World Afro Day - Workplace
“Innovation for Inclusion”
WAY BEYOND WITH
WORLD AFRO DAY - WORKPLACE
This is the first global training day to tackle hair discrimination in careers and business on September 15th 2023, World Afro Day. This is a giant livestream and in-person event, uniting companies on one day of change. World Afro Day – Workplace is leading the global charge, followed by a French MP submitting a bill in October to end hair discrimination. While the USA CROWN Act continues to advance and the UK government has also recognised Afro hair discrimination in the Inclusive Britain Report.
Unfortunately, we know that the majority of businesses need to urgently learn and understand Afro hair inclusion because many of them may be breaking the law, like the recent Ritz London case and Doncaster children’s homes. Our pioneering research with Shift Insight found that nearly 90% of UK teachers were not trained on how Equality Law applies to Afro hair, which results in widespread discrimination against school children.
After six years of global impact; World Afro Day CIC has teamed up with BUD Leaders as their official training partner. We have devised this groundbreaking training to help companies stop race-based hair discrimination. The event culminates with the World Afro Day, Belonging in Business Awards, celebrating the companies, which already embrace employees with Afro Hair
Why should your business be involved?
RISK – protect your business, respect the law and prepare for legal changes towards Afro hairstyles. Avoid legal consequences.
EDGE gain greater insight into customers with Afro hair = 1 billion plus of the global population. Attract and retain high calibre Black staff, who want to be free to be themselves and ‘belong in business.’ Get ahead and support this freedom movement.
PURPOSE – enhance your reputation by embracing Afro hair inclusion. ‘Business as usual’, will mean that hair discrimination continues, so what kind of company do you want to be? Learning and understanding will show leadership in 2023.
PREVIOUS SUPPORTERS
Don’t Miss The Greatest Training Event on Earth.
Tools, training and expertise to support your business.
Scarlette Douglas
HOST + TV PRESENTER
Scarlette Douglas is a television presenter, singer, dancer, and property expert who is well-recognised for being one of the presenters on the Channel 4 series, A Place in the Sun. She has also been a regular guest reporter on The One Show, Jeremy Vine and Lorraine.
TASHARA PARKER
HOST + JOURNALIST
Tashara Parker is an Emmy award-winning anchor and reporter in Dallas, Texas covering diversity and inclusivity-focused stories. Recognized nationally as a voice on authenticity in the workplace, the anchor brings experience, vibrancy and authenticity
PROFESSIONALS PANEL
ALICE DEARING
OLYMPIAN
Alice Dearing is 26-years-old and is currently the only black female swimmer on team GB. She is the second black female swimmer to ever represent Great Britain at the Olympics. At Tokyo 2020, Alice competed in the 10km open water marathon event.
Jonathan A J Wilson
Professor
Professor Jonathan A.J. Wilson is an award-winning practitioner and academic with two doctorates – specialising in what he calls the ABCDs of business and culture: Advertising, Branding, Communication, and Digital. He graduated from the faculties of Science, Art &
He has worked with governments, organisations, brands, and professionals on bringing branding, business strategy, and cultures to life - from countries right down to people. Prof has several online masterclasses on authentic inclusive communication and personal branding. He also received Top Voices awards from LinkedIn for 4 consecutive years, appearing in their television advertisements. He has supported World Afro Day since 2018.
DR ZOE
MEDIA MEDIC
Dr Zoe Williams MBBS, DRCOG, MRCGP is a practising NHS GP and media medic with accolades such as being named on the Pulse Power 50 List as one of the country’s most influential GP’s. Outside of the surgery Zoe is a National Advisor
“World Afro Day is a celebration for everyone from the workplace, your home and at school and I’m glad to be part of history being made.”
EXPERTS PANEL
AKIMA PAUL LAMBERT
SENIOR PARTNER
Akima Lambert – Litigation Partner at Hogan Lovells I am a UK solicitor-advocate and US litigation attorney with close to 15 years of top-tier legal experience. Over the years, I have built a successful practice focusing on
EMMANUEL
FINANCIAL EXPERT
Emmanuel Asuquo is a renowned financial adviser, media personality, wealth building entrepreneur, and international speaker. He regularly appears in the media, corporate campaigns and is a school governor of the
LAITH DILAIMI
BARRISTER
Laith Dilaimi is a barrister at Old Square Chambers. He is ranked by the legal directories as a leading barrister in employment law and education law. Laith is a contributing editor to Discrimination Law (Bloomsbury Professional).
“I first became involved with World Afro Day when I was a speaker at a World Afro Day event on how to end hair discrimination in schools. World Afro Day does good work in the field of preventing hair discrimination through raising awareness and through education, and I am happy to be part of the World Afro Day Mastermind Advisory Panel.”
