Women’s Collective Ireland – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awareness Seminar
Women’s Collective Ireland recently held an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awareness Seminar which was facilitated by our wonderful patron Ailbhe Smyth. The seminar served as a way to bring together the WCI Board of Directors and staff, for an informative day that sparked discussion amongst ourselves. During the seminar, our staff listened to an array of speakers who discussed issues in accessing equality due to as Ageism, Equality and Sexism, Ableism, Racism, Homophobia and Transphobia, as well as how we can unpack our unconscious bias.
WCI Patron Ailbhe Smyth guided us through Ageism, which was then followed by further topics of discussion on equality presented to us by guest speakers Dr. Aideen Quilty, Fiona Weldon of Independent Living Movement Ireland, Dr. Jennifer Okeke, Dr. Matt Kennedy, and Paula Fagan of LGBTQI+ Ireland. Our EDI Awareness seminar was an engaging and invigorating session, giving our staff a platform to discuss the complexities of the topics in front of us on the day, as well as providing us with the opportunity to share our learnings from the day with one another.
Seminars such as this offer us a space to gain a deeper understanding of the various aspects of equality and diversity, which help to drive our purpose in supporting grassroots women. Full thanks go to our guest speakers on the day, as well as the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission for funding the seminar.