TORONTO — Grassroots organization Let’s Get Uncomfortable (LGU) is inviting travel and tourism professionals to attend its third event in a series titled, ‘Confronting Anti-Black Racism in Travel & Tourism’, taking place Oct. 27 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ET).
Following two successful virtual panel discussions this past summer – one in July that focused on acknowledging and addressing the realities of anti-Black racism in travel and tourism, and another in August that looked at change and action – this Oct. 27 event will be a one-on-one conversation between LGU’s Shalene Dudley, Founder of Latitude Concierge Travels, and Mpuuga Rwabutara, Senior Account Executive at Flight Centre Travel Group and the organization’s newly appointed Diversity Ambassador.
Travel professionals interested in attending can secure tickets here.
In a 60-minute conversation, Dudley and Rwabutara will discuss this new role at Flight Centre Travel Group and its significance; the work Rwabutara is doing as a result; and what other travel professionals and organizations can learn and implement in their own work. The following 30 minutes post-conversation will be dedicated to addressing questions from attendees, which can be submitted throughout the event or in advance at this link.
“The discussion is meant to be a natural progression in the series thus far, which initially focused on acknowledging and addressing the realities of anti-Black racism in travel and tourism, followed by a theme of change and action which offered steps and resources tourism organizations should consider in anti-racist practice,” said Dudley. “Next week’s exchange will go one step further in uncovering what this anti-racist work can look like in its early stages, in hopes other industry professionals might find key takeaways to apply in their businesses, whether from organizational or client-facing perspectives.”
“It isn’t about assigning blame or making sure that we’re falsely exhibiting political correctness for the sake of it,” adds Rwabutara. “It’s about looking for the good in people, regardless of our differences.”
At least one more Let’s Get Uncomfortable event will be announced before the end of the year, though the organization says followers can expect calls to action through letter writing campaigns and social media activities in the meantime. Updates about future initiatives can be accessed by joining LGU’s Facebook page.
Industry professionals interested in being part of the organizing committee can e-mail letsgetuncomfortableevent@
