GRACE Launch Event

During the event, you will:

• Gain insights from GRaCE’s theme leads on the research areas the research centre has prioritised.

• Hear from community groups about the challenges facing minoritized communities in Lancashire.

.• Learn about their collaborative efforts with UCLan to foster innovative research in these areas.

• Participate in workshops lead by theme leads.

• Learn how you can get involved with GRaCE's research.

• View the short animated anti-racism film: Impact of Institutional Racism

• Discover more about the innovative anti-racism training programme offered through GRaCE.

Light refreshments and a vegetarian lunch will be served, and the Preston Samba Band will provide entertainment.

To assist us in planning and catering, please select the workshop that you would like to attend. Additionally, please indicate any dietary restrictions you may have.

1. Nazir Afzal OBE.

Nazir Afzal OBE, is Chancellor of the University of Manchester and an Honorary Fellow of the University of Central Lancashire. As Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England Mr Afzal prosecuted some of the most high profile cases in the country – including the Rochdale Grooming Gang and against Stuart Hall. Most recently Mr Afzal led the Independent Culture Review of the London Fire Brigade Service (November 2022), which was found to be "institutionally misogynist and racist".

Mr Afzal’s long career in public service has been dedicated to fighting for justice, championing the rights of victims and challenging inequalities within the legal system. He recently wrote about this in his best-selling recent memoir “The Prosecutor” (2022).

Mr Afzal will talk about the dangers of institutional racism and how it can be effectively challenged.

2. Professor Jacinta Nwachukwu.

Professor Jacinta Nwachukwu is Professor of Enterprise and Finance and Deputy Director for Research at the Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise. Her research interest is primarily on how access to financial services and the adoption of Agri-tech approaches might contribute to those sustainable development goals associated with human development and gender equality.

Professor Nwachukwu will present her Keynote address: “Does Using Sensor Technology for Cow Management improve Farm and Financial Outcomes for Smallholding Owner Dairy Farmers in Kenya?” which is based upon her research about the extent and effectiveness of the application of wearable sensors as part of the Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) approach in three rural communities in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya.

Workshops:

1. Dr Peggy Mulongo

Workshop Title: What does equality mean for me?... exploring young refugees' experiences of acculturation in UK: focus on psychosocial wellbeing

Description: This presentation aims to explore experiences of acculturation of young refugees who have resettled under the Gateway UK resettlement programme. Evidence demonstrates that young refugees’ experiences of race and equality affect their psychosocial needs in educational and non-educational settings. This presentation discusses findings from a doctoral study that investigated different acculturation strategies used, as well as their impacts on the mental health of young refugees.

2. Dr Chinyere Ajayi

Workshop Title: Working with community partners to improve the wellbeing of ethnic minority women

This workshop provides an overview of the social justice strand of GRACE and the current research project being undertaken. It also presents the findings of the research project examining how British Pakistani women speak about resilience in the face of adversity and what this means for social care practitioners.

3. Mr David Knight

Workshop Title: Culture, Arts and Community

This workshop will critically explore the construction and dissemination of culture and art as seen through a racial lens. It will also examine the importance of public engagement with academic research and the ways in which communities / community groups can get involved through the Application, Beneficiaries, Communication, Dissemination approach.

4. Dr Allwell Uwazuruike and Dr Komali Kantamaneni

Workshop Title: Climate Change, Natural Hazards and Gender Inequality in Coastal Areas: A global View:

Workshop details: Hazards due to climate change including in coastal areas across the globe, particularly cyclones, typhons, floods, erosion and storm surges, are emerging as a cause for major concern. Severe disaster events have become more frequent in recent decades, triggering substantial destruction to the low-lying coastal areas and a high death toll. Furthermore, women living in several countries including developed countries suffer from multiple social, health, cultural and economic inequalities as well. These conditions accelerate and worsen women’s vulnerability and marginalisation among this coastal population. In response to this, the theme discusses a timely and critical review of climate change, disasters impact of coastal hazards on a different gender.