TU Dublin and Empower Launch Research and Roadmap to Advance Anti-Racism Practice in Community and Higher Education Sectors
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TU Dublin and Empower, the local development company for Fingal, have jointly launched a landmark research report and an organisational anti-racism roadmap aimed at tackling racism within the community, voluntary, and higher education sectors. The launch event was attended by the Mayor of Fingal County Council, Cllr Brian McDonagh, representatives from the community and voluntary sector, statutory bodies, and staff from Empower and TU Dublin.
The new report," A" Examination of the Experiences of People Affected by Racism and the Community Services they Engage with as they Seek Support and to Report," authored by Dr Bríd Ni Chonaill, Georgina Lawlor, and Temitope Shobayo, was developed through qualitative research conducted between January and June 2024. It captures the lived experiences of racism and evaluates the responses of community services through interviews with 25 participants, including community service providers, representatives of local groups, and key informants.
The findings paint a stark picture of the prevalence and impact of racism across Irish communities. Participants described racism as “everywhere”, with wide-ranging psychological, emotional, and social consequences. The study found significant shortcomings in community responses, including inconsistent practices, limited training, and a lack of national strategy or safe reporting mechanisms.
Barriers to reporting racism were particularly concerning, with issues such as distrust in authorities, fear of reprisal, bureaucratic delays, and insufficient legislative support cited as major deterrents for those seeking help.
In direct response to these findings, Empower and TU Dublin have launched a practical anti-racism roadmap, authored by Siphiwe Moyo, to support organisations in building inclusive cultures and structured responses to incidents of racism. The roadmap recommends the establishment of dedicated anti-racism coordinators and committees within organisations, along with tools for awareness-raising, monitoring progress, and ensuring accountability.
Speaking at the launch, Adeline O’Brien of Empower, emphasised the urgency of the initiative:
“The report details the inconsistency people who experience racism face when they go to organisations within their community for help, and the lack of clear guidelines for professionals working in community organisations to help people who experience racism. For those who experience racism, this results in a lack of willingness to report instances of racism and growing fear and a level of expectation that experiencing racism is par for the course.”
Adeline continued:
“Through Empower’s work in Fingal, we know that instances of racism are on the rise, particularly in the wake of far-right agitation. In response, Empower and TU Dublin have developed this roadmap to help organisations implement practices that foster inclusive workplaces and support anyone impacted by racism.”
Dr Pat O’Connor, Head of the School of Social Sciences, Law and Education at TU Dublin, noted the importance of turning research into action:
“The research behind this report and roadmap points to evidence of what we were aware of, or should be aware of, but crucially this report and the roadmap make a positive contribution to creating and framing a structure for organisations to embrace and manage the cultural diversity that characterises Irish Society today.”
This collaboration between TU Dublin and Empower reflects TU Dublin's institutional commitment to inclusion, equity, and community engagement. With a diverse student population and initiatives promoting gender balance, accessibility, and anti-racism, TU Dublin continues to lead by example in fostering a more inclusive society.
For more information on the report and organisational roadmap, visit the Empower website.