“Inclusion” and “diversity” are buzzwords thrown around by companies (and beyond) constantly. It’s not uncommon for companies to claim diversity and inclusion without explaining what that actually looks like in practice. But what do these two terms mean from the perspective of BIWOC* and TIN*BIPOC, and what do workplaces require to be genuinely inclusive and diverse? The Journey of Courage Summit next Saturday (10.02.2024) at Ayoka in Kreuzberg will explore precisely these questions. (Quick explanation: BIWOC* stands for Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color; TIN*BIPOC stands for Trans*, Inter*, and Non-Binary People of Color.) The summit — initiated by Brave Spaces 2.0 — is an intersectional event hosted by and for people affected by discrimination. Leni Charles (Kids of the Diaspora), Beatrice Angut Lorika Oola (Fashion Africa Now), and Ouassima Laabich (Muslim Futures) are among those taking part in the event. The moderator at AYOKA — a Black Owned Business — will be ShaNon Bobinger. Gambian cuisine will be provided by Am Agie Njie, who is soon to launch her own catering business, Eat. Africa. The idea for this event originated at BIWOC* Rising. Former pilot and founder Loubna Messaoudi knows from her own experience how difficult it is for children of the migrant diaspora in Germany to navigate educational institutions and workplaces despite systematic and structural discrimination.
With her company, Loubna wanted to create a place and space where the economic, social, and career participation of TIN*BIPOC and BIWOC* is strengthened. Among other things, the BIWOC* Rising team offers anti-bias training for companies that want to build more inclusive structures. The Brave Spaces 2.0 project hosts events and workshops for TIN*BIPOC and BIWOC* entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and freelancers and provides them with a database of helpful resources and a growing network of founders of color. You’ll hear many, many terms, not just buzzwords, but important language that makes discrimination visible and opposable at this unmissable event.
Text: Hanna Komornitzyk / Photos: Ayoka, Marc Moudi & Ina Aydogan
AYOKA Event Space, Friedrichstr.182, 10117 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
The Journey of Courage Summit, 10.02.2024 9–18h. You can buy tickets here.
@bravespaces2.0
