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AWARENESS

STICKS & STONES as a Safe(r) Space

STICKS & STONES is Europe’s largest job and career fair for LGBTIQ+ and all straight people, who celebrate diversity. A space for the community where diversity and inclusion are the most important values. The fair aims to be a mindful and safe(r) space for all visitors. Awareness is an attitude and therefore a shared responsibility of each and every one! This includes respectfully maintaining everyone’s boundaries and critically questioning and reflecting on our own behaviour.

Discrimination, devaluation, aggressive and transgressive behaviour have absolutely no place at STICKS & STONES, because: All participants should be able to feel safe and comfortable with us, regardless of age, ethnic origin and nationality, gender and gender identity, physical and mental abilities, religion and worldview, sexual orientation and social background.

How can I find the Awareness Team on site?

If you observe or experience an inappropriate situation and would like professional support in dealing with it, please contact the Awareness Team. You can recognise the team members by their yellow vests. You can reach the team at any time at the Awareness Booth.

You can also approach members of the STICKS & STONES crew, who can be recognised by their STICKS & STONES T-shirts. We are happy to provide you with support.

Support & safety:

The presence of the team means that there are always experienced people on site who you can turn to if you feel uncomfortable. You can tell the awareness team about your experiences and count on their confidentiality. You will be taken absolutely seriously: only you know your boundaries and whether they have been exceeded.

If you wish, the people in the awareness team can provide you with needs-based and solution-oriented support, mediate conflicts, intervene on site or recommend advice centres.

The awareness team also has access to a quiet room where they can accompany you if necessary. There you can seek protection and/or rest.

Raising Awareness:

There is broad consensus within our community that we value diversity and want to embrace inclusion. It is therefore important to give marginalised perspectives a voice and to learn from each other. Our awareness team will be happy to provide you with tips on sources of information about the various forms, dimensions and intersectionality of discrimination.

The Queer Mama Awareness Team introduces itself.

“The Queer Mama awareness team stands as an independent group dedicated to promoting safety for the queer Community. We prioritize approachability, conflict mediation, harm reduction and general well-being and strive to create a judgement free environment at events. 

Uplifting marginalized identities is an important part of Queer Mamas core mission, achieved through confronting barriers, sharing perspectives, and fostering education. 

At events we focus on ensuring that all event participants understand the importance of awareness. When faced with situations related to judgment, consent, discrimination, aggression, substance use issues, or distress, the awareness team steps in. Operating with a non-judgmental, non-violent approach, the team prioritizes de-escalation, well-being, and empowerment.”

Your opinion counts - for an even more inclusive event!

We are constantly developing our concept to make STICKS & STONES even more inclusive and inviting every year. Your opinion is particularly important to us! If you would like to give us feedback on your experience with awareness or have ideas on how we can become even more inclusive, we would be delighted to hear from you. You can find the feedback form for Awareness as a QR code at the Awareness booth – your perspective helps us to make the fair even better for everyone!