The Ministry of Empowerment and Welcome
The Ministry of Empowerment and Welcome (MEW) has been established to work alongside our community towards a more inclusive, welcoming and empowering environment for everyone, particularly for those who often face exclusion and discrimination.
At its heart, Underland is an event fuelled by whimsy, creativity and play - an opportunity to leave the world behind and come together to connect and explore. But no event exists in a vacuum. If you’ve seen or experienced examples of discrimination or felt excluded within our community, and you’re comfortable talking about it, we’re here to listen, support and learn from you. Let us know if you have questions or ideas about how we can create a safer and more inclusive space within our community and at events.
Underland is an event organised, run and attended by many people, and all people are reflections of the world that has shaped them. Ours is a world that is complex, flawed and embedded with inequality that often creates barriers for people based on who they are, what they can do or who they love. Factors including race; cultural heritage; gender presentation; identity; sexuality; age; ability; or socioeconomic situation, to name a few.
While recognising this is an important first step, inequality does not magically disappear simply because we believe that it’s wrong - it takes deliberate, conscious work to address it, within ourselves and our community.
Which is why we want to hear from you – our community.
Your willingness to share with us will help drive the work towards a more inclusive environment for everyone.
Email mew@commonarts.org.au or message Nicole/ Snail T on Slack. If you’d prefer to have a chat, we can arrange a confidential phone or zoom meeting too.
An introduction to the MEW lead – Nicole / Snail T
Hello! Let me introduce myself – My name is Snail T (she/her/he/him) and I’m the MEW lead. I attended my first Burn event in 2017 and never looked back, engaging through Rangers, Sanctuary, Greeters and Centre Camp at Burns all over the country. Radical Inclusion, Communal Effort and Participation are my favourite principles, and I’m deeply passionate about working together to build a community that welcomes, empowers and supports all people to come, enjoy, engage and roll around in the dust and grass in the safest and most sustainable way possible.
In terms of real-world background and experience – I have degrees in psychology, counselling and social work and am part way through a Ba of International Studies. I have work and volunteer experience in AOD harm reduction, disability support and currently work in violence prevention.