Learn. Connect. Grow. Issue 23.
WE CREATE SPACE
A Community-Led Learning Platform, Consultancy and Network of Leaders driving Social Innovation.
?? Intersectional Resources for creating Queer Inclusive Work Spaces. ??
Welcome back to another issue of “Learn. Connect. Grow.”
This week we’re excited to share our new downloadable DEI Cultural Calendar for 2025! This resource is great for helping you plan diverse and inclusive events throughout the year.
It’s Black History Month in the UK, so check out our article from Ashley Marshall about the physical and emotional labour asked of Black employees, the importance of self-preservation and rest as resistance. We also have a new article spotlighting our collaboration with The Festival of Consciousness in Barcelona this summer.
Keep scrolling for invites to upcoming events online and in London, as well as resources on lesbian inclusion, leadership and racism in healthcare.
Wishing you a lovely rest of your week,
Michael Stephens?(he/they)
Founder of We Create Space
WCS FEATURE:
Our 2025 DEI Cultural Calendar.
Your road map to facilitating inclusive conversations in 2025.
Our?Cultural Calendar?collects key dates, awareness days and Pride seasons for the LGBTQIA+ Community, People of Colour, Disabled and Neurodivergent Communities and more. It’s an essential piece of kit to keep your DEI diary up to date!
WCS FEATURE:
Rest & Resistance in Black History Month.
Ashley Marshall reflects on the labour demanded of Black change-makers and makes the argument for rest as a radical act.
“It is politically different when Black bodies are at rest. So used to constant strain, it is an act of radical self-care to rest, because our lives, and our future generations depend on it… Businesses can support this by realizing what is their work, and not the work of the community experiencing pain or tragedy. Grant requests for time off in a timely manner, realize the ontology behind oppression, and that seeing it done to one of us affects all of us.” - Ashley Marshall
WCS EVENTS: ONLINE
Global Queer Speed Networking.
Join us this afternoon for another online networking event!
We’re bringing our popular Queer Speed Networking events to a new online format so even more Queer Professionals can join and connect!
We'll also be joined for this event by guest speaker Damiana Ventura , social micro-entrepreneur and cultural producer from Brazil. She is the executive and creative director of Rio Queer, a travel guide offering tours, experiences and travel consultancy in Rio de Janeiro. She also leads The L Culture, a virtual community bringing together women and non-binary people from all over the world.
Join us on Tuesday 8th October : 4PM BST | 5PM CET!
WCS NEWS:
WCS x Festival of Consciousness.
Bringing Queer perspectives to an international audience in Barcelona.
This summer we partnered with The Festival of Consciousness in Barcelona to deliver three events as part of the festival's annual programme, with the aim of exposing the FoC’s audience to the new ideas and fresh perspectives that our Queer lens could provide, contributing to their goal of fostering human evolution through transformation, knowledge, discernment, and self-exploration.
WCS TESTIMONIALS:
WCS x Experian.
It’s LGBTQ+ History Month so we're throwing it back to this session on LGBTQ+ history in tech that we held for Experian earlier this year. We love being able to take a topic like Queer history and tailor it for each business we work with. In this conversation we were able to dive deeper into the lives of LGBTQ+ icons like Alan Turing, Lynn Conway, Nergis Mavalvala and Sophie Wilson whose contributions have shaped the face of tech as we know it. Of course, we can only bring these subjects to life with the help of incredible collection of 300+ speakers - like Cécile Deprez and Raga D'silva !
Did you know? 62% of employees believed that employers should dedicate more effort to DEI given the current period of economic uncertainty.
Interested in booking a similar session? Get in touch at [email protected] ??
WCS EVENTS: LONDON
Queer Speed Networking hits London!
Our first Queer Speed Networking event in London is sold out, so we recommend you get signed up for the next one sooner rather than later!
We’ll be returning to Mama Shelter for another informal evening of speed-networking and making new connections on 19th November. Whether you're an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, artist, professional, or simply looking to expand your social circle here in London, we’re sure you’ll leave having met some exciting new people!
WCS EVENTS: LONDON
Queer Women in Business.
After a successful launch we’re returning to London for another Queer Women in Business Meet Up on the 7th November!
Hosts Sevi K. ???? and Coda Nicolaeff will be joined by guest Char Erskine , a DEI professional who works in the legal sector. Char is a Black, queer, non-binary and neurodivergent person of Antiguan and Jamaican heritage. They live with late-diagnosed ADHD and long-term mental health battles and share their lived experience at the intersection of all these things to drive conversation, curiosity, and authentic connection between people.
WCS EVENTS: ONLINE
‘Queer Living’ Webinars.
Last week our ‘Queer Living’ webinar series continued with a discussion of bodily autonomy, legal recognition for non-binary people and allyship across social movements. Catch up with the full recording above!
Make sure to sign up for the rest of the sessions and join us for real lived experiences, powerful conversation and to have your burning questions answered by our speakers!
?? Queerness, Finance & Mental Health | 15th October
Guest speakers: Travers Johnson & Jamie Lowe ??????????
?? Queerness & Access to Healthcare | 29th October
Guest speakers: Eva Echo & Coda Nicolaeff
???????? Queerness, Employment & Careers | 12th November
Guest speakers: Lucia Blayke & Jon-Paul Vicari (He/Him)
?? Queerness & Nature | 26th November
Guest speakers: Santo Tripodi & ora ?zer
?? Queerness & Chosen Families | 10th December
Guest speakers: Saba Ali FRSA & Neil Hudson-Basing
WCS SPEAKER SHOWCASE:
Our Collective.
The We Create Space Collective is constantly growing and features 300+ speakers from a variety of backgrounds, all of whom are ready to enrich and inspire you with their stories and perspectives. From seasoned corporate voices to fresh grass-roots perspectives, we can match you with the perfect speaker for your needs.
Email [email protected] to book a speaker. ??
Featuring: Kayus Fernander , Roxy Murray , Calvin Stovell , Nadu Placca Rodriguez , Kanndiss Riley , Gatonga Theuri (He, Him) , Char Bailey , Tashan Nicholas and Yasmin Benoit /
WCS REMINDER:
Our Resources.
Our website is packed full of free articles, webinars, think-pieces and podcast episodes to educate and inspire you on a wide range of topics related to DEI, LGBTQ+ issues, workplace allyship and more. Resources for Pride, and Beyond.
Lesbian Visibility: Inclusion for Families Like Ours.
Tash Koster-Thomas shares the challenges of navigating pregnancy and parenthood as a lesbian couple in a heteronormative world.
Woman to Woman: Lessons from a Lesbian Executive.
Transgender activist Eva Echo poses questions to lesbian executive Nancy J. Di Dia, PCC on gender equity in the workplace, trans allyship and finding new life in retirement.
Black, Fat-Bodied and Agender.
Thokozani Mbwana a reflects on the internal and external challenges faced on their journey through gender affirming surgery - exploring dysphoria and intersectional stigma at the heart of the health care system
Chief Executive Officer | Global Leadership Development and Impact
1 个月Very informative! Especially love the #DEI Cultural Calendar, a must download. Thank you WE CREATE SPACE