Space for EVRyone: Introducing… Mamood
Mamood is the founder of The Anti-Discrimination Focus (#TADF). #TADF is a community who champion inclusive and non-oppressive ways of working among mental health therapists and other helping professions. #TADF – in partnership with EVR – hosts our cultural competence training for health and support professionals who work with ESEA people. Mamood is our trusted ally in opposing anti-ESEA hate, including racism.
1. What is your heritage?
My heritage is Kashmiri Punjabi; second generation British by way of south London.
2. What reflections and experiences led you to partner The Anti-Discrimination Focus (#TADF) with EVR?
I had heard of EVR from social media and then received a call on need for cultural competence for mental health practitioners. EVR’s ethos and campaigning in this area were a natural fit as the central aim of #TADF is to change the core curriculum to reflect wholeness. That is for all mental health practitioners to have embedded cultural competence training throughout the curriculum (not as a tag-on; a separate and small module). In this vision we have 12 dimensions which are embedded such as culture, influences, intersectionality, power dynamics, social structure, and worldviews. These dimensions run across all the curriculum such as in developing the working alliance, assessment, skills, setting up a practice and in tuning in the relationship. They are relevant to all clients.
3. What does antiracism mean to you?
It simply means reforming systems, hearts, and minds. I also recognise how much work I must do in myself to not replay that within my own and other cultures and especially anti-black racism.
4. What is your favourite thing about your heritage?
A lot! First thing: the language. Punjabi can be quiet a playful language and I enjoy the humour that it brings. It’s a chance to disembody totally from a western context and return to my ancestors' roots. I love the intrinsic collective nature of family and friends within community where people can often step in for you when needed. I could go on… My personal outlook is also influenced by East Asian culture in the way of Wing Chun martial arts which are a lifelong intrinsic part of my life.
5. What are your hopes for the future.
Professionally it's to reset training in psychological practice at the very least. #TADF is an ambitious project. I am writing a book which I feel is really important to make psychological practice whole but it is complex/exciting/scary/tiring/long and fresh look at practice.
For EVR I hope to strengthen ties and support future campaigns such as visibility in psychological professions. I also see a vision to bring PGM(*) and ESEA people who are passionate about the work to become part of the #TADF community or create their own training organisation, as it has to be massively scalable and sustainable to have a significant impact.
*PGM = people of the global majority.
You can learn more about Mamood’s work at The Anti-Discrimination Focus’s website. His book on 12 cultural factors embedded within individuals’ sense of self will come out in September 2023.
