Sen Zhan

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT SEN ZHAN

Hello there, I’m Sen, and I\'m an intercultural bridge-builder and sense-maker. Since the age of six, I\'ve been crossing cultural borders and navigating the complexities and delights of living the in-between. Over the last 30+ years, I\'ve lived and worked in China, English and French Canada, and Germany. I am a cultural chameleon and a collection of many selves. I belong to many cultures, but a flagbearer of none. I\'m fascinated by how other intercultural people make sense of their rhizomatic upbringing, and how they navigate the contradictions between their worlds. I\'m intrigued by how they create their sense of self, and how they reshuffle and recombine themselves to meaningfully interface with the societies they move through.My work is grounded in the belief that the most basic unit of society is not the individual, but the relationship. And that the slow, often uncomfortable process of becoming together is where true transformation happens. I draw from modalities such as Theatre of the Oppressed and collective storytelling to create spaces where communities can surface shared truths, reclaim silenced narratives, and build collective power.I created the Beyond Asian podcast (https://shorturl.at/2NAHM) in 2020 during the pandemic, and in 2023 began working on \"Gaza Voices\"(gaza-voices.com), a collaborative archival storytelling initiative to preserve the histories of Gazans under siege. These are the ways I have chosen to use my strengths to amplify the rich, complex stories of communities shaped by migration, war, and displacement, and invite deeper relationship with histories that continue to reverberate through the present.As co-managing director of SINGA Deutschland, I design programs and infrastructures that activate the power of migration and community. We support newcomers in launching businesses and empower grassroots community catalyzers to weave inclusive, future-oriented networks. Our upcoming initiatives include the Newcomer Startup Award (newcomeraward.de) in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia, and Amplifying Belonging in Berlin (https://singa-deutschland.com/belonging-project).I’m always open to connecting with fellow sense-makers, cultural shapeshifters, and community weavers —if that’s you, reach out. Let\'s see what we awaken in one another.