On the 30th January 2025, ROTA was immensely proud to launch, at a well-attended event, our first report emanating from the work of our Peer Researchers who had been conducting innovative research around the themes of education and employment and how racial inequities affect their communities in these areas.
The ROTA Community Research Partnership (RCRP) is the flagship new partnership initiative from Race On the Agenda (ROTA). This three year project has been enabled through funding from City Bridge Foundation via Propel. During the life of this project, ROTA will recruit, train and support the independent peer researchers to conduct race equity research within their communities focusing on different themes for each of the three annual cohorts.
The attendees at the event were able to bear witness to the findings that were presented by the peer researchers in which they spoke about the need for urgent practice and policy reforms across the schools, universities, and employment sectors, particularly for marginalized women and others facing additional, intersectional inequities. The outcomes from the peer researchers, in their own words were ground breaking and powerful.
The launch event was even more special, as it was ROTA’s new incoming CEO first day at work and what a day to start a new job! And Matt was able to add invaluable contribution to not only the project but the work of the peer researchers.
To say that we are proud of our peer researchers who produced such powerful data and testimony for those who formed part of their studies, is an understatement. It is encouraging to also learn and hear that the peer researchers will take their research to make systems change to ensure racial equity.
We are now organising and looking forward in receiving our next cohort which will start at the end of March 2025. The topic area for this second cohort will be centered on Housing and Mental health, so please a look out on our social media, emails and newsletter for when the applications will open for recruitment.
You can download ROTA Community Research Partnership Report 2024: Education and Employment here.