Building Citizenship Through Diversity: CEC European Managers at FGB’s Knowledge Apéro

In a warm and lively setting on Avenue Marnix, the Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini (FGB) hosted its latest Knowledge Apéro on Monday, 26 May, as part of the European Commission’s EU Diversity Month 2025.

The evening brought together practitioners, researchers, and engaged citizens to discuss how Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) contribute to active and responsible citizenship — especially through education and training systems.

A highlight of the evening was the participation of Olga Molina, Director at CEC European Managers, who joined the expert panel to present the organisation’s new #BeyondBias campaign cards — a set of 20 actionable recommendations designed to help managers foster inclusion and fairness in their leadership practices.

In her intervention, Molina emphasized the crucial role of leadership in embedding DEI values, both in workplaces and across society.

“Managers have a key role in shaping inclusive cultures. With our #BeyondBias cards, we provide concrete tools for those ready to lead change.”

 

The “Building Citizenship Competence through Diversity, Equality and Inclusion” event focused on how DEI-related skills are essential for fostering a democratic, inclusive, and cohesive Europe.

As Barbara De Micheli, Coordinator of FGB’s Social Justice Unit, explained, DEI competences must be understood as part of citizenship education — what she calls the “fifth basic skill” alongside literacy, numeracy, digital and personal competences.

“We cannot build inclusive societies if we continue to treat DEI as optional“It must become a core part of how we educate, train and lead.”

Baraba De Micheli

Coordinator, Head of Social Justice Unit

Discussions covered initiatives such as Cedefop’s upcoming study on citizenship education in Vocational Education and Training (VET), FGB’s own Master’s in Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and the Beyunbi – Beyond Unconscious Bias project.

Speakers and participants debated how to overcome silos in policy and practice, address unconscious bias in management, and foster solidarity in an increasingly individualistic world.

The Knowledge Apéro was moderated by Liga Baltina, and brought together an engaged audience of invited and registered guests.

The FGB team—particularly Stefania Salaris and Chiara Fattori—was thanked for ensuring the evening ran smoothly, down to the food and drinks.

Special thanks were also given to fellow panelists Agnes Uhereczky and Delia Mensitieri, whose generous sharing of insights enriched the conversation, and to attendees like Pere Vilanova, Terence Hogarth, and Roberta Lulli, among many others, who contributed to a vibrant dialogue.

Participants touched on real-world tensions such as how unconscious bias still results in capable students being rejected — even 60 times — for choices like wearing a veil.

Others spoke about the need to distinguish between constructive and destructive conflict and how building trust and solidarity should be seen as essential competences in today’s Europe.

With events like these, CEC European Managers and Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini are pushing forward a collective understanding of citizenship not just as a legal status, but as a practice of inclusion, empathy and active participation.

As the conversations continue beyond the apéro, one thing is clear: diversity and inclusion are not checkboxes — they are cornerstones of a thriving European democracy.