Thread by @WalesRace

THREAD: The wait is over...today, on #MLKDay, we launch our #researchpaper -the first of its kind- to recognise the diverse voices of Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 in the context of Public and Political life for an #AntiRacistWales. Exec summary here: bit.ly/3bPtfCk pls share 🙏🏿

Months ago, we launched our Manifesto. This would not have been possible without our great team of long-term supporters, contributors and friends. A major THANK YOU is needed. We also need to thank our 4 Peer Researchers and the hours put in which led to the birth of this paper.

To give some insight, here are some important stats from the research. We strongly recommend that you review, recognise and reflect upon each of them. Remember - this is only the beginning, but having published research means that many diverse voices are heard, not sidelined. 👏🏾

A large proportion of our participants have experience with the #Senedd #WelshGovernment when it comes to *voting* with employment in contrasting effect. There is also quite a number who don't view to have a relationship with them. Why?

Well, when you pair that stat with the following, the picture starts to grow which may/may not be unbeknownst to you. We would especially like to note that all our Peer Researchers are BAME which made it easier for our participants to share and talk about their experiences.

We specifically set out to ask what stops BAME people from entering political life and here's another stat that sets the tone. It is clear that #Racism is an overwhelming issue but also the lack of representation! So let's #DoTheRightThing and fight it for an #AntiRacistWales✊🏾🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

We understand that entering political life is not in everyone's interest so it was also important to ask questions from a community viewpoint. Overwhelmingly, many did not feel that their needs were met:

Perhaps it isn't surprising at all that many answered that they would be interested in being on a public body board. But without the advances to get there, the road seems unclear as are the support systems (or lack of) in place, even in the most general sense.

So from that, we asked for recommendations from the participants themselves - what they really need - in order to support their public and political endeavours, or just as community members who can operate within societal systems that truly gives them recognition and voice 🔊🗣️

The Wales we want to see... what would you like to see? Is the idea of #equality within your stream of thoughts? If not, we suggest that you channel this mindset in all aspects of your life - work and social, public and private - for a more represented Wales ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

The Wales we want to see... is it something like this? We hope that somewhere within this thread, you felt seen, heard and recognised. That ultimately, your opinion really matters because it does, in all matters of this context and wider.

We end this thread on an important note with this quote which shows why the conversation about #race and #equality is much needed. #DoTheRightThing because it is the right thing, not to fill a room, a box, a stat. Read the full paper bit.ly/3qpU4Rm, share, ACT!