoff Robbins is predominately white. So why this disparity?
As @CharitySoWhite point out with clarity, “It’s about the systems and structures that reinforce racism in our sector and society. Too many discussions on race talk about if racism exists in organisations. It is not a question about if, it is a question about HOW”
Yes, as individuals within the org we can and do say we are anti- racist but what about the structures we are working within? There is a systemic racism problem within the charity sector and we have work to do to understand how our structure is supporting the status quo.
“Thesector is not alone in the relatively negative position of BAME people within it.This situation is a feature of wider society.However,the issue seems especially problematic in the charity sector because it isbuilt on commitments to justice and equality” https://bit.ly/31rZLp0
This is a conversation we are continuing with @BAMT and others across the UK #MusicTherapy community. We have committed to working together on this. I have committed to work with them and use our @NordoffRobbins1 resources collectively to make the necessary changes
I want to share an action plan to which we can be held publicly accountable, but we are not there yet. This is a movement, not a moment and this is ongoing work.
@_shells_ will be sharing how we hope to engage the wider NR community outside of @NordoffRobbins1 as well in our discussions, plans and actions. We want to engage as many as possible in the #musictherapy community in our discussions and plans of action.
If you read this and think, no Sandra there isn’t a problem in the charity sector with structural racism I will happily suggest the report mentioned above again for you to take a read of over a cup of tea https://bit.ly/31rZLp0
I will be acting on the recommendations and I know @_shells_ s and many others within the organisation and wider NR community will be holding me personally 2 account.I thank them for it. My thx 2 @ACEVO and @V4CE for the report,a year in the making! & @TNLComFund for the funding.
My thanks to all within @NordoffRobbins1 for being so open to this difficult but necessary work for all the ideas for action that are flowing and I am looking forward to tackling this with the support of the wider #musictherapy community.
