From Me to YOU: A Personal Testimonial About Our Diversity Series

In my universe, I've always thought about creating something that resonates with people. I've recently understood that's my way of communicating. And I really believe the world needs more of us than we think.

The architecture of connection is a complex labyrinth, where each corridor intertwines between emotions and experiences. However, no matter how much we wish to build bridges between our personalities and those of others, we often encounter invisible walls that seem difficult to break.

Besides connection, I wanted to create something that could be representative — a piece of different stories, and visions — to give focus to diversity and ensure that different voices are heard and valued. "YOU" is a project about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Essentially, it's a series where we navigate through different topics of Diversity to bring awareness and create impact, both inside and outside the Tribe.

Building the Framework

With the help of Margarida Gato, I managed to form a skeleton that encompassed some themes I wanted to explore, and we quickly thought of the right people to address certain topics. Writing the message to send to each of these people was difficult. I didn't use ChatGPT, just my anxious-brain-afraid-of-rejection, so I tried to camouflage the experience of record something so personal with various adjectives (thanks to whoever created the adjectives).

My heart raced every time I sent each message, and even more so when I realized they were developing a response. But Rosa, Margarida, João, and Silvia accepted. With fears, expectations, and some shyness—they accepted with enthusiasm. It is exciting to remember each of the conversations I had with them during the process, with the great support from my teammate Andreia. These conversations allowed me to connect.

Breathing Life Into the Project

The power of sharing is moving, as were the moments of recording, and I believe that for each participant they became positive experiences, as well as liberating ones. I always went in nervous, because in the time I had reserved for us to record the episode, I was so afraid of saying the wrong word (sometimes it can be just one word) and making them uncomfortable, turning this experience of talking about aspects of their lives more difficult. But gladly that didn't happen! It was nothing short of gratifying.

Editing was my favorite part. Maybe because I connect it with anatomy! Each video is a muscle, and each transition is a tendon connecting these parts. Through editing, I gave life to an organism that, with each beat, breathed the story that was building. It's in editing that all parts come together to form a cohesive whole, pulsating with meaning. Without detracting from the raw story of each of them. They are the heart and soul of the videos.

Celebrating Individuality with a Lasting Impact

The series "YOU" is more than just a project; it's a movement to celebrate individuality and one's life experience. Each episode is a journey where we navigate through the experiences of distinct people, highlighting the stories that make them unique and the ways these identities contribute to a richer and more complex whole. Each video belongs to each of the participants: it belongs to Margarida, Rosa, João, and Silvia.

I think I always said, during the recordings, that each video is solely theirs. In the future, it may even be just a memory, a testament to their growth and transformation. Each video is a testimony to the impact we can have when we come together to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion, never forgetting that our connections are the true essence of humanity.