Business and community leaders from across Yorkshire are being brought together for an evening aimed at turning conversations around race equity, representation and allyship into meaningful connections and action.
Shaheen Myers, Executive Director of Balance-Ed, and winner of the BPA Empowering Women Awards, is hosting and organising REND Leeds Bradford – the Racial Equity Networking Dinner – at The Madisson, Bradford, on Friday 23 October.
The event brings the national REND movement to the region, with Shaheen, widening the conversation beyond education by bringing together figures from business, politics, public services and local communities.
“Race equity cannot be a conversation that global majority communities continue to have with themselves,” Shaheen said.
“We need leaders from business, education, politics, public services and our communities, and critically, we need allies who are prepared not simply to agree with the need for change, but to be part of it.”
Speakers will include Bradford West MP Naz Shah; Humma Nizami – CEO of the Race Equality Network; Andleeb Hanif – co-founder and Editor of Asian Express; and Sufian Sadiq – Chief Talent and Transformation Officer at Chiltern Learning Trust and founder of the national REND movement.
Rather than following a traditional networking format, the event combines dinner with speakers and conversation, allowing guests to discuss race, representation, leadership and belonging while building connections across different sectors.
“You don’t have to work in race equity to have a role in race equity,” Shaheen said.
“If you are a business leader, employer, educator, public servant or community leader, this conversation belongs to you too.
“I particularly want to see more white allies joining us. Progress cannot depend solely on the people who experience inequity doing the work to change it.”
The not-for-profit event has attracted backing from Yorkshire businesses, with SBL Group becoming Exclusive Headline Sponsor and Official Transport Partner. Asian Express is Official Print Partner and Sunrise Radio Official Media Partner, while Janan and Al-Murad Tiles are also supporting the event.
To find out more, email: info@balance-ed.co.uk.
