October will be a packed month for the ORAM team. ORAM will present at several conferences and workshops, participate in panel discussions, and host a fundraising event! Collaboration with other organizations, NGOs, corporations, and other key stakeholders is critical for ORAM to empower LGBTIQ refugees and asylum seekers globally. Participating in events allows more people to learn about our work and help us connect with more queer asylum seekers and refugees who could benefit from our programs.
Pictured: a group photo from a two-day roundtable discussion ORAM hosted on the continued support need for LGBTIQ Ukrainians.
Below is a brief rundown of where you can find ORAM around the world this month:
TGEU European and Central Asian Trans Council 2022 (Berlin, Germany) September 29 through October 2: Camille Ogoti, ORAM's Ukraine Program Manager, will attend the TGEU European and Central Asian Trans Council in Berlin! The Council meets every two years to set an agenda for trans politics and celebrate the trans community.
Out & Equal Workplace Summit (Las Vegas, NV) October 17 through 20: ORAM is proud to have been selected as a featured presenter for Out & Equal's Workshop Summit! At the largest LGBTIQ conference in the world with over 5,000 attendees, ORAM will be presenting on our partnerships with Airbnb.org, Deutsche Bank, and Alight for our Ukraine Response Program.
ILGA-Europe’s Annual Conference (Sofia, Bulgaria) October 19 through 22: ORAM will be at ILGA-Europe's annual conference! This year's conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, will be the first one in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference is a time for LGBTIQ activists to connect to discuss moving the collective work of the European and Central Asian LGBTIQ community forward. ORAM will be especially engaged on the topic of support for displaced LGBTIQ Ukrainians.
(Minneapolis, MN) October 27: At this fundraiser, ORAM's supporters in Minneapolis will raise funds to empower LGBTIQ refugees. We are honored to be joined by Madrine Nanyonjo, a queer refugee who fled Uganda for Kenya, where they met ORAM. If you live in the Minneapolis area and are interested in attending, RSVP here.
Pictured: Madrine Nanyonja, who will be speaking at "A Celebration of Courage" in Minneapolis.
Other conferences we are attending include:
The Alliance by McKinsey & Company (Athens, Greece) October 20 through 22: The Alliance, a global network of LGBTIQ leaders from the public, private, and social sectors who are committed to progress on issues facing the LGBTIQ community, is hosting their annual summit outside of Athens, Greece! Topics covered will include inclusion in the workplace, intersectionality within the LGBTIQ community, and LGBTIQ migration in light of recent geopolitical insecurity. ORAM’s Senior Program Manager, Anja Limon, will present, and ORAM’s Board Chair, Rajiv Desai, will be in attendance!
The ORAM team is excited to attend these events to collaborate, connect, and create strategies to empower and provide excellent service to LGBTIQ refugees and asylum seekers worldwide. If you are attending any of these conferences, summits, meetings, or fundraisers, please find us and say hello!