#15 Diaspora Rising: Community, Creativity and Connection
On 19 September, we had the pleasure of supporting the very first edition of Diaspora Rising, an initiative by Chandler (LouLou Pogi) that brought together performers, artists, makers and community members at Het Textielhuis in Kortrijk.
More than just a cultural event, Diaspora Rising created a warm, inclusive and welcoming space where people could connect, discover new talent, share stories and celebrate creativity together. While the event centred Asian voices and experiences, it also brought together people from a wide range of backgrounds and communities, including many from the queer community.
Throughout the day, visitors enjoyed music, dance, drag performances and an Artist Alley filled with independent artists and makers. It was especially rewarding to see so many familiar faces, with several performers having previously performed at Asian Persuasion events or being connected to our community in different ways.
As a partner, Asian Persuasion supported the project behind the scenes through mentorship, advice and by commissioning the event artwork from an Asian artist within our community: Valentine Zhang. We were also present with our own merch table, where visitors could discover our newest creation: handmade crochet dumplings.
Congratulations to Chandler and everyone involved on a beautiful first edition. Thank you to everyone who performed, created, volunteered, supported and attended. Community grows when people share knowledge, support one another and create opportunities together. We were proud to play a small part in it and can't wait to see how Diaspora Rising continues to grow.
Photos by Joni Sheila
