American Council on Germany Social Cohesion Study Tour

About the Program: Funded by the Transatlantic Program of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany’s European Recovery Program (ERP), this program explores how communities address diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). This year I am one of 18 participants from all over the United States and Germany. Our itinerary includes meetings with university officials, government officials, community groups, civic organizations, non-profits, and institutions that are vital to addressing equity in Cologne and Stuttgart. The first week in Germany is from September 3-9th. The second week the group will visit Indianapolis and Washington D.C from November 5-11th.

Day 1

1. Integration House (Non-profit that serves migrant and refugee communities in Germany)

Elizaveta (Lisa) Khan, Director

2. University of Cologne Department for Gender & Diversity Management

Dr. Britt Dahmen Director, Department of Gender and Diversity Management
Dr. Lina Vollmer, Dr. Rahab Njeri-Maty, Sandra Staudenrausch, and Vera Weidmann

3. Discussions on Post-Colonialism and Critical Race Theory in Germany at the University of Cologne:

Professor Monica van der Haagen-Wulff, Chair of Education and
Cultural Sociology
Dr. Jonathan Ngeh, Postdoctoral Associate, Global South Studies Center
Dr. Stephan Milich, Academic Advisor, Institute for the Languages and Cultures of the Islamicate World

4. Dinner Guests

Viktoria Harbecke, Executive Director, AmerikaHaus
Hartwig Pruessmann, Freundeskreis Köln-Indianapolis e.V.
Martin-Sebastian Abel, Member of Freundeskreis des AmerikaHaus (2019 ACG Fellow)

Day 2

1. Meeting with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Cologne!

Welcome discussion with staff members of the Department of Integration and Diversity, City of Cologne

2. Rubicon LGBT Center (a non-profit that offers programs, community space, medical and mental health services)

Meike (Mike) Nienhaus, Manager of Rubicon

Homaira Mansury, Head of Department Political Education, vhs im Museum am Neumarkt

3. Nazi Documentation Center of the City of Cologne

Day 3

1. InterKultur e. V. – Erziehung – Bildung – Inklusion – (a non-profit that provides educational assistance and support to children and young families)

Prof. Dr. Kemal Bozay, Educational Management

2. Travel to Stuttgart and dinner

Day 4

1. Ministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit und Integration

Speaker Baden-Württemberg

2. Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James-F.-Byrnes-Institut e.V. German-American Center

3. Büro für diskriminierungskritische Arbeit Stuttgart (Office of Anti-Discrimination)

Giuliano Ryll, Director

4. Dinner Guests: The Black Community Foundation

Day 5

1. Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH (confirmed)

Dr. Ferdinand Mirbach, Senior Expert, Immigration Society, Global Issues