Trevor Phillips’ theme was living and working together in a diverse society. ‘There are two challenges – how we live on the planet, and how we live together’, he said.
The debate ranged over ethnic and cultural diversity, wealth creation, the continued problem of ethnic stereotyping in career choice and work itself, and the situation of ethnic minorities in rural communities.
It also went into the challenges and barriers faced at work by women from minority communities, and the difficulties small ethnic minority firms face in accessing the business and procurement opportunities they need to grow.
Trevor Phillips emphasised the changes that have improved the lives and work of men and women from minorities during his lifetime. ‘It’s no longer OK to be prejudiced and bigoted …….some kinds of racism are more subtle, indeed more wounding. But a lot of things have changed for the better. Having said that, we still have a substantial degree of inequality.’
He strongly welcomed the contribution of Equal DPs to the practical business of making diversity a reality in learning and work settings. ‘Good practice,’ he said, ’that’s everybody else ought to know about.’
He also confirmed the interest of the CRE and the new CEHR in EQUAL DPs’ work - diversity materials, career choice supports and business and procurement innovations.
The whole debate is now available to be replayed. Work is now underway to make it accessible theme by theme with a range of links and downloads from Equal and elsewhere.
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register to place comments/questions on the debate pages prior to the live debate, and you can also log on and question the speaker on the day. You can keyboard your point, and the speaker will respond on webcam. Once the speaker is off air, you will be able to continue the discussion with other online users. The debate will be transcribed and made available on the site within a couple of days. If you participate in the online debate, your name and organisation will be displayed unless you specifically request anonymity when you submit your comment. Users are expected to participate in a professional manner – posting of inappropriate comments will result in a bar from further participation in the debate.
