Welcome to another episode of ARM-OUR or OUR-ARM, the podcast hosted by me, Shantel Thomas, founder of the Anti-Racist Movement (A.R.M.). Today, we have a special one-on-one conversation with Shirleecia Ward—a remarkable woman with an incredible story and purpose. Shirleecia is an African-Caribbean mother of two daughters, a dedicated researcher, and a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University.

Her passion lies in amplifying the voices of Black women and ensuring that their lived experiences are represented in academic literature. Shirleecia’s groundbreaking research focuses on giving Black mothers the space to share their personal stories about raising children in a racialised society.

In this episode, we’ll explore her work, which delves into the hopes, concerns, and wisdom these mothers have for their children. We’ll also discuss how her research aims to bridge the gap between personal experiences and professional practices by sharing these valuable insights with communities and practitioners who work with children and families.

Get ready for a heartfelt and enlightening conversation with Shirleecia Ward—this is one you won’t want to miss!

NB: This is one of three episodes recorded during the summer 2024.

Weekes, A.P., Ward, S. and Mguni, M. (2024) “Beyond tokenism: activism, resistance and rebellion,” Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-04-2023-0105.