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Heritage Empowerment Month 2022 - Introducing Barry Boffy

Category: Generation (Age Friendly)

Testimonial

It’s Heritage Empowerment Month: an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the many diverse communities and their rich cultural histories that make up society. Here in the U.K., it’s South Asian Heritage Month and over in the U.S. events are taking place to celebrate the cultural heritage of indigenous communities; particularly those from Hispanic and Native American descent. 

It got me thinking about what “heritage” means to me, and how it has shaped my identity. I recently underwent a DNA test and was surprised to find that my profile shows a Norwegian heritage that I wasn't previously aware of. Although this doesn't intrinsically change who I believe I am, it has put some things into perspective for me. I’ve always considered myself as being “European” and have always had an inexplicable affinity for Scandinavia, despite only ever visiting Sweden once in my life. More tenuously (some might say!) I have a physical inability to regulate my body temperature properly during the summer. It may explain why I hate beach holidays in the sun, and much prefer Autumn and cold, wet, rainy days.

I've always been fascinated by our identity, which is attributed to a mix of environmental, contextual, historical, cultural and experiential factors, amongst other things. However, my recent test results have made me wonder how much of my identity comes from what could be termed ‘genetic cultural memory’, and which may have played a part in shaping my identity without my knowledge.

Does this newly acquired knowledge about my own heritage challenge my world view? Not quite. But it has got me thinking about what else I don't and may never know about myself that might define me and shape my identity.

Life is a journey of constant exploration and growth; and it's important to be able to flex, adapt and change depending on what we learn along the way.  It's only when we stop being curious, stop learning and refuse to acknowledge and adapt to new knowledge, particularly about ourselves, that we stop growing.

Who am I now? I'm largely the same person as I was before. However, I now have a little more insight about myself and an awareness and deeper appreciation of my Scandinavian roots which I intend to research and celebrate in the future.

This Heritage Empowerment Month, you may want to consider celebrating the diversity of your cultural heritage in your workplace too? Whichever way you decide to do this, you can be sure that:

  • Celebrating our diversity can bring us closer together; gaining an insight and better understanding of our differences to each other, as well as our similarities.
  • Understanding our different backgrounds and experiences will help to break down any boundaries between us, or identify systemic barriers, creating a healthier and happier workplace for all.
  • If our colleagues feel that they can share their cultural heritage and history with us, they will feel more able to bring their genuine selves to work.
  • Learning about other people’s cultures shows that you care and that you respect them for who they are.

Take the time to be curious and listen to others history, experiences and background and don’t be afraid to tell others about your own cultural heritage. Share your story with your colleagues. 

Whoever you are, and however you define your cultural identity, I want to wish you all a Happy Heritage Empowerment Month!

Barry Boffy MBE FIEDP, Principal Consultant

Barry is an award-winning Inclusion, Equality and Diversity thought leader and joined Vercida Consulting in July 2022 after a 15-year career in the criminal justice sector. He was featured in the ‘Top 100 Global Inspirational Diversity & Inclusion Leaders’ list in 2021 and is a passionate advocate for victim rights and for a fairer and more inclusive world for all. Barry was awarded an Honorary Fellowship to the Institute of Equality and Diversity Professionals in 2022 for his work in the field and has a particular passion for working with communities to explore interfaith and intercultural dialogue. He was invited to join the Board of Directors for Faith Matters Europe in April 2022 to advise on their work in bringing faith communities together across Europe, and acts as a Strategic Advisor to Tell MAMA; countering anti-Muslim and Islamophobic hate and intolerance. He joined the Advisory Board of the Donaldson Trust, supporting neurodiverse communities across Scotland, in June 2022.

Barry was awarded an MBE for services to policing in June 2022.

 

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