Pathways out of Powerlessness

For GDD 2026, Universal Recognition CIC, Ntulea Africa and the Doughnut Economics Scotland Network will host a global online gathering focused on the scarcity of decision making power experienced at the Centre of the Doughnut. The event will connect Disabled and Global Majority organisers to share lived experience, practical innovation and accessible pathways away from powerlessness.

Designed as a companion to their Scottish in-person event, the online gathering will bring together organisers working across culture, social justice and community organising to explore how economic systems and institutions routinely dismiss the expertise of Global Majority,  Disabled, poor and marginalised folks. Through lived-expertise presentations, community-led discussion and participatory mapping we will examine both the structural causes of economic powerlessness (why this happens) and the creative practices already reshaping systems of oppression (opportunities to disrupt oppressive power structures).

This event will be an opportunity to learn more about alternate, regenerative and just approaches to decision making, collective action and power distribution. Accessibility is woven throughout the event including captioning, accessible resources and facilitation designed with access in mind. Our session is designed by the grassroots communities who experience the shortfall at the centre of the doughnut ensuring that the session format itself reflects the values being discussed.

Who is this event for?

This event is for you if you are:

- A marginalised organiser facing tough times wishing to connect with others.

- An organiser with some decision making power wishing to learn more and help.

About our event

We will host panel presentations followed by workshop activities that you can take part in should you wish to.

Who are our panel?

- Rebecca Lee: Founder of Universal Recognition the Disabled-Led organisation sharing the future ready and sustainable power of co-production and accessibility.

- Joy Njeri: Kenyan Sociologist and African Regenerative Systems Change Doula from Ntulea Africa.

- Ica Headlam: Founder and Director of We Are Here Scotland, an organisation that creates spaces and opportunities with Black and Global Majority people across Scotland's creative industries.

What topics will be presented and shared?

The panel will share:

- Social justice tools and initiatives created by Disabled folks facing hardship and exclusion in Scotland

- Creativity and collective imagination practices from folks facing hardship and poverty in Kenya

- Journeys and initiatives from Global Majority diaspora facing discrimination and inequity in Scotland.

What activities can I take part in at the event and how?

Our event activities will include opportunities to:

- Share your own stories (only if you wish to) of empowerment.

- Listen to other people's stories taking courage, hope or inspiration away with us.

- Learn ways we might recognise and share our decision-making powers.

We will be sharing activities from:

• Universal Recognition’s ‘Vision in the Dark’ project - activities that help us get through tough times together, stopping us from guessing who is the smartest person in the room and helping us receive untapped insights and wisdom from the wise folks we usually miss.
• Ntulea Africa’s ‘Seismic Questions’ a project that creatively changes the questions we ask so that we might unearth better answers together.

Accessibility

- All workshop activities displayed on screen will be an easy-read format with diagrams, pictures and plain English text.
- A plain text version of the workshop activities will be available in the chat.
- You will be able to take part in the workshop activities by speaking, writing on a digital white-board or messaging our host in the chat.
- We will keep written communication in the chat  to a minimum for folks using screen-readers. If you need to use the chat to take-part you will be asked to message the host directly.
- You are welcome to keep your camera off if this is more accessible to you. Please also be aware that some folks on the panel are hard-of-hearing, rely on lip-reading and may not be able to hear you if you speak with your camera off.
- We use metaphore as part of the workshop activities as these can help folks to fully express themselves over tougher topics. We know this approach equally might not suit those who think more literally. We therefore welcome attendees asking the workshop facilitators clarifying questions during the session and will provide alternative activities or questions where possible.
- You are welcome to eat, move and stim during the session.
- We ask that attendees mute yourself during the session unless you are speaking to engage in the activities.
- We are unable to provide BSL for this event. We are planning to record the session and hope to secure funding for a BSL translation to be added to the recording in the future.
- If you are UK based & BSL or ISL is your first language and you would like to take part in the event you could try securing your own BSL or ISL interpreter via access to work. If we are made aware you are attending with your own interpreter we will endeavour to spotlight them for you on the call.   
- Zoom closed captions will be available on the call.
- We are hoping to secure a transcription service for the call so a transcription of the event is available to attendees after the call and upon request.
- We will make folks aware if the call is being transcripted at the beginning of the call. Please do not disclose anything verbally on the call that you do not wish to be public.
- A resource will be made available from the stories collated during the session. This will be hosted on the deal platform in the months after the event. This is intended as a resource that folks can use to evidence of need when advocating for your marginalised community or community’s work with funders or top decision makers. 
- You will need to register for this event in order to attend however spaces are fully funded/free. Please note spaces are limited and may fill up, reserve your space early to avoid disappointment. 


Join us for this blossoming discussion and workshop - We very much look forward to welcoming you on the 21st October 2pm (BST) or 4pm (EAT).

Rebecca, Joy & Ica

Registration link - click here