Reflections on the Black Systemic Safety Fund: A Series
Over the course of 18 months, The Ubele Initiative and Reos Partners collaborated with Impact on Urban Health (IoUH) to explore funding, power, and participatory grantmaking with Black communities in Lambeth and Southwark. Centered on the pressing issue of systemic safety, the Black Systemic Safety Fund brought together community leaders through a participatory social lab process.
As we conclude this journey, we’re sharing six thought pieces capturing insights, experiences, and reflections from participants. In this first piece, Chris Dusu shares his perspective on the process, its challenges, and its transformative potential for addressing safety in racially minoritised communities.
Stay tuned as we continue to uncover the stories behind this vital work.
The Safety Group - A journey of self-awareness, self-reflection, and personal discovery. Guided by the U-Process, I embarked on a transformative partnership journey with 20 Community Leaders aimed at shifting mindsets and practices within the paradigm of safety for Black and minoritised communities in Lambeth and Southwark.
The invitation
Out of the blue, I received an invitation (March 2022) to join the project. However, at that moment, I had made a deliberate decision to reduce my involvement in partnership forums due to their drain on my energy and time, without significant return on investment for the organisation. Nevertheless, I was intrigued by Ubele and their approach to support Black and minority groups. I had no idea what the Safety project was about or what the concept was; but I knew I wanted to participate.
Motivated by this curiosity, I chose to participate. When I do opt in to engage, I bring along my big laughs, giggles, and genuine joy. Nonetheless, I also acknowledge the weight of my cynicism, which stems from a sense of familiarity with similar experiences in the realm of the partnership parade! I initially anticipated a repetition of past encounters. However, I'm glad I had the capacity to fully commit, as this time around, there was a distinct difference in the approach to partnership endeavours.
Mental Modes
15 years of leading a small community organisation, I recognise the interconnection between the organisation and myself. I've established a safe haven that mirrors the refuge I needed as a child. Participation in the Safety Group has given me the opportunity to understand my “why”, that is rooted in my firm stance against injustice.
One of the initial and most impactful activities we engaged in as part of the Safety Group was "The Yam," a culturally sensitive adaptation of "The Iceberg." This allowed our group to delve deeper into the root causes of the issues we encounter. It was my first experience undertaking this task specifically focusing on issues faced by the Black Community, and I drew upon both my professional experiences at the centre and my personal background.
The objective of the activity is to enhance our comprehension of the various factors at play, shifting focus from the immediate event/s towards the underlying societal structures and mental modes.
This activity held significant meaning for me. I realised that my practice had been driven by fear, cynicism, and a defensive mindset focused on protecting and defending. Reflecting on my operating style and recognising its’ limitations was essential for personal growth.
Early in the Safey Group, I made a commitment to remain present and open-minded about process, and I'm pleased to say that I stayed true to that commitment. The experience has truly transformed my mindset for the better.
The opportunities provided by the Safety Group have been so compelling that I've eagerly embraced them. Participating in learning journeys has been enriching, with the highlight being a trip to Kenya, together with a peer from the Safety Group, I had the privilege of attending and actively contributing to the Global African Diaspora Forum.
You can read about my experiences in my Safety Kenya Blog.
Excerpts from my experiences in Kenya are woven into my learning reflections.
Meet new people and networks
The trip to Kenya validated my personal transformation I underwent and I felt empowered from broadened my mental perspective during the process. It was my first-time visiting Africa, and I had never travelled alone without a companion before. Post-pandemic, my routine practice, consciously avoided meeting new people, not because I couldn't do it, but because I had stopped prioritising networking with others due to it becoming exhausting.
“Connecting with new colleagues over breakfast... A need for human connection was essential and I pushed myself to engage with unfamiliar others.”
I've found great joy in cultivating relationships through my participation in the Safety Group. It's been an opportunity to reconnect with old community partners and forge new connections with individuals from diverse intersections of the community. This includes people from the creative, funding, and health sectors, among others.
Challenging my sense of fear and vulnerability.
I’m a working mum, accustomed to living within a safe, well-structured and repetitive routine. I've come to realise that spontaneity and unpredictability can challenge my inner sense of safety. I prefer knowing my schedule and sticking to it. However, my involvement in the Safety Group has pushed me far beyond my comfort zone, and I now appreciate this experience as it has taught me the value of flexibility and adaptation. It's been like a much-needed "chill pill" for me.
“I wanted adventure, but I’m now unsure what adventure means… this experience made me feel unsafe and vulnerable… In the moment my feelings were intense and could have led to behaviour that would have further comprised the safety of the group and myself. The shared sense of vulnerability amongst the group and the driver, I felt a deeper sense of connection to all in the group and this increased my sense of trust and supported the forming of our relationship which was positive.”
After thoughtful reflection, I've come to realise that my fear stems from a sense of security derived from my role as a community leader, where I enjoy a heightened sense of agency and autonomy. This realisation suggests that my discomfort may arise when faced with situations outside of this familiar context, where I lack the same level of control. This has led me to operate in isolation within my practice. However, the Safety Group has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and connect with others. Within this supportive space, I've found that were needs and I simply had to present my whole self, without worrying about being or bringing more than I have to offer. I've come to recognise that I often project unnecessary worry and doubt. Now, I'm mindful of this tendency. I've learned that my authentic self, in its entirety, is enough, and the process has validated this realisation.
Established a shared sense of purpose.
Sharing a space with nuanced perspectives felt empowering. The activities facilitated within the Safety Group allowed me to appreciate differences in a way that I hadn't previously considered. The phrase "in addition to...” became particularly meaningful as it highlighted the richness of diverse viewpoints and experiences.
This process validated and expanded our exploration and discoveries. It became evident that the group was multifaceted, and no single contribution overshadowed another. This realisation provided a greater sense of validation for all of us. As we explored and discovered together, a shared sense of purpose emerged. Discovering the community work taking place in Kenya extended my exploration beyond our local community of Lambeth and Southwark, forging connections to the shared experiences of people in Africa and the Diaspora.
“There are many issues faced by the African diaspora and there are multiple ways that people are finding solutions to problems. Thinking beyond the conference, my takeaway is deeper consideration on: how do we create a shared space globally for the exploration to create improved ways of working together which invests our collective assets and capital for social good, continuous dialogue and the sharing of novel practice?”
Participating in the "Wakanda Owned Assets" group has directed my focus towards community assets—what we currently possess, where there are gaps, and how we can attain and sustain these assets for the betterment of our community. Reflecting on my experiences from the trip and my time with the Safety Group, I've come to understand the pressing need for re-learning in a manner that fosters personal and collective accountability. This is essential for repairing, reclaiming, and reframing the structures within our communities, particularly within the Black community.
In my journey of re-learning, I've come to realise that the task ahead is not as daunting as I initially believed. It's not an impossible feat. My learning journeys within the U process have introduced me to a multitude of positive initiatives and remarkable individuals leading these endeavours.
As I continue on this path, I'm holding onto the question:
“How do we facilitate the continuation of a shared space for the exploration of safety mechanisms to maximise the experience of life and the ability to thrive for Black people?”
This ending of the Safety Group marks a new beginning. I feel like I'm embracing a new way of being with a sense of rejuvenation within me, and I firmly believe that we've made a positive nudge towards enhancing safety within our community as a collective movement.
“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.
None but ourselves can free our minds.”
― Bob Marley