WENDY GREENE
PROFESSOR
The daughter of American civil rights activists, Doris “Wendy” Greene is a trailblazing U.S. anti-discrimination law scholar, teacher, and advocate who has devoted her professional life’s
As one of the legal architects of the C.R.O.W.N. Act—historic civil rights legislation, which affirms discrimination African descendants endure on the basis of their natural hairstyles constitutes unlawful race discrimination. My work has been reported in various media. I am a global presenter, frequent media commentator, and consultant to myriad constituencies on civil rights litigation, legislation and policy.
PATTI O’BRIEN RICHARDSON
PROFESSOR
Dr. Patti O’Brien-Richardson is a sought-after speaker, scholar, and professor of racial and ethnic health disparities at Rutgers University. She is the CEO of Move it Nation, Inc.
Her research on black hair discrimination has contributed to public policies and literature addressing the need for the CROWN Act, which protects the rights of people of African descent to maintain natural hair and hairstyles. She is also the founder of the Green Chair Group, a management consulting firm which CEOs and DEI executives rely on for research-based tools to advance racial wellbeing in the workplace.
JANE POWELL
CEO SHIFT INSIGHT
Brought up in a family of researchers, Jane worked in publishing before founding Shift Insight (then Shift Learning) in 2002. It has become one of the UK’s most highly respected research
LEADERS PANEL
KADIATU KANNEH-MASON
CLASSICAL MUSIC LEADER
Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason is an author and former English lecturer at The University of Birmingham. She is a multi-award winner and mother to seven classical musicians, the Kanneh-Mason family.
LEVI ROOTS
ENTREPRENEUR
It all started in his grandmother’s kitchen in the small Jamaican village of Clarendon. This is where Levi learned the secrets and subtleties of mixing Caribbean flavours, herbs and spices.
He was discovered doing the rounds at one of the many food festivals he attended by a Dragons’ Den producer. This led to a cash injection to the tune of £50K after his musical performance on the show. Peter Jones and Richard Farley were the dragons that thought he was worth a punt! The sauce was an instant hit and even started outselling Heinz Tomato Ketchup.
MICHELLE DE LEON
CEO WORLD AFRO DAY
Michelle De Leon is the founder and CEO of World Afro Day®, a global day of celebration and liberation for Afro hair and identity. The Day was established on 15th September 2017.
She is a visionary, setting a world record hair education lesson; an Ogilvy advertising campaign; The Hair Equality Report: the first UK university research into Afro hair discrimination. Creating The Big Hair Assembly: a livestream uniting schools globally to create Afro hair inclusion. She is now a key authority speaking at the United Nations, regularly commenting in the media, collaborating with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, education unions and global brands.
“Whether it is the playground, boardroom or laboratory, we all deserve the right to feel comfortable and be our most authentic selves so we can focus on what we are there to do and not on how we look.”
Michelle De Leon, CEO World Afro Day®
World Afro Day - Workplace
Check your timezone and join the global live stream
17:30-19:30 BST, 15th September.
LIMITED IN-PERSON PLACES AT THE HISTORIC EVENT IN LONDON, UK.
SCHEDULE
- 17:30 BST, Hosts: Scarlette Douglas and Tashara Parker
- 17:35 Employer Research – Shift Insight CEO Jane Powell
- Practical applications in business throughout
- Slido engagement throughout sharing key insights
- 17:45 Professionals Panel – Olympian Alice Dearing, Dr Zoe Williams, The Ritz London case.
- 18:00 Experts Panel – Employment, Law, Hair & Health. Plus a legal case study discussed with USA Professors Patti O’Brien-Richardson and Professor D. Wendy Greene, UK Barrister Laith Dilaimi and Senior Partner, Akima Paul Lambert
- 18:30 Leaders Panel – Entrepreneur Levi Roots, Classical Music Leader Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, Founder and CEO World Afro Day®, Michelle De Leon
- 19:00 World Afro Day: Belonging in Business Awards with special guests.
- 19:30 Livestream ENDS
- 19:30 – 20:30 BST Networking in-person
- 17:30 BST, START Hosts: Scarlette Douglas and Tashara Parker
- 17:35 Employer Research - Shift Insight CEO Jane Powell
- Practical applications in business throughout
- Slido engagement throughout sharing key insights
- 17:45 Professionals Panel - Olympian Alice Dearing, Dr Zoe Williams, The Ritz London case.
- 18:00 Experts Panel - Employment, Law, Hair & Health. Plus a legal case study discussed with USA Professors Patti O’Brien-Richardson and Professor D. Wendy Greene, UK Barrister Laith Dilaimi and Senior Partner, Akima Paul Lambert
- 18:30 Leaders Panel - Entrepreneur Levi Roots, Classical Music Leader Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, Founder and CEO World Afro Day®, Michelle De Leon
- 19:00 World Afro Day: Belonging in Business Awards with special guests.
- 19:30 Livestream ENDS
- 19:30 - 20:30 BST Networking in-person
Livestream event, training packages and in-person tickets for any business size. Staff training can be tax deductible (check with your tax authority).
HOW DOES IT WORK SECTION
- Companies will unite on Sept 15th for World Afro Day - Workplace
- Sign up your company, based on your company size and purchase your package.
