Description
Radical Empathy – Tools for Togetherness
This month guest: Béla Bélissima — trans-feminine activist
Centering TIN* Perspectives on Empathy
In this workshop, guest facilitator Béla Bélissima invites us into an open conversation: How do we build community structures when our existences are being instrumentalized for political propaganda? We center trans*, inter*, and non-binary lived experiences and practice Radical Empathy—as conflict resolution from a TIN* perspective. This workshop is for TIN* people and open to TIN* + friends who show up with a clear listening-and-learning mindset. We make space for vulnerable, soft parts—without turning the room into a place for trauma-dumping—and focus instead on resilience, resistance, and what strengthens us.
About Radical Empathy
Radical Empathy – Tools for Togetherness builds on Radical Empathy – Queer Storytelling for Connection (2025) and further develops the format: from collective storytelling to collective practice. The workshop series strengthens queer solidarity in all its diversity and asks: How can we stay connected, especially when things get tough?
Hosted by Neo Seefried, the series combines collective storytelling with somatic, communicative, and creative tools to remain capable of acting in queer contexts when faced with conflicts, emotions, and differences—without avoiding or escalating them, but rather with greater clarity, care, and relational competence.
Each session has its own thematic focus (including grief & death, relationships, migration, HIV/AIDS, club culture & substances, trans/inter/non-binary) and is complemented by a guest who explores the respective topic in depth. At the center is the Resonance Circle: a space for shared stories, mindful listening, and resonance—empathy as a practice that we train together and carry into our daily lives.
neo seefried (*1995) is a freelance cultural mediator, curator, artist and author with a focus on queer realities, club culture and social participation. Living and working in Berlin, neo combines educational formats such as workshops, podcasts and exhibitions with an activist, intersectional practice. Neo studied Art Education (University of Leipzig) and Curatorial Studies (ZHdK) and has worked for the Schwules Museum, Schloss Biesdorf, Kunstmuseum Basel, Universität der Künste Berlin, TU Berlin, HFBK Hamburg, Haus für Poesie Berlin, Tanzquartier Wien and independent art spaces such as Parat, Clubbüro, Baby Angel and Last Tango in Zurich.
Béla Belissima is a multifaceted trans-female activist and artist based in Berlin. A central element of her work is the empowerment of queer people, particularly trans individuals and communities. Béla works as a freelance podcaster, host, model, performer, and in the field of political education. Since May 2025, she has also been working at “TGEU – Trans Europe and Central Asia,” currently in the role of “Junior Communications Officer.”
** This event is part of our “Conflicts as a Starting Point” program, supported by the Berlin Senate Department for the Interior and Sport – Berlin State Commission Against Violence. Learn more about the program here.
Hinweise
Participants: This is an event for TIN* (trans-inter-nonbinary*) people and their friends, partners and allies.
Language: This event is either in english or a mix between english and german.
Cost: Free of charge, registration required.
