What is Lacuna?
Lacuna – the magazine is highlighting stories and people we feel are not talked about enough. We go where it hurts and we tell stories of hope, growth, and change.
Lacuna – the network is connecting with people who share our core values and who believe a better society and world is possible. We maintain close relationships with our interview partners, collaborate and volunteer for them, to help them achieve our mutual goals of a healthier society.
First and foremost, Lacuna is a project. Our belief in change means that we are always learning. This is our journey and we will grow, adjust and change to provide you with the most valuable content. We aim not to be just another website you check. Instead, we hope we can add meaning to your life.
Our mission is to listen to you
One of the greatest gifts you can give another person is to listen with genuine interest. Every person has the right to be heard, every perspective has its place. We listen to understand, to find common ground, respect the difference and seek meaningful encounters with every person we meet. We will listen to your story and we will honor your trust by retelling it in the most authentic way.
We create change. One Story after another
Our vision is a world in which every person is heard, every story has a place and every life is valued.
We collect stories to get a diverse picture of our world and to highlight our shared humanity by shifting the focus away from what divides us to what we have in common.
We work for a future that is worth living for, and a society worth fighting for. Changing even one small corner of the world won´t be easy, but together, we can make a difference.
Journalistic Ethics
We honor the courage and openness of our interview partners, and we will never publish anything without their consent.
We will always seek the truth. We work independently. We hold ourselves accountable for mistakes, correct them and make sure we do not repeat the same mistake again. We always listen to the concerns of our readers. We are aware of the impact words can have, and we will always use them for the greater good.
We stand by colleagues who share our core values and offer our support, and We will defend the freedom of the press when required.
Social and environmental responsibility
Every choice we make affects our planet and future generations and our goal is to make conscious decisions that will have a positive impact. We will always strive to be environmentally conscious when making any type of business decision that directly impacts our planet. We will be transparent and use Instagram to inform you about what we are doing. This way we hope to inspire you to reconsider the decisions you make as well.
Throughout the year, we will choose projects and organizations to highlight and support through our journalistic and public relation skills and, whenever possible, financial contributions. We are choosing the people we work with carefully to assure they share our values and we hope you support these organizations that aim to make a difference.
We won´t waste your time
Time is the most precious resource we have. We won´t waste yours. Therefore, we only use social media mindfully, and we will never spam your e-mail account with unnecessary newsletters.
Instead, we invite you to reach out to us. Ask questions, give us feedback, tell us about interesting people you think we should meet for an interview, or tell us about yourself. You can converse with us via e-mail or WhatsApp, connect with us on Social Media, and we will spark conversations through our monthly newsletter.
What can we do for you?
Do you have a goal, a project, or a dream and need support? We are here to help – and we ask nothing in return but to share our core values and trust us. Be a part of our Friends & Muses
If your worldview is black and white, then sorry, we are not for you.
But if you see a world full of colors and possibilities, then please join us on this creative journey.
About Esther Vivian Kay, or, why Lacuna exists
I was born with a rare form of spina bifida, having to kneel in a wheelchair instead of being able to sit.
But that is not who I am.
For most of my life, I refused to be defined by the limitations other people see when they look at me and challenged the narrative of how disabled women should and shouldn´t behave.
I am stubborn.
When my teachers told me they had never heard of journalists in a wheelchair, I published my first article. I was 18.
When my parents told me I would never be able to live alone, I moved away and refused to accept any form of care or help.
When my mother told me that traveling alone was impossible, I bought a ticket and went to Paris.
When doctors told me I would not recover from a severe bone infection and was facing a short life span, I turned away from traditional medicine and learned to trust my body. I had been in and out of the hospital with sepsis after sepsis for the bigger part of 2017 and antibiotics made my condition worse, not better. 18 months later my infection had healed. This was when I reflected on my life´s journey and asked myself what my purpose might be.
I want to make a difference in the world and add value to people’s lives.
„Don´t accept what other people tell you about yourself“
some experiences:
- freelance journalist and editor print, online and radio
- press work for concert agencies and non-profit organizations
- K-Pop adviser for the Korean Cultural Centre
- trauma recovery coach
I had dreamed of becoming a war journalist since I was a teenager, but I had to accept that traveling to Iraq or other places in the Middle East might not be the smartest choice. I was still drawn to war and crisis zones. It was never about the thrill or the danger. I am drawn to the people who suffer in silence. I want to tell their stories. I want to be their voice. This is why I founded Lacuna, an interview magazine about social, political, and climate justice. But somehow, telling the stories never felt enough. I want to give people a voice and help them to tell their own stories in the most authentic way. This is why I am training to be a trauma recovery coach.
My journey of being at the margins of society but never accepting to be pushed aside, makes me want to help marginalized communities to be seen and heard.
That is why Lacuna exists.
Lacuna is not about me. It is about you. It is about your story and how you can own it. It is about finding inspiration by sharing all our stories, empower one another, and be the change we seek.
You can get in touch with me: esthervivian@lacunamagazine.com