,An insight into Our #WaysOfWorking
A Collaborative Poetry Activity with Raisa Hassan
Welcome, to a summary sharing how Raisa Hassan, Poet and Safeguarding Expert at Active Inclusion, organised and ran a collaborative poetry activity Our #WaysOfWorking.
The activity was designed to explore person-centred approaches to employment equity, resulting in two co-produced poems created by anonymous participation of 50 people at What’s a ‘Happy’ Workplace Unconference. The activity, was held on July 23, 2024, at Clifford Chance in London.
The goal was to help attendees understand person-centered ways of working and communication, creating fairer workplaces for themselves and their colleagues.
About the Activity
The audience consisted of 50 people from a variety of organisations, including the Greater London Authority, local councils, businesses, charities, and academics. The activity was in two sections and ran for an hour.
Throughout the session, participants were considered “Team Buddies,” working together to explore shared experiences with empathy at the core.
The activity was rooted in the idea that everyone is a “book with different pages, chapters, and individual stories”. Participants were invited to acknowledge how their “Ways of Working” are influenced by various factors, such as personal lives, the economy, politics, and societal attitudes, particularly stigma and inequity. .
Activity Structure and Expectations
The session was guided by poet Raisa Hassan and was designed to be a safe and voluntary space for all participants.
Everyone was encouraged to participate as much or as little as they wanted—from observing to taking part fully. They could also leave the room for a break at any time.
During the activity, Raisa first shared her personal poem, “Disposable,” and then led the groups in creating two collaborative poems. These were based on the themes: “What we wish we knew” and “Disabled Worklife”.
Disposable
by Raisa Hassan
I thought I’d be coming home again,
But I found myself sat in the unwelcome chair at the table.
I actually do understand you.
I’m literally just trying to do my job, like you.
Piercing eyes – you stare
You have questions – but you assume that “I don’t understand”.
I make my presence known, and then
Making me angry is considered “entertainment”.
Do you enjoy hurting me?
Constantly being told that I’m “different”, “Demanding“.
I can see “what does she want now?“ All over your faces.
Sure. I need help – all I’m asking is
Basic humanity – not law restrictions or something that leads to burdening resentment.
I wonder who would catch me if I fell,
Not just physically – because obviously, you don’t want to get sued.
It’s clear to me what your priorities really are.
I often think:
Would you throw a party if I died? – Knowing that I will no longer be “breathing down your necks“?
Sometimes I forget my own body’s limits.
Sometimes there’s no leeway or compromise – no means no!
Sensitive, but firm in my beliefs and moral compass –
You literally don’t understand my endgame.
Trying to be sensible through sensory overload –
My head is trying not to explode.
I pretend that I’m ok.
Mocked, gaslit, and straight up insulted.
Interrupted, time and time again.
You don’t even let me finish what I want to say,
You don’t even try to see what I see.
I am your definition of “diversity” – Muslim, young, female, a disabled person with lived experience, and a Hijabi. is that good enough for you?
What are your motives?
I knew I was stabbed in the back, spiked and set up for failure – in order to not be able to keep up with your ruthless games from day one,
Do you really believe that I won’t ever pick up on or forget your unnecessary bullshit? Ha!
You leave me thinking:
Is that the whole truth?
What are you not telling me?
Reading between the lines,
Reading words and their dangerous nuances, images, body language, expressions.
I listen attentively, taking it all in.
I speak my mind in response.
You smile at me, thinking I’m naive,
And I definitely used to be.
But not anymore.
I always work so hard.
Nothing has changed.
Surrounded by ungrateful bastards.
Which begs the question:
Who deserves better?
Will it get better?
When will it get better?
How will it get better?
I know that my work here is not finished yet.
My personal parameters of definitely moving on haven’t been met yet.
As the only disabled adult in the building – I know for a fact that
There are no safe hands to pass the baton of my complex role onto.
There should be.
Disabled – or otherwise.
I’d probably have to find that person myself someday.
My heart is always full of ice and dread, even when a notification pops up.
Countless constant internal fluctuation wars.
The stress levels have peaked.
I don’t know which words will come out of your mouth –
I simply don’t trust you.
Some lead with their heart.
Some lead with their head.
I consciously lead with both – for me they go hand in hand.
I have no choice – it’s the safest way to adapt and survive.
Don’t you see?
The words we choose to say, matter.
The tone, matters.
The context, matters.
It doesn’t really matter how I say this –
When will you be bothered to listen?
I won’t be holding my breath any time soon.
I give up.
But – I genuinely, and desperately, want to know:
What am I doing wrong?
What did I do to warrant this constant barrage of abuse?
Why am I so disposable?
Copyright, all rights reserved. Not be used, amended, distributed, published, duplicated without permission. Author and copyright with Raisa Hassan 2022.
The Workshop
Participants worked in four small groups, with one person in each group assigned as a “scriber” to record the collective responses. The materials for the tasks included worksheets, notebooks, pens, and personal tech tools.
The activity aimed to help attendees learn to change attitudes towards a person-centered approach to inclusion in employment. Participants were expected to become co-producers by taking part, creating new connections, and having agency in themselves and providing it for others through active listening and co-production.
Communication
To ensure effective communication, participants were asked to speak slowly and clearly, directing their speech to the BSL Live interpreters and microphones.
A “wooden spoon” was also used as a signal to politely ask speakers to slow down or to indicate when sensitive topics were being discussed, prompting a mindful approach.
After the poetry session, a half-hour summary session allowed for reflection on the day, with key speakers sharing their thoughts.
What We Created Together
Two poems were made during the fun but serious activity to tell the stories and feelings of the people who were there. Everyone worked together, but anonymously to be creative and honest about their experiences.
We are happy to share these poems with everyone. We’ve given them a special permission called a Creative Commons Licence (CC BY-NC-ND), which means you can read and use them. You can even use them with your friends at work to learn about how to be fair and kind to each other.
If you want to know more or want our help to create your own projects, please get in touch with us. We believe in a rule called #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs, which means we work
‘with‘ you, not ‘for’ you. Everyone has the right to be treated fairly at work.