As outlined in our action, the work of Colored Qollective can be divided into four main pillars:
- Community-building and care
- Collective action, advocacy, and visibility
- Network and coalition-building
- Knowledge-sharing and awareness-raising
For a detailed overview of the specific activities carried out the past year, read the current report on activities carried out.
Community-building and care
Colored Qollective currently works on three main initiatives under community-building and care, each with its own team that forms the broader Core Team: Safe(r) Spaces, POCQunity, and the Utrecht Trans Clinic.
Safe(r) Spaces
Safe(r) Space gatherings are monthly gatherings providing a space for racialised queer people to come together, find each other, and to be and embrace ourselves.
POCQunity
POCQunity is an initiative in cooperation with the municipality of Utrecht and GGD region Utrecht to provide free (anonymous) psychosocial counselling to individuals from racialised queer communities.
Utrecht Trans Clinic
The Utrecht Trans Clinic is an initiative set up with the municipality of Utrecht and GGD region Utrecht to provide accessible and inclusive (anonymous) transcare to the most marginalised communities.
Collective action, advocacy, and visibility
Throughout the year, we co-organise or take part in various collective actions, such as demonstrations, protests, and marches. We also draft, coordinate, or sign petitions, statements, and manifestos that advocate for the rights and interests of our communities.
We aim to take part in Pride every year, including having our own boat at the Utrecht Canal Pride, to make our communities be heard and seen loudly and proudly.
Network and coalition-building
ILGA
Colored Qollective is a proud member of ILGA. We regularly take part in initiatives of ILGA, incorporate their funding in our initiatives, and make use of the knowledge, expertise, tools, and resources they share with us.
Alliantie Jong Gelijk
In 2023, Colored Qollective, alongside Rutgers, the Dutch Youth Council, Femmes for Freedom, and Plattelandsjongeren (Rural Youth), officially launched the Alliantie Jong Gelijk, a 5-year research project committed to research and advocacy focusing on young people. Alliantie Jong Gelijk is a powerful and unique, new composition of different organisations working for diverse young target groups in the Netherlands.
Colored Qollective supports the alliance’s various interventions, including a research project in the 2023-2024 academic year focused on gender and sexuality expression of young people.
Other partnerships
Additionally, Colored Qollective works together with various organisations and civil society on initiatives and events throughout the year. These range from workshops, to the aforementioned collective actions and petitions, to events and conferences, to parties and social events.
Knowledge-sharing and awareness-raising
Our yearly symposium
Colored Qollective aims to organise a symposium every year in collaboration with various partners and speakers to share our knowledges and expertises with the public. The Symposium Working Group brainstorms and plans them.
Trainings and workshops
Colored Qollective provides trainings and workshops to professionals, schools and universities, cultural sensitivity and intersectionality bodies, and other organisations and civil society on areas where our Core Team has lived experiences and/or expertise in. These include DEI, racial sensitivity and cultural sensitivity, and active bystander trainings.
Expert meetings
We also take part in various expert meetings, roundtables, stakeholder meetings, knowledge community meetings, and other efforts throughout the year to ensure that our voices are heard and knowledges are shared.