Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera
Founders, Flock Together
Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera, Founders, Flock Together
Flock Together is a movement founded by friends, Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera, to be a support system for People of Colour to come together in nature. Started in London, the Flock chapters have grown to now include New York and Toronto. Ollie and Nadeem also launched the Flock Together Academy to encourage children to start loving nature too. Here they share their vision for the future.
Tell me about Flock Together and why you set it up?
Flock Together was set up to combat the underrepresentation of POC in the natural world. It happened to come at a time at which our community was in need of a support system. Birdwatching has helped me in many a difficult time and it’s an honour to share it with a group I identify with.
Why do you think it’s needed?
The need for something like Flock to exist comes from a huge range of possibilities and many combinations of those possibilities. One possibility, which would probably feature in many a combination, is the fact that our community is actively shut out of spaces.
Ollie, you are a Creative Director, what skills have you leaned on when setting up the group with Nadeem?
Running my own creative agency for the last seven years has really helped with understanding how to build and empower creative communities, from the overall Flock concept and pillars, right through to the visual storytelling. I’ve also been very lucky to build a global network of friends who we have leant on to launch all our international chapters.
How do you make it work? Who runs things?
My role is CEO and Creative Director, so I oversee the direction of the movement, alongside the building of the brand and platform. The last 12 months have been intense, balancing a full-time job as well as running Flock. At times it’s been overwhelming, but the reward of seeing the positive impact Flock has had in people’s lives has made it all worth it.
You have collaborated with brands like Timberland since launching. What type of collaborations are you looking for in the future?
We’re excited to be working with institutions to help spread our message, as much as the brand partnerships have been great, they are also taxing. We’re working hard to build our infrastructure which will allow us to undertake these projects in a more streamlined way.
I’m not a bird watcher, but I like the idea of the community coming together to engage with nature. Do you encourage non-bird watchers to attend? How will the group benefit someone like me?
Even if you aren’t a birdwatcher, Flock Together has many great takeaways. A support network for our community is key to what we do, and birding is only one part of that. That said, it’s surprising the pace at which birding becomes enjoyable. It’s a good reason to try it.
Nadeem you work as a Youth Space Coach, working with schools and supporting young people in the community. Tell me about Flock Together Academy for children and why it’s needed.
The Flock Together Academy is fundamental to bringing long-term change. To be able to show underprivileged children a free benefit which is only a stone’s throw away, will help to shift their thinking and the way they view themselves. Hopefully there can be a new wave of young naturalists to emerge from the city in decades to come, bringing with them new ideas and perspectives and hopefully long-lasting change.
Since launching, the community has grown and now includes chapters in New York and Toronto. What are your hopes for the future?
The hopes are many, but, in a nutshell, to be able to provide a global support network allowing people to feel confident in taking up space, particularly in nature.
Interview by: Sherry Collins / Photography by: Serena Brown
