Hear directly from Community Engagement Officer, Samantha Likonde, on the community engagement that has taken place in 2024 with local communities as part of the Decolonised Transformations project. Our commitment Alongside other community partners, we will take part in a review of our city’s and University’s historical links to slavery and colonialism and take measures to address these. Samantha Likonde, Community Engagement Officer for the Decolonised Transformations project. An interview with Samantha Likonde Can you give us a brief overview of the Decolonised Transformations project? The Decolonised Transformations Project was created in 2022 to move beyond just talking about and analysing racial inequality – it focuses on taking action and driving real change in the University of Edinburgh. The Research and Engagement Working Group (REWG) was asked, by Principal Peter Mathieson, to write a review on the University’s historical connections to slavery, colonialism and the development of false racial 'sciences'. The group is also working with affected communities to co-produce recommendations for reparations and ways to address the structural and lasting legacies of racism within the University of Edinburgh today. What have been the most impactful ways the project engaged with local communities within the Edinburgh city region, and what feedback or responses stood out to you? A particular event that stood out for me this past year was the community dialogue event which took place on 2 May, bringing together 40 attendees from community organisations and staff members, including the senior leadership team. The event was co-designed with community representatives to enable open, candid conversations, allowing grassroots communities from Edinburgh and across the UK to engage with the project, provide input on future plans, and share their knowledge and experiences. In planning, we recognised the emotional intensity of the discussions. Zaki El-Salahi, with the Sudanese community partnership, co-chaired the event so wonderfully by emphasising the validity and necessity of raw emotions, while ensuring a respectful, safe space for all in accordance with our Principles of Participation (PoPs)*. From the outset, it was clear that the dialogue was not going to be easy. Many participants shared experiences that sparked raw emotions—anger, grief, frustration—stemming from long histories of inequality and exclusion. What made this dialogue impactful, however, was the willingness of all involved to listen and engage, even when the conversation was uncomfortable. Community members voiced their pain and disappointment, while staff members and leadership were called to confront their roles in perpetuating these inequities. There was an undeniable tension in the room, but it was also a space where the difficult conversations could lead to understanding and, hopefully, change as they have deeply shaped our recommendations. The dialogue opened new pathways for collaboration, focusing not just on acknowledging the past but also on collectively imagining a better future. For leadership and staff members, it was a moment of reflection—challenging the status quo and considering how institutions can better serve marginalised communities. Though difficult, the emotions shared highlighted the importance of these conversations. The event showed that progress often begins in discomfort, and by staying present, we can create spaces for real change. *Impact within the project is monitored and categorised in accordance with our Principles of Participation (PoPs), which act as our ethical guidelines and standards for success. Illustration by Katrina Swanton, outlining a major timeline of the project, group members, aims, and emerging recommendations. Do you think this event benefits University (staff and students) and external communities? Below are reflections and comments that further illustrate how we met our impact aims from Principle 5: A commitment to knowledge exchange and reciprocal learning. Feedback from attendees: Attending the event has taught me a valuable lesson: people and communities are more than willing to physically and metaphorically travel to participate in purposeful and engaging discussions.It is important for the university community to be aware of the ongoing debate surrounding reparations for the legacies of colonialism and slavery.Yes, in the way that anti-racism is beneficial for everyone. Yes, absolutely. This was a really enlightening event for me to understand not only the work of the project, but hear from people and communities that were affected by slavery and colonialism and the lasting effect that has had on them. Yes. It widens the larger discussion on reparation, restitution and opens up understanding and learning for policy and action. Yes, for information, to provoke thought and comprehension of the issues, to hear the perspectives of others and more...Very important. Often it seems the feelings of staff and students do not reflect official university policy, and cultivating these ideas and new solutions could go along way to procuring change. Yes, it demonstrates a commitment to dialogue. Participants of the Reparations Masterclass, held in the Talbot Rice Gallery on 16 September 2024. What challenges or barriers did the project encounter when fostering community involvement or dialogue, and how were these addressed? One of the main challenges that the project faced in fostering community involvement and dialogue was bridging the gap between academic staff and community members. There was a perceived disconnect, with some community members feeling that the institution didn’t truly understand or represent their needs. To address this, we focused on building trust through transparent communication and creating spaces for genuine collaboration. We ensured that the dialogue was not just top-down but allowed for community members to shape the conversation, giving them agency in the process. Additionally, we worked to involve community organisations early on, ensuring their concerns were incorporated in each phase of the project from the onset. Furthermore, there were a range of ways in which discussion was facilitated: in small focus groups, workshops, and over coffee catch-ups. This welcomed informal conversations as a way for communities to share their thoughts regarding the project and offered alternative methods of engagement. Another barrier was the way that complex information was shared regarding the project, and methods of gathering information. When we first shared the interim report for the project, we reflected on the vast content within the report and aimed to provide an overview that was more engaging and digestible. On this mission, I worked with Katrina Swanton, who outlined a major timeline of the project, group members, aims, and emerging recommendations within an illustrated map. This offered an additional visual and inclusive way of accessing the information regarding the project. Participants of the Reparations Masterclass, held in the Talbot Rice Gallery on 16 September 2024. Can you share specific examples of activities, events, or initiatives from the past year that you feel best illustrate the project's progress or achievements? A key event that demonstrated the project's progress and achievements in multiple ways was a Reparations Masterclass, held in the Talbot Rice Gallery on 16 September. Designed for scholars, practitioners, and activists, the event explored the theoretical and practical dimensions of reparatory work. It also served as a platform for knowledge exchange, hosted by Esther Stanford-Xoesi, a leading voice in the UK reparations movement, and welcomed attendees from across the University, Edinburgh communities, and international activists. The choice of the Talbot Rice Gallery as the venue was a deliberate and powerful one. Set within the context of El Anatsui’s exhibition, which challenges colonial narratives through the celebration of indigenous art, the space itself became a site of reflection, adding depth to the masterclass. The setting allowed us to engage with the themes of reparations not only intellectually but also emotionally and visually, creating a powerful synergy between the content of the event and the space that hosted it. Central to the event was a mapping of the work and impact of the International Social Movement for Afrikan Reparations and other connected reparations movements, underscoring the project's commitment to both academic inquiry and the centring of the voices and work of communities of reparatory justice interests. The event marked a significant step forward in our aim to address historical injustices and promote and foster cross-community engagement. We were able to deepen our conversations around reparations and we included accessible information beforehand to provide additional context for anyone who had not come across the language of reparations before, hoping to make people feel more comfortable to attend. What stood out most to me was that the atmosphere Esther had created to access this information did not make suffering a spectacle, but an opportunity to learn from both indigenous knowledge systems and grassroots community and social action, magnifying and evidencing the ongoing action taking place across communities of resistance. It was a powerful learning experience for many of us in attendance. * *This coincides with Principle 1: A commitment to recognising historical and contemporary struggles for social and reparatory justice, Principle 3: A commitment to cognitive justice and equity in collaboration, and Principle 2: A commitment to strengthening partnerships and restoring agency through participation. Other ways we’ve built closer connections to the city region in 2024 This article was published on 2025-01-23
