Program this week - February 26, 2021:
Collecting Courage: A frank discussion about racism and its impacts
with Marva Wisdom, Nneka Allen and Mide Akerewusi
In November 2020, our club was delighted to learn that our member, Marva Wisdom, had contributed a chapter to a new book called COLLECTING COURAGE: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love. The book is a collection of stories documenting racism and survival by Black fundraisers working in charities across North America - five from the US and nine from Canada.
For today's panel discussion, Marva brought together the book's editor and contributing author, Nneka Allen, as well as another contributing author, Olumide (Mide) Akerewusi, for a frank discussion about racism and its impact based on the lived experience of these panel members, including Marva herself.
Marva acknowledged that such discussions can feel uncomfortable but stressed the necessity for us to understand how everything we do and say is part of our inter-connected experience.
All three panel members strive to live and lead in the philosophy of Ubuntu, best described here by Desmond Tutu from South Africa:
One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu - the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality - Ubuntu - you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.
Marva Wisdom, our esteemed Rotary Club of Guelph member, is well known in Guelph and beyond. A highly respected and sought after facilitator and speaker, Marva, through her company, Wisdom Consulting, provides clients with the tools and courage they need to facilitate meaningful growth through leadership, effective engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Marva says, "By creating a culture of acknowledgement, we can take that first step in healing divisions."
Nneka Allen introduced herself as a descendent of the Underground Railroad, an Ojibwa of Anderson Nation, a mother and a sixth generation Canadian. She's the principal and founder of The Empathy Agency, helping organizations deliver more fairly on their mission and vision. For 20 years, Nneka has worked and inspired philanthropy in the non-profit industry. In her work, she coaches leaders and their teams to explore the effects identity have on organizational culture and equity goals.
Mide Akerewusi is the Founder and CEO of AGENTSC, a fundraising and Social Change agency helping organizations attract significant financial investments. No stranger to Rotary, he admitted this was actually his first time addressing Rotarians WITHOUT asking or thanking for funding! While outlining his experience of living in the UK, in Nigeria, and in Canada, and speaking with a British accent, his lifelong experience has been not quite fitting in anywhere and always being asked "Where are you from?"
Nneka explained how the book emerged from a project she had created called Our Right to Heal, a series of powerful personal stories about the experiences of Black women fundraisers in Canada. When asked to produce a micro-learning video on 'belonging versus inclusion', this was somehow accomplished (against the odds and without funding) and made ready for launching in March 2020. Then COVID hit, so the launch was delayed till May. Then the world broke open with the murder of George Floyd, changing the global landscape enormously. It became both cathartic and dangerous for Black people to speak out. This led to a process of collecting stories now published in this book, and ongoing discussions such as at this meeting today.
The stories from the book and also from this panel discussion revealed pain and a sense of exhaustion from Living and Working While Black, of worrying about their Black children and friends, of micro-aggressions that cause hurt from comments or even from body language, and wondering why these problems still exist today. And they do. But the stories also revealed determination and optimism towards a path to action, all beginning with empathy and being willing to look through the eyes of others.
The book is recommended reading and available from The Guelph Bookshelf or online here.
Noma Vales thanked our panelists for their valuable time and willing contribution today, emphasizing our inter-dependence in moving forward together, and their important emphasis on the word "belonging" ... a sentiment echoed in the Zoom chat comments by other members as well. It was an insightful hour leaving much to ponder on "What are my own biases?" and "How can I be a better ally?"
Tracey said it's time for a new story to be written, and it needs all of us as participants.
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Speaking of Birthdays ...
New Member: Welcome Sue Wigston
Rotaract Gala on March 5, 20221
"PICK ME UP" Bags Fundraiser from Rotary Centre Wellington
If you're happy and you know it, contribute your Happy Bucks on our club's GiveSome pages 
