This village within a city, as locals describe it, came to global attention again last month when Elon Musk amplified anti-immigrant misinformation about an incident allegedly involving a 12-year-old girl who was charged with being in possession of offensive weapons. Scotland's first minister John Swinney accused the multibillionaire X owner of undermining community cohesion after he shared widely circulated video footage of the incident.
It was a shock to someone who grew up with a sense of solidarity between Black Caribbean and Irish immigrants I've always had an affinity for Irish culture. Yes, in that irritatingly reductive, romanticised way that everyone who isn't Irish seems to. But also in a way that, for a number of reasons, has long felt deeply meaningful. Rooted in strong familial bonds. In overlapping histories. In trust.
What happened yesterday was extraordinary - people of all ages and backgrounds came together to walk, run, cheer, donate and volunteer. It was beyond anything we could have imagined. It shows that even when the situation feels overwhelming, hope can grow when a community comes together and that each of us has the power to step forward and make a meaningful difference.
The urgent work of survival often edges out space for strategic visioning, but if nonprofits and activists are to thrive, they must dream different ways of living.
"What knits our communities together is the opportunity to hear each other, to hear differences of opinion, to understand how we're different and how we're similar, and that's what builds the ground on which democracy can grow."
IDAHOBIT, recognized since 2004, aims to highlight violence and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals, fostering community support and advocacy in diverse environments.
