An Afternoon of Stories and Conversation About Overlapping Discrimination

On November 3, the wooden building renovation center “Koka Rīga” invites Riga residents to an afternoon of stories and conversation about overlapping discrimination. The event will feature personal stories from people who have experienced discrimination because of age, gender, disability, and the prejudices of those around them. This will help us get to know our fellow people better and their invisible everyday obstacles and difficulties.

The event will take place on November 3 at “Koka Rīga”, Krāsotāju iela 12, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Participation is free of charge, with prior registration by filling out the form by November 3 at 12:00 p.m.

The event is part of the Ministry of Welfare campaign “Lower the Threshold,” which is being implemented with support from the European Union funds and in cooperation with the “DOTS” foundation.

The evening of stories will be like a “living library,” where two people from the local community will share their stories of encountering overlapping discrimination because of a person’s age, gender, and/or disability, for example in the labor market, when receiving services, attending cultural events, in education, or in interactions with others. Overlapping discrimination is a situation where a person simultaneously faces discrimination because of several characteristics, and these factors overlap.

After the “living libraries,” participants will join dialogue circles on overlapping discrimination, a conversation method developed in Latvia by the “DOTS” foundation. It helps people better understand one another by building mutual trust and openness to different views. The goal of dialogue is not to prove one’s own viewpoint right or to seek consensus, but to create an environment in which new insights and solutions emerge while maintaining respectful attitudes and human connection. This time, participants will jointly discuss what discrimination is, how it develops, and what each of us can do to help reduce or prevent such situations.

About accessibility and getting there

“Koka Rīga” is accessible to people with mobility impairments. The entrance to the building is on the courtyard side from Krāsotāju iela, and there is a ramp at the entrance. The building has adapted restrooms for people with disabilities. There is free parking in the courtyard with a limited number of spaces, and cars can also be parked in paid parking spaces on nearby streets, including Krāsotāju and Lienes iela. The center is also accessible by public transport operated by “Rīgas satiksme”; nearby stops include “Krāsotāju iela” (bus 11, 22) and “Lienes iela” (trolleybus 5, 13, 22).

About the campaign

The goal of the “Lower the Threshold” campaign is to raise public awareness of overlapping discrimination, reduce prejudice, and strengthen equal opportunities, with particular attention to balancing work and private life. The campaign is carried out by the Ministry of Welfare with support from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) within project No.

• 4.3.4.3/1/24/I/001 “Evaluations for the Improvement of Evidence-Based Social Policy.” Over the course of two years, free educational, informational, and experience-building events for anyone interested will take place throughout Latvia. Project oversight is provided by the Central Finance and Contracting Agency.

More information is available on the campaign website nolaidslieksni.lv.