Reflecting on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Today, March 21, is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. For all of us here at ParriagGroup, this day feels especially close to home. Tackling racism, bias, and inequity head-on is inseparable from our company ethos. In many ways, it’s our raison d'être; as a racialized woman-owned firm, principles of inclusion, acceptance, and fairness are intrinsically linked to our mission, our values, and the lens that we bring to every project, partnership, and conversation.

Much of our work in research, evaluation, education, and organizational change focuses on embodying and embedding anti-racist principles in our work and lives. That doesn’t always appear dramatic from the outside. Most of the time, it looks like sitting down for the uncomfortable conversations, laying the groundwork for understanding through training, and offering opportunities for those who aren’t always heard to speak their mind freely. In these quiet moments, people begin to see things differently than before, and this often serves as the catalyst for meaningful change.

One of the things we frequently encounter when delivering training is people’s preconceived notions of what racism looks like in practice. But racism isn’t always loud or obvious. Often, it manifests through lowered expectations, assumptions about who can or will succeed, whose voices are taken seriously, or whose experiences are dismissed. It can be found in seemingly neutral policies that produce unequal outcomes, or in daily interactions that gradually perpetuate exclusion. Recognizing this isn’t about assigning blame, it’s about taking accountability and embracing the opportunity to learn, evolve, and do better.

It’s not uncommon for someone to say, “But I’m not racist,” early in a session and believe it wholeheartedly. These teaching moments aren’t always easy, and they’re not necessarily meant to be. Some of the most meaningful feedback we receive comes from participants telling us how a session has changed their view of their work, their organization, or even their own behaviour. By offering them the space and tools to reflect, learn, and recognize patterns in their own sphere, we empower them to keep this important work going. And that matters.

Anti-racist practice endures through the tangible, everyday efforts to combat discrimination. Change doesn’t only occur through public declarations or grand gestures. It happens when organizations are willing to scrutinize the systems they operate within – to look at hiring decisions, program design, data collection, and how they respond to inequities as they surface. It starts when we invite everyone into the conversation and embrace opportunities for difficult, vulnerable, and honest discussions.

As we think about the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we are reminded that this work isn’t sustained by hollow promises or one-time commitments. It’s ongoing and requires humility, curiosity, and a willingness to move beyond intentions toward action. Today, and every day, we remain committed to this cause – not only in our client interactions but also internally as a company. We humbly acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers and welcome the opportunity to grow through those challenging and rewarding moments where real change happens.