I’m curating this space to build a community where we can have real conversations about resilience, wellbeing and social justice so I thought it would be good idea to introduce ourselves. I’ll go first!
I’m Yasmin, a writer and human rights activist from London. I love dancing to breakbeat and the smell of fresh mint crushed between my fingers. I love the books of Ryszard Kapuscinski, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Elif Shafak and rolling out my yoga mat to practise yoga nidra. I love the Middle East and the rich heritage, culture and history it has given the world (and its incredible food, obvs). I love activism and feeling part of something bigger than myself. And I especially love getting up really early while everyone else is still asleep, making a cup of tea, taking pen-to-paper and writing.
Now over to you! Tell me who you are, what interests you and what brings you to this space?
And most importantly, what topics would you like me to cover in on this Substack? ✍🏽
Hi Yasmin, have been following you for a while. I'm a food writer/cookbook author living in Italy now for many years, though I have British-Australian/Japanese heritage and grew up in China. I have a background in art restoration and fine arts, love history, writing and food and the way it connects us.
Salam Yasmin joon! Congratulation on this exciting Substack project. I love the multi-facades of it. I really think we need the subject of hope now more than ever, as we're constantly discussing the broken systems.
I'm on Iranian food writer and photographer based in Rome and my first cookbook is being published super soon, and its American edition has your quote on the cover. Yay!
Hi there - I'm an environmentalist and non-profit leader in Vancouver, Canada. I'm interested in ocean conservation (and conservation writ large) and making environmental justice a core part of the conversation in the environmental movement. I'm passionate about food and cooking, gardening, books (and cookbooks ofcourse) and theatre/the arts. I love how your books meld food, culture and social commentary - all things I'm keenly interested in.
I'm Rob Bartolotta, and I'm a workforce and disability advocate and researcher in the United States. One of my big areas of interest is how intersectional identities, such as being a recent immigrant while also having a disability, impact how an individual interacts with social service systems and society writ large. I first became aware of you, Yasmin, through your cookbooks.
I am Mandi Baldry and I live in Johannesburg. I also love Elif Shafak, the middle east and South Asia. I am particularly interested in conversations around climate resilience
I'm Natascha and I am a political sociologist, researcher and lecturer. I live in Aberdeen in beautiful Scotland. I am keen to talk more about wellbeing and resilience because my social research - mainly alongside people in violence-affected communities and/or contexts of informality - is all about what makes people resilient (though there are lots of problems with this term, of course, and with the ways a discourse of resilience is sometimes used by powerful actors...) and what constitutes wellbeing in different cultural, socio-political and ecological settings.
Hi Yasmin, have been following you for a while. I'm a food writer/cookbook author living in Italy now for many years, though I have British-Australian/Japanese heritage and grew up in China. I have a background in art restoration and fine arts, love history, writing and food and the way it connects us.
Salam Yasmin joon! Congratulation on this exciting Substack project. I love the multi-facades of it. I really think we need the subject of hope now more than ever, as we're constantly discussing the broken systems.
I'm on Iranian food writer and photographer based in Rome and my first cookbook is being published super soon, and its American edition has your quote on the cover. Yay!
My name is Meta, living in The Netherlands. Bought my IP a few weeks ago and hope to learn a lot.
Hi there - I'm an environmentalist and non-profit leader in Vancouver, Canada. I'm interested in ocean conservation (and conservation writ large) and making environmental justice a core part of the conversation in the environmental movement. I'm passionate about food and cooking, gardening, books (and cookbooks ofcourse) and theatre/the arts. I love how your books meld food, culture and social commentary - all things I'm keenly interested in.
I'm Rob Bartolotta, and I'm a workforce and disability advocate and researcher in the United States. One of my big areas of interest is how intersectional identities, such as being a recent immigrant while also having a disability, impact how an individual interacts with social service systems and society writ large. I first became aware of you, Yasmin, through your cookbooks.
I am Hanadi El Diri from Lebanon.
A reporter in Annahar newspaper for the past 28 years. I cover the Arts and Culture scene.
Am launching my blog
A dreamer in Beirut
next week.
Am interested in everything that is beautiful.
We are living in Hell in Lebanon and i do my best to highlight all that is hopeful in this world.
I am Mandi Baldry and I live in Johannesburg. I also love Elif Shafak, the middle east and South Asia. I am particularly interested in conversations around climate resilience
You forgot to mention pomegranats! LOL! ;)
I'm Natascha and I am a political sociologist, researcher and lecturer. I live in Aberdeen in beautiful Scotland. I am keen to talk more about wellbeing and resilience because my social research - mainly alongside people in violence-affected communities and/or contexts of informality - is all about what makes people resilient (though there are lots of problems with this term, of course, and with the ways a discourse of resilience is sometimes used by powerful actors...) and what constitutes wellbeing in different cultural, socio-political and ecological settings.