Embrace the power of your personal story at this workshop with Leon Diop, acclaimed author of Mixed Up: An Irish Boy’s Journey to Belonging.

In this 90-minute session for writers of all levels, Leon will discuss the principles of connecting with your story – and writing it in a way that helps you to make positive social change.

Whether you’re writing for adults or young people, this workshop invites you to reflect on things you would like to change in society, finding moments in your own story that inspire you to go about making that change.

This workshop includes a reflective exercise and group discussion: attendees are welcome to share as much or as little as they feel comfortable with.

Meet the tutor

Leon Diop is a mixed race man from Tallaght, Dublin. He graduated from Maynooth with a degree in psychology before going on to be Maynooth Students’ Union President for two terms. In June of 2020 he founded Black and Irish, an organisation working on the behalf of Black and mixed race people in Ireland. He is the co-author of the award-winning book, Black and Irish: Legends, Trailblazers and Everyday Heroes and a host of the Black and Irish podcast. He currently serves on the board of the Childhood Development Initiative, Tallaght and Work Equal. In September 2024, Leon was named as a European Leader for the Obama Foundation. In November 2025, Leon published his second book, Mixed Up: An Irish Boy’s Journey to Belonging, to help young people become more comfortable in their identity. Leon is currently the head of equality, diversity and inclusion at the Arts Council of Ireland.