DiGiN Final Conference
The final conference of the CERV-funded DiGiN project took place in Rotterdam on 25 March 2026, bringing together municipal staff, DEI practitioners, policymakers, researchers, artists and project partners for an afternoon of reflection, exchange and connection.
Over the past two years, DiGiN has worked closely with municipalities across Europe to strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion within municipal organisations. The project has focused on supporting institutional change through practical tools, peer learning and concrete interventions addressing inclusion in everyday organisational practices.
The final conference offered a moment to look back at this work and to ask what helps diversity, equity and inclusion take root inside public institutions in a lasting and meaningful way. Discussions throughout the day highlighted the importance of practical tools, employee networks, coalition building, supportive leadership, long-term strategy and spaces where different experiences and perspectives can inform institutional change.
Read the final conference blog post
A reflection on the final conference is now available on the DiGiN website. The blog post explores what municipalities can take forward from the event, including the importance of moving from commitment to implementation, learning from municipal practice and sustaining DEI work beyond the lifetime of the project.
Read the blog post: What municipalities can take forward from the DiGiN final conference
Watch selected moments from the conference
Selected recordings from the final conference are now available on YouTube. These videos capture key moments from the programme, including the partner panel discussion, presentations of DiGiN tools and artistic contributions from the day.
Watch the full DiGiN final conference playlist
You can also watch individual recordings:
- Building Inclusive Municipalities Together: Partner Panel Discussion
- Presentation of the DEI Assessment Tool and Toolkit of DEI capacity-building materials
- Presentation of the DiGiN Evaluation Toolbox
- Activism, Belonging and Justice: Jerry King Luther Afriyie
- Music, Memory and Inclusion: Naseem Husam Mgheer – Part 1
- Music, Memory and Inclusion: Naseem Husam Mgheer – Part 2
Conference highlights
The programme opened with Apinti drums, rooted in Suriname Maroon culture, creating a meaningful beginning to a gathering centred on inclusion, presence and connection.
Jerry King Luther Afriyie, poet and human rights activist, gave a keynote reflection on activism, belonging, justice and structural change. His contribution connected DEI work to broader histories of racism, exclusion, resistance and collective action.
Representatives from the municipalities of Rotterdam, Ghent and Genoa shared lessons from their work within DiGiN, reflecting on coalition building, employee networks, DEI strategy and inclusive decision-making. Their discussion showed that there is no single route to inclusive change, but that progress is strengthened by committed people, practical structures and sustained effort over time.
The conference also presented key DiGiN outputs, including the DEI Assessment Tool, the Toolkit of DEI capacity-building materials and the Evaluation Toolbox. These resources support municipalities in assessing where they stand, building internal capacity, learning from practice and evaluating progress.
Artistic contributions by Naseem Husam Mgheer and Tilke Wouters brought emotion, vulnerability and political clarity into the programme, reminding participants that inclusion work is not only about policies and tools, but also about people, lived experience and the realities institutions are meant to address.
Practical information
Date: 25 March 2026
Time: 13:00–17:00 CET (followed by networking)
Location (in person): Maaspodium, Sint-Jobsweg 3, 3024 EH Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Online participation: Available
Program highlights
- Opening act with Apinti drums
A powerful musical opening rooted in Suriname Maroon culture. - Keynote speech – Jerry King Luther Afriyie
Poet and human rights activist, reflecting on justice, inclusion and structural change. - Lessons from cities across Europe
Insights and experiences from the municipalities of Rotterdam, Ghent and Genoa, showcasing concrete DEI practices developed through the DiGiN project. - Music performance – Naseem Husam
Oud performance drawing on Palestinian musical heritage. - Spoken word Artist – Tilke Wouters
Spoken word performance connecting activism, vulnerability and inclusion. - Networking and drinks
An opportunity to connect, exchange and reflect with peers, both in person and online.
Speakers and performers
Jerry King Luther Afriyie
Jerry King Luther Afriyie is a poet and human rights activist, born in Bechem (Ghana) and based in the Netherlands since childhood. He co-founded the Nederland Wordt Beter movement and the Soul Rebel Movement foundation. In 2011, he helped launch the campaign Zwarte Piet is Racism and is a co-initiator of Kick Out Zwarte Piet and the Black Manifesto.
Tilke Wouters
Tilke Wouters is a DEI expert, artist and public speaker. They support organisations in developing diversity, equity and inclusion policies, with a strong focus on education through training, lectures, e-learning and playful learning. Tilke is also a slam poet, bringing vulnerable and activist texts to the stage.
Naseem Husam
Naseem Husam is a Palestinian refugee from Jenin and a self-taught musician specialising in Arabic music. He plays the oud and performs Palestinian heritage songs, using music to preserve and share Palestine’s rich cultural traditions.
