The Migrant Art Of Coping - talk and creative workshop with author Sohail Jannesari

Join us at the Lark & Bloom library for a short talk, panel discussion, and poetry and arts workshop based on a recently published book, the Migrant Art of Coping.

The event draws on the book’s core argument, that people seeking sanctuary hold knowledge about survival, care, and mental wellbeing under hostile conditions that are useful for everyone in society. 

How the evening will look

5pm - doors

5.30pm - start 

• Short, story-led introduction by the author (Sohail Jannesari) on what we can learn about mental health and coping from sanctuary-seeking communities.
• Conversation with Mebrak, Luqma, Manal and Habib (poet and research contributor) reflecting on their lived experience of movement and of working with people who've experienced migration.
• Gentle wellbeing activities adapted from the book, with group reflection.

7.30pm - close

Contributors

Dr. Sohail Jannesari is a researcher, writer, and educator bridging mental health, migration, and social justice. He partners with sanctuary seekers, young people, survivors of human trafficking, and community groups to explore lived experience, challenge harmful systems and support wellbeing. Find out more on www.sohailj.co

Luqma Onikosi draws on nine years of lived experience of navigating the UK immigration system and the uncertainty of prolonged immigration limbo. During the height of Theresa May’s Hostile Environment policy, he came together with others facing similar challenges, alongside committed White allies, to co-found the Sussex Refugee and Migrant Self Support Group (SRMSSG) - a community-led initiative led by refugees, asylum seekers, and people with precarious immigration statuses. Through this work, Luqma also helped establish the Jollof Café Project, a community space created to tackle the social isolation often experienced by refugees and migrants. 

Originally from Eritrea, Mebrak Ghebreweldi is the founder and director of two organisations. Vandu Language Services provides interpreting, translation and health and social care advocacy to public and private sector organisations in and around Sussex. Diversity Resource International is a social enterprise that provides research, executive coaching, business management and leadership training to cross sector organisations in the UK and Africa. Mebrak is the social entrepreneur in residence at the University of Brighton. Mebrak was a member of the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) from 1978-1994, and her work combines her experience of war and conflict with leadership and business education.

Dr. Manal Ahmed is founder of We Are The Tree. Currently she works as researcher at Sussex University on Freedom of Faith and Beliefs. She is a Somatic Experience Practitioner coach with three years experience, a Certified Collective trauma healing coach, and a practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic programming and timelines. She is a refugee from Sudan, with 16 years of work experience in equalities and community cohesion issues, and 6 years of being strategic leader of Brighton and Hove Council as the Head of Equalities, Community Cohesion and Regeneration. She has also worked in Africa and the Middle East as a Development Consultant between 2008 - 2019.

Venue accessibility
One Church Florence Road is fully wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilet facilities. There is also a T-loop available.