Welcome to the 222nd episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. November is all about parenting with equity and well-being in mind. Today we are focussing on cross-cultural parenting and to join me is Carolina Albuerne Rodriguez.

About my guest

With 20 years dedicated to the third sector, I've been a steadfast advocate for human rights, specialising in issues like refugee protection, human trafficking, torture, and access to justice.

My academic journey, marked by a focus on Postcolonial Literature and a Post Graduate Diploma in Conflict, Security, and Development, laid the groundwork for my deep understanding of complex challenges.

A pivotal achievement in my career was leading the Good Practice and Partnerships Team at Refugee Action—the first infrastructure-dedicated team in the UK to cater to the needs of the refugee and migrant sector.

This initiative built capacity within third-sector organisations and integrated collaboration, early action and access to justice whilst driving systemic change.

In various roles, from volunteer to board chair, I've gained a holistic perspective on the not-for-profit sector. Fundraising and project development have been integral to my journey, showcasing my commitment to driving meaningful change.

My passion lies in co-creating transformative strategies for secure, stable, and agile organisations. Over seven years, I've supported a team working with 300+ organisations across the UK, providing valuable insights into the sector's challenges and opportunities.

My mission is to foster change, bringing organisations and funders together for a future prepared and eager to embrace positive transformation.

In today’s show

• About Carolina and what being a parent means to her. [02:30]
• Her thoughts around parenting cross-culturally. [06:36]
• What the term “anti-racist parenting” means to her. [13:59]
• Some things workplaces can do to discuss and create safe spaces for cross-cultural parenting. [20:53]
• Her top three mental health tips. [26:23]

Quotes

• Parenting for me is unique.
• There are loads of pros and cons of being a solo parent.
• Language has been very important in bringing up my son.
• I’m very used to a lot more diversity.
• There’s still very little employers are doing to support parents.

Resources

• Follow Carolina on LinkedIn and Twitter
• Join my Mailing List and receive my free e-book here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health

Work with me

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC