Celebrating everyone

Alex Campbell reports on the latest bi-monthly chat that was held on Sep 19th 2024 for our members.

Doyin Araoye spoke to us about her experience in the industry and her grassroots action.

One of the things I love about Colourful Connections is the openness that shines through in every conversation. Though we all come from distinct backgrounds, there are some universal barriers we have all had to overcome, and being able to share the stories of how we have risen to the occasion is incredibly gratifying.

For diverse people in the workforce, having your identity not only acknowledged but honoured can mean a tremendous amount. To know that the people around you can see you for who you are can make all the difference between having a job and feeling like a part of a broader community. Our most recent masterclass, led by Doyin Araoye, a cultural consultant and production coordinator currently working at Blue Zoo, took this idea and unpacked it in a fascinating way – exploring how to actualise the desire to be seen in the workplace from a grassroots level. 

Doyin spoke candidly about navigating the working world as a black woman, and the importance she placed on finding community whilst growing up. The gratifying thing about finding acceptance in community is that, given time, seeing yourself reflected in the environment around you is automatic. When she found, however, that this affirmation was missing in her new environment, she chose to step up and do something about it. What began as a small exchange, simply bringing cultural food into the workplace, began to snowball into a heartwarming recognition of her identity among her colleagues. This wasn’t limited to just one story, as when Doyin moved on to her subsequent jobs, she saw more work needed to be done; stepping up on both counts to make her presence both known and appreciated. 

After Doyin spoke about her journey, the floor was opened for a discussion about how inclusive practices could be implemented and the strides we had taken individually to feel included.

Another tremendous benefit of Colourful Connections is how varied it is in terms of experience. 

I have only recently finished my undergraduate degree, and so to hear this conversation from people who have been a part of the children’s media space in a variety of fields for a number of years provided a critical insight into the work I want to be doing.

The most poignant topic that came up from both Doyin and the rest of Colourful Connections was the importance of becoming an advocate, not only for yourself but for your other coworkers when it comes to being seen. To put your voice forward and actively seek inclusive change can establish a precedent that will not only help you and your current coworkers but reshape the company into a more equitable space for people hoping to join in the future.

Having the confidence to make your voice heard is fundamentally important for employers and employees alike, as it can introduce more ways for everyone to have a seat at the proverbial table. Grassroots movements such as this can be small steps on the road to big changes, and Doyin’s testimony shows that all of us have the power to find our voice on behalf of ourselves and others so that we can all be heard and seen. 

Alex Campbell

Alex Campbell is an emerging creative who has recently graduated first class from the University of Hertfordshire’s BA(Hons) Film and Television Production course. Having gained experience throughout his studies in a variety of developmental and practical skills, he is keen to develop new styles of diverse content with education and entertainment at its core. Find out more at https://alexcampbell250.wixsite.com/film-portfolio