- Could you sponsor us? Consider sponsoring before buying your package, it has great benefits and will include the business training and resource pack.
- Could you win an award? Look at the nomination for the World Afro Day Belonging in Business Awards
- Allocate your in-person tickets
- Publicise livestream event internally
- Publicise externally commitment to Afro hair inclusion
- Inspire with workplace watching events or watch from home
- Allocate Slido participants subject to availability
- Download starter resource packs when available
- A few days before event you receive livestream link
- Attend event with in-person tickets
- Join World Afro Day - Workplace global social campaign
Training Packages
Multinational Business
1000+ employees unlimited
All staff – livestream event
All staff – training package
All staff – resource packs
10 in-person seats subject to availability
Black History Month Workshop – Bonus
- Training Package - outstanding professionals, business leaders, experts in law, case study, research, health and finance; all challenging race-based hair discrimination.
- Slido interaction subject to availability
- Video playback all staff - available for 2023
- Resource pack for all employees - download sent before event
- Black History Month Workshop will take a deep dive into one of the event themes. Available to all employees.
Please choose the correct package, your business size which may be checked.
COSTS - £25,000
WAYS TO PAY BACS OR CARD
Bank transfer for packages £8000 or more.
Put your company name + package size MEDIUM, LARGE, MULTI
Barclays Bank
World Afro Day CIC
Sort 20-18-93
Acc 43705056
IBAN GB49BUKB20189343705056
SWIFTBIC BUKBGB22
Receipts will be sent allow 5 working days
Large Business
250-999 employees
All staff – livestream event
All staff – training package
All staff – resource packs
7 in-person seats subject to availability
- Training Package - outstanding professionals, business leaders, experts in law, case study, research, health and finance; all challenging race-based hair discrimination.
- Slido interaction subject to availability
- Video playback all staff - available for 2023
- Resource pack for all employees - download sent before event
Please choose the correct package, your business size which may be checked.
COSTS - £15,000
WAYS TO PAY BACS OR CARD
Bank transfer for packages £8000 or more.
Put your company name + package size MEDIUM, LARGE, MULTI
Barclays Bank
World Afro Day CIC
Sort 20-18-93
Acc 43705056
IBAN GB49BUKB20189343705056
SWIFTBIC BUKBGB22
Receipts will be sent allow 5 working days
Medium Business
26-249 employees
All staff – livestream event
All staff – training package
All staff – resource packs
5 in-person seats subject to availability
- Training Package - outstanding professionals, business leaders, experts in law, case study, research, health and finance; all challenging race-based hair discrimination.
- Slido interaction subject to availability
- Video playback all staff - available for 2023
- Resource pack for all employees - download sent before event
Please choose the correct package, your business size which may be checked.
COSTS - £15,000
WAYS TO PAY BACS OR CARD
Bank transfer for packages £8000 or more.
Put your company name + package size MEDIUM, LARGE, MULTI
Barclays Bank
World Afro Day CIC
Sort 20-18-93
Acc 43705056
IBAN GB49BUKB20189343705056
SWIFTBIC BUKBGB22
Receipts will be sent allow 5 working days
Small Enterprise
10-25 employees
All staff – livestream event
All staff – training package
All staff – resource packs
4 in-person seats subject to availability
- Training Package - outstanding professionals, business leaders, experts in law, case study, research, health and finance; all challenging race based hair discrimination.
- Slido interaction subject to availability
- Video playback all staff - available for 2023
Please choose the correct package, your business size which may be checked.
COSTS - £3000
Micro Entity
9 or less employes
All staff – livestream event
All staff – training package
All staff – resource packs
2 in-person seats subject to availability
- Training Package - outstanding professionals, business leaders, experts in law, case study, research, health and finance; all challenging race based hair discrimination.
- Slido interaction subject to availability
- Video playback all staff - available for 2023
- Resource pack for all employees - download sent before event
Please choose the correct package, your business size which may be checked.
COSTS - £1500
Individual
Self-employed or Owner
Livestream event
Training package
Resource pack
1 in-person seat limited availability
- Training Package - outstanding professionals, business leaders, experts in law, case study, research, health and finance; all challenging race based hair discrimination.
- Slido interaction subject to availability
- Video playback - available for 2023
- Resource pack - download sent before event
COSTS - £250
FAQS
The event is scheduled to allow global unity in different time zones. Also the global school event The Big Hair Assembly takes place earlier on in the day.
This is the annual date for World Afro Day.
Discussing hair differences is easier than skin differences. This is an important and long overdue training needed for workplaces to prevent Afro hair discrimination. Hair discrimination has serious consequences that have been overlooked e.g. court cases for sickness or employment discrimination.
Definitely yes. World Afro Day works with people of all backgrounds to end Afro hair discrimination. We share one world so let’s make it better.
A protected link will be sent out after the event.
The venue is the Langley Park Centre for the Performing Arts, Hawksbrook Ln, Beckenham BR3 3BP.
Fill out a form on the awards page https://www.nilanktech.net/worldafroday/belonging-in-business-awards/
