People arrive at our movement for many reasons.
Sometimes it’s after seeing racism play out close to home. Sometimes it’s after a national moment that leaves you unsettled, angry, or searching for something better. People don’t usually arrive at anti-racism work by accident, they arrive because something has made staying silent feel impossible. The North East Anti-Racism Coalition (NEARC) exists because racism is not abstract, it shapes lives, communities, institutions, and opportunities across our region every day. NEARC is a collective made up of individuals, grassroots groups, community organisations, employers, and allies – all committed to doing the long, necessary work of building an anti-racist North East.
Being part of this movement doesn’t require perfection, expertise, or having the right words at all times. What it does require is honesty, openness, and a willingness to stay engaged. Anti-racism is not about declaring yourself “one of the good ones” or distancing yourself from harm. It asks people to examine where harm occurs and what role they play in challenging or maintaining it. In practice, anti-racism looks different depending on where you stand and what power you hold. For some, it means questioning workplace policies that quietly exclude. For others, it’s about challenging misinformation when it circulates unchecked. Sometimes it’s about listening, really listening to experiences that are uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Often, it’s about learning and unlearning at the same time.
This movement is not fast or simple, there will be moments of discomfort. There will be disagreements. There will be times when you realise you’ve got something wrong. That’s not a failure, it’s part of the work. What matters is how we respond: with accountability, care, and a commitment to do better next time. Being part of NEARC doesn’t mean you have to do everything. Participation can look like many things: attending movement meetings, reading and sharing our blogs, supporting campaigns, contributing skills, or simply staying informed and connected. Some people show up publicly, others work quietly behind the scenes. All of it matters. What sustains a movement is not constant visibility, but consistent commitment.
At its heart, NEARC is about collective responsibility. No single person or group carries this alone, the work is shaped by lived experience, strengthened through collaboration, and held together by care for those most affected by racism. We believe change happens when people come together across difference, stay in relationship, and refuse to let division define our region. If you’re new here, you don’t need to have everything figured out and you don’t need the perfect language or a clear plan. What matters is that you’re here, willing to learn, and prepared to play your part, however small it may feel in building something better.
This is slow work. It is necessary work. And it is work we do together.
Welcome to the movement